150 Years of Serving God

St. Paul Lutheran Church was founded by Pastor Rev. Jacob J. Siegrist, who began serving the German Lutherans in Stillwater, Minnesota, by establishing St. Paulus Congregation in 1870. Under Rev. Siegrist’s leadership, the first church and parsonage were built on South Third Street in 1872, and a parochial school was constructed on Myrtle Street in 1894. However, after the start of WWI, the school was closed due to patriotic sentiments surrounding its name, the "German Lutheran School."

In 1912, a disastrous fire severely damaged the church, but it was rebuilt that same year.

The use of the German language began to fade almost entirely during the leadership of Rev. Ernst in the early 1940s.

As the congregation continued to grow, the main sanctuary where we now gather was completed in 1951 and dedicated on Sunday, May 18, 1952. By 1965, it became clear that additional space was needed, leading to the construction of an educational wing, which was completed in the spring of 1967.
 

In May 2020, we safely returned to in-person services, fellowship, and meetings, with masks on our faces, love for God in our hearts, and joy as we marked St. Paul Lutheran’s 150th anniversary. The 150th anniversary was celebrated in December 2021, during our 151st year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

St. Paul Lutheran Church has consistently evolved over the years, yet remains firmly rooted in its mission of Spreading God’s Love.