Trinity Lutheran

In 1908, a simple act of faith sparked the journey of Trinity Lutheran in Whittier. Pastor Michel, traveling from Los Angeles, baptized two infants in a modest East Whittier home. This humble beginning led to regular services in the same home, offered by the Nomann family. Imagine Pastor Michel, making his way by streetcar, a 35-cent round trip, his reward the $1.50 Sunday collection. Trinity Lutheran’s roots were firmly planted. The congregation formally organized in 1909, five families strong, their services conducted in German at the Odd Fellows Hall. They became the thirty-ninth congregation chartered in California by the Missouri Synod. Trinity Lutheran continued to grow, acquiring its first property, a chapel previously owned by the Christian Science Church on Bailey Street. They then purchased a church and parsonage at Pickering and Penn. In 1922, they dedicated their first parish hall, a testament to their expanding community. Trinity Lutheran’s commitment to education led to the opening of a Christian Day School in 1943, starting with just 16 pupils. This marked a significant milestone in the church’s history. The church purchased over four acres on Floral Avenue in 1950. They dedicated a three-room school building there, relocating the school operations in September of the same year. By 1964, the iconic main sanctuary and steeple that we see hints of today were completed. The congregation had grown to 600 members, a far cry from the initial five families. Fast forward to 2016, Trinity Lutheran faced a new challenge. The school ceased operations, leaving its four buildings vacant and in disrepair. The sanctuary, though iconic, needed refurbishment. A proposed sale of the school property offered a solution. This would fund a new Parish Hall, parking lot improvements, a new façade, and landscaping. This revitalization project aims to preserve Trinity Lutheran’s legacy while adapting to the evolving needs of the community.