In 1904, only one Lutheran church existed in Kalamazoo. However, the entire service was in German. The Lutheran Board of Home Missions decided to find out if a need existed in Kalamazoo for an English speaking Lutheran church. Dr. William Tedrow, a doctor of divinity, was given the task to find this out. After going door to door and doing extensive research, Dr. Tedrow found that such a need did exist. On December 4, 1904, the first English-speaking Lutheran worship service was held in Kalamazoo. Dr. Tedrow presided.
 
After that first worship service in "the Auditorium" on Portage St., the congregation held their services above the Edwards and Chamberlin Hardware store (present location of the Arcadian condominiums). Shortly after that the congregation moved once again to a larger meeting place known as the A.U.V. Hall (which later became the Moose Temple, but does not exist today). By this time the congregation had selected the name Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.
 
During these moves membership steadily grew. As a result, this new congregation decided to build their own church building. A plot of land on West Cedar St. (present location of the Kalamazoo Fire Department) was purchased and the new building was dedicated on May 13, 1906.
 
During these formative years at Trinity, Dr. Tedrow made many personal sacrifices to further Trinity's mission. Nevertheless he always said he 'loved' his church work. In 1909 he resigned from Trinity due to illness. The Rev. William Gotwald took his place.
 
When the Rev. Clarence J. Waltz accepted the call to Trinity in 1921, it would seem all Dr. Tedrow's hard work was coming undone. Waltz would comment that he came to a church "much discouraged and scattered, weak in numbers, and with an 18-year-old debt still 'resting' upon the church." Waltz set to work to fix these problems. During his short tenure, $4,000 worth of debt was eliminated, and the church moved from the dependent mission status to self-supporting. By 1926, Trinity's "weak numbers" were no more, and membership had grown so much that the congregation voted to build a new church building, away from the downtown business district. On Reformation Sunday, 1927, the cornerstone for the present building was laid. On June 10, 1928, Trinity's new building was dedicated to "enlarge the sphere of Trinity's usefulness" and "to the glory and honor of almighty God and to the service of His Holy Church." Two hundred and sixty-two members moved in.
 
During the depression era, 250 new members joined the church. And, while most organizations went deeper into debt, Trinity greatly reduced hers through a 'Debt Retirement' program. By 1950, Trinity would become debt-free.
 
The church library was begun in the 1940's by the Rev. Arthur Wulf from an abandoned collection of religious literature. Also during this time many families had their own pew designated by a brass plaque. The plaques have since been lost due to subsequent redecorations in the 1960's and 1970's.
 
The 1950's were a busy time in Trinity's history. New growth would necessitate a new building project. A new choir would be added. Local Latvian history would become intertwined with Trinity's. And the youth would be very active.
 
By 1953, the congregation had grown immensely. Three worship services on Sunday were now offered (two in the morning and one at night) and Sunday School classes had become very crowded. Because of this growth the congregation decided to add on to the church with a 34-room Parish Education wing. In 1956 the cornerstone was laid, and on October 13, 1957 the building was dedicated. In addition to Sunday School classes, the new building would be used by Boy Scout troops.
 
The 1950's saw the addition of a middle and high school choir to the already created adult choir in the 1920's and children's choir in the 1940's.
 
During the 1950's, many Latvians immigrated to Kalamazoo. As most Latvians are Lutheran, a Latvian Lutheran Church was founded. But they didn't have their own building. Trinity allowed the Latvian church use of its facility through-out the decade until they were able to build their own building in 1961. When the church underwent a redecoration in 1961, Latvian artisans created designs around the ceiling fixtures. The Sunday School even raised money to bring a Latvian pastor and his family to Kalamazoo.
 
The young people of the church were also very active in the 1950's, though as early as 1938 the youth published a monthly newsletter (the forerunner to the present day News and Notes). In 1954 the local chapter of Luther Leaguers (precursor to the Lutheran Youth Organization) sponsored the first Youth Sunday. For the first time in the church's history morning worship was conducted entirely by the youth.
 
