On April 5, 1940, a notarized document was filed with the State of Illinois establishing Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Long Lake. However, this official action was only one stage in the development of the congregation. Lutherans in the Long Lake area had for some time dreamed of organizing a congregation, with meetings occurring in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Hoidon Lexau, before a church was ever built.
Plans immediately began to take shape for the erection of a place of worship and study. A plot of land was received from H. Stromsen as a site for the building. Funds were requested of the Home Mission Department of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, which were granted. The Board also agreed to pay about 60% of the $1,800.00 annual salary for the first pastor, the Rev. Jennings Feroe.
Pastor Feroe conducted the first worship service on August 4,1940. He described that day as follows: "Into the unfinished parish house poured so many people that not all were privileged to occupy one of the 145 chairs that had already been delivered at the order of the Ladies' Auxiliary.” On July 13, 1941, dedication services were conducted for the parish house. The first officers listed for the congregation included: Howard Axelsen, Karl Buhrdorf, J. Michael Clemensen, LeRoy G. Halvorson, Hoidon Lexau, and Arthur E. Strong.
While worship is the heart of the life of the congregation, and fellowship an important part of the church, study is vital to a Lutheran parish. On August 18, 1940, Trinity's Sunday school was therefore organized under the leadership of superintendent Walter Axelsen. Twelve children were present but by the end of the year, 60 students and four teachers comprised the school.
Within a year of the organization of the congregation, the nation was involved in the World War II conflict. It was a time that truly tested Christian commitment and trust in the grace of the heavenly Father. Pastor Jennings Feroe resigned to accept an appointment as chaplain in the United States Navy. His last Sunday was February 8, 1943. The Rev. Richard Solberg assumed pastoral leadership on July 4, 1943.
By the end of the 1943, the debt on the parish house was paid and discussion began on building larger as soon as materials were once again available. "A bond a year will bring our church here" became the motto in 1944. Many bonds were purchased and donated to the building fund. As the war neared its end, Pastor Solberg received and accepted a Call to the position of Professor of History at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD. His final weeks included services of thanksgiving for the end of World War II.
On January 20, 1946, Dr. M. Anderson installed the Rev. Owen Gangstead as pastor. He led the congregation in the post war years marked by vigorous activity and growth. Summer homes in the area were rapidly being remodeled into permanent homes. Developing communities were surveyed, and invitations issued for new and old residents to become a part of the congregation. Family worship was emphasized along with the study of God's Word.
On March 26, 1950, dedication services were held for the "enlarged and beautified house of worship." The improvements cost about $42,000.00 and Pastor Jennings Feroe returned to bring a message from God's Word on that occasion. Pastor Gangstead resigned and accepted a Call to serve Grace Lutheran Church, Chicago, early in 1952.
June 15, 1952 was an occasion for a double celebration: the ordination of Myron J. Hoff, who was also installed as Trinity's fourth pastor. Meanwhile, the Sunday school enrollment had been skyrocketing, rising to 241 by the end of 1952. There simply was no space for students. As a result, a special congregational meeting was held in August 1953, "to authorize a drive for funds with the purpose of building to enlarge the Sunday school facilities and to provide more adequate facilities and a better program for the youth of our church, and also to pay the present mortgage."
On August 17, 1954, Warren Bushnell, then chairman of the Building Committee, presented a plan to the congregation. Construction began on a $73,000.00 parish education building early in 1955, and it was completed one year later. The Parish Education building was erected not only to provide space for students in Sunday school, but also for "a better program for the youth of our church." But a building was not enough. The pastoral ministry also needed expanding to meet the challenge.
