Kasota stone whispers tales from a razed courthouse. That stone now forms the walls of St James Lutheran Church. This isn’t just a church. It is a testament to faith. It embodies artistic vision.
Almost a century ago in 1928, Pastor Carl F. Bolle began his work. He organized a congregation in a basement church. It sat at the corner of Cherokee and Annapolis Streets. Saint James Lutheran Church was formally established on April 28, 1928. It was a daughter congregation of Emanuel Lutheran Church. Twenty-seven communicant members formed the core. A Ladies’ Guild soon followed with eighteen members.
By 1938 St James Lutheran Church had grown strong. It paid off the mortgage. It became self-supporting. The church acquired Kasota stone from the old St. Paul Court House ruins. This stone waited ten years for its destined purpose. In 1940 a committee planned the church’s future.
Construction began in 1941. The congregation moved to Sibley Junior High School now Heritage Middle School. They worshipped there for fifteen months. In October 1941 the cornerstone was laid. Pastor G.A. Ernst of Emanuel Lutheran Church preached. On August 22 1943 the new sanctuary opened. It was dedicated to God.
Groups formed within St James Lutheran Church. The Priscillas emerged in 1949. They were a service group for ladies. A second service began in 1951. It accommodated the growing congregation. In 1953 a fund drive aimed to expand the facilities. They also decided to build a parsonage.
The Alter Guild began in 1955. The next year saw the dedication of a new wing. It was an educational space and parsonage. Saint Croix Lutheran High School held its first classes at St James Lutheran Church. This lasted from 1958 to 1960.
For forty years Pastor Bolle was the sole pastor. In 1968 Iver C. Johnson joined him. Later in 1975 Richard Stadler joined the ministerial team.
The architecture of St James Lutheran Church is unique. Architect Frank A. Abrahamson designed the superstructure. Pastor Carl F. Bolle envisioned a modern Gothic building. He imagined Jesus watching over the facade. Abrahamson aimed for simplicity and individuality. Pink Kasota Stone shapes the walls. It shapes the arches and columns.
Egisto Bertozzi shaped much of the art. In 1943 he began his work for St James Lutheran Church. The stone base for the Christ statue weighed ten tons. Bertozzi carved the seventeen-foot figure on site. The pulpit, lectern, and baptismal font are also his work.
The altar stands as a focal point. It is Rojo Alicante marble from Spain. Bertozzi carved its front. He added five crosses on top. The nave holds twelve medallions. They show symbols of the twelve apostles.
Saint James Lutheran Church faced challenges. In 1995, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod suspended its membership. This was due to differing views on gender roles. Since then St James has been independent.
Despite changes St James Lutheran Church continues its mission. It supports Christian education. It commits to mission work locally and globally. The 1998 expansion made the facility accessible.
Today St James Lutheran Church stands as a symbol. It embodies faith and art. Its history is etched in Kasota stone. It is visible in every carving. Each note from the world-class organ enriches worship. The story of St James continues. It is a story of community, art, and faith.