In 1959 around 40 members helped start Our Redeemer Lutheran Church on Gull Road. By 1961, Trinity had 655 members.
 
In 1962 the Rev. William A. Diehl accepted the call to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Over the next 25 years that Diehl served Trinity, significant events and changes occurred.
 
By 1964, Trinity's membership had passed the 1,000 mark, despite 63 members transferring to the new Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Portage. Trinity also started its relationship with local colleges by hiring a student intern pastor that year. A full time campus pastor was then hired in 1971.
 
During the 1960's Diehl and the Rev. Louis Grother of Zion Lutheran Church initiated a historic pulpit exchange between their respective churches. The strong relationship forged between the two churches continues to this day.
 
In 1971 the church constitution was amended to allow all members of legal age to serve on church council. The next year two women were elected to it.
 
In the early 1970's the musical program received a huge boost with a new Casavant pipe organ. Instruments to accompany the choir were added the next year.
 
The youth kept up their momentum of the 1950's and carried it over in the 1960's and 1970's. In 1965 the youth circulated Vacation Bible School fliers to surrounding neighborhoods, resulting in a record attendance of 146. Then in 1975 the youth earned $1,100 for the Konnarock Medical Mission, which a group of 21 personally delivered during Spring Break. The youth also painted a colorful mural of religious symbols on the church garage in 1976.
 
In 1977, in appreciation of 15 years of service, Pastor Diehl and his wife were treated with a trip to the Holy Land.
 
The year 1979 marked Trinity's 75th anniversary. Many former pastors and interns returned to preach and well-respected theologian Dr. Joseph Sittler came to speak in April. That August an outdoor worship service and anniversary picnic was held.
 
In 1981, Diehl suffered a heart attack. By the grace of God he recovered just in time for Easter services.
 
Diehl reached 25 years of service to Trinity in 1987. The year before he had began to limit his service to visitation pastor only, with the Rev. Ronnie Peterson assuming the role of senior pastor. In 1988 Diehl formally retired.
 
In 1989 the church was vandalized. Ironically, the Church Council had approved an alarm system only a few weeks before but installation had not yet begun. As a result of the break-in, the church underwent a major repair and renovation project.
 
"Marketplace 29 A.D." was the theme for Vacation Bible School in 1990. The church parking lot was authentically transported to 29 A.D., complete with tents housing woodworking, carpentry, and Biblical food. It was a huge success and included many neighborhood children.
 
In 1993 Trinity received a generous gift from former member Elva Lovell. During her 20's Lovell was Trinity's choir director. When she changed careers from music to medical technology, her new career took her to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Lovell stayed in Minnesota for the rest of her life, though she always regarded Trinity as her home church. When she died she left $3 million to 4 charities, Trinity being one of them. This money helped plant the seed for the Trinity Foundation where the money is invested to further Trinity's goals.
 
By 1995 the exterior of the church was in need of repair. To help defray costs a "Buy A Brick" fundraiser was initiated.
 
In the new millennium a congregational tour was organized to Martin Luther's Germany. From this trip, the church formed a relationship with a church in Eisleben, where Luther was baptized and preached his last sermon. Trinity's organist, Dr. William Musselman, was honored for his 30 years of service in 2001 with a hooded trumpet installation for the organ. W. John Upjohn also donated a stunning 1870 stained glass window of the Ascension to Trinity, which now hangs at the very front of the sanctuary.
 
To mark the 100th anniversary of Trinity, 2004 was full of special events and celebrations. Every month of the year focused on a different aspect of Trinity. A congregational photo had not been taken since 1927, so in honor of Trinity's 100 years, one was taken. Many former pastors also came to preach. The gift the congregation gave to themselves wasn't amazing and extravagant, but practical: the 77-year-old leaky roof was replaced, along with damaged limestone capping and brickwork.
 
Every member of Trinity would surely be in agreement with Dr. Tedrow: Kalamazoo, MI, needs Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.
 
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