On January 15, 1958, Pastor Hoff conducted his final service as Trinity's pastor, having accepted a Call to St. Paul Lutheran, Manitowoc, WI. During the first six months of 1958, Pastor Emeritus T..C. Thorson, from Cleveland, Ohio, served as interim pastor. During that time, the decision was made to build a new home for the pastor just west of the church buildings and parking lot. The parsonage was built at a cost of $25,000.00 and was ready for occupancy in November of 1958. The Rev. and Mrs. Alfred Langhough and their family were the first parsonage family in the new structure. Pastor Langhough had been installed on July 15,1958.Return to top of page
Pressure mounted to build a new worship center. Plans were drawn up for a building that would seat 450 people. A professional fund-raising group was secured in 1961, with a goal of raising $100,000.00 in money and pledges. However, the enthusiasm for building was quenched by events of the early 1960's. New Lutheran missions were springing up, and the American Lutheran Church (ALC) started congregations in Lindenhurst, Libertyville and McHenry. Lutheran Church of American (LCA) missions were organized in Fox Lake, Antioch, and Grayslake. The Fox Lake Hills area was the site of a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod mission. These new missions reduced the area of the parish. Then, Pastor Langhough resigned late in 1961 to accept a Call to Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Racine, WI. By this time, Trinity had become a member of The American Lutheran Church by virtue of the merger of the ELC, ALC, and UELC in 1961. The Rev. Harold Knappe, installed on April 1, 1962 was a member of the new Synod.
Following the 25th anniversary celebrations from 1966 to 1969, the study committees of the building program met, talked, planned, and prepared recommendations to be submitted to the congregation. In May of 1969 these committees submitted their written reports in a booklet entitled, "Trinity's Tomorrow." The report was adopted. By this time, 12 acres of land had been purchased (in 1968), on which to build a new church edifice. In October of 1969, Pastor Knappe resigned to accept a Call to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Michigan City, Indiana.
In December of 1969, the Rev. Frank D. Pieper was installed as the seventh pastor of Trinity. Trinity congregation was aiming towards erecting a new church structure as the '70's began, just as it had been ten years earlier. There were expectations of rapid population growth in the immediate area, and members anticipated that their numbers would increase.
Population growth did take place in the Round Lake Beach area, but without the impact expected at Trinity. Gradually, a shift in emphasis from building to repairing and renovating the present buildings occurred. Pastor Pieper received a call to serve St. Peter Lutheran Church in Emden, Illinois in the fall of 1983.
Rev. W. Paul Weeg accepted the Call to serve Trinity and began his ministry March 4, 1984. Over the next few years Trinity continued to evaluate its ministry concluding the need for an additional pastor. Rev. Mary Jorgensen was called and began serving as an associate pastor, August 2, 1987. Rev. Jorgensen served until March of 1990 when she accepted a Call to Trinity Lutheran of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. On September 8, 1991 Rev. Gregory Moser began his associate ministry with Trinity until Called to serve First Lutheran of Sioux Falls, South Dakota in June of 1994.
During the years of personnel growth, discussions on whether or not to build a new church began again. In March of 1986, $570,000.00 in commitments was announced toward what would be a $1.5 million building. As commitments continued to be made, ground was broken on April 28, 1991, on the adjacent twelve acres purchased in the 1960's. The cornerstone of Trinity's present worship and education center was laid on October 20, 1991, and on March 28, 1993, 600 members attended the dedication. The occupancy permit was granted in 1999.
Mrs. Paul (Peggy) Weeg opened a Christian preschool in the old church building with eight students "graduating" the first year. Today classes for 3, 4, and pre K children serve over 50 children. The Trinity Kids Klub began a few years later spear headed by Jean Johnson for before and after school care. It serves 70-80 children. Both numbers were made possible on such a large scale because early on Trinity’s members decided this old building would be used in that way rather than to be sold, rented or razed.
At the beginning of the new millennium, northern Illinois experienced a tremendous housing boom. Hundreds of new homes were built in the immediate vicinity, and Trinity is undergoing considerable prayerful study and discussions to prepare for its next new phase of ministry. With a new building for worship and education, the original church now housing Little Lambs Preschool; and sixteen acres that allow for plenty of room to grow, the view is bright and exciting.Return to Top of page
Last Updated 7/28/09