Trinity Lutheran Baltimore

Trinity Church 1905

Sources:

History of Baltimore City & County; John Thomas Scharf, 1881, J.B. Lippencott & Company, publishers, Philadelphia PA.

The History of Baltimore, 1729-1895, Elliott , SB Nelson, Publisher

History of Baltimore 1729-1898, Elliott

History of Baltimore 1729-1898, Elliott (Published 1898 S.B. Nelson, Publisher)

The Baltimore Sunpaper, September 15, 1892, page 8

Amazing Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church website

Trinity is one of the oldest German churches in the city. It was located on Trinity Street east of High Street. It was organized in 1839. The congregation was very large during the mid 1800s, and neither the church, nor their pastor, at that time had any synodical connection. They claim, however, to be Lutheran.

They were formerly connected with the old Pennsylvania Synod.

The church itself was built in 1791 as the Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church on the little street between Exeter and High. This congregation for the most part either moved to the suburbs or fell to the yellow fever that was then scourging the city. The last Rector of the church was Rev. Dr. John Bartow. After 50 years of falling into decay Miss Annie Price, who held the mortgage on the property, sold it to the German congregation. The only condition was that the name of the church remain 'Trinity'. It had plain white glass windows, old fashioned pulpit and a wooden font. When the Germans moved in they added heat and in 1892 totally renovated the church.

The Sunpaper article written in 1892 indicates that on September 25, 1892 they would have a double celebration..one will celebrate the reconstruction of the church and at the same time the fourth anniversary of the pastor, Rev. Adalbert Fred. Sterger, who led the charge in reconstruction and renovation. It further states that a year earlier in 1891, they celebrated the centennial anniversary of the building of the church..and the golden jubilee of its establishment as a German Evangelical Lutheran church. The dedication on September 25th was celebrated in two services, the morning in English and in honor of its first occupants the service was in the format of the Episcopal. The afternoon service was in the usual German form.

Although Trinity Lutheran Church in Baltimore was once one of the largest and most active congregations in the city, sadly after 160 years, the congregation came to an end in the mid 1990s.

On a photo expedition on July 4, 2010, we did find Trinity and High, but found nothing that resembled a church, especially an older church. We found two buildings that could have possibly been churches. The first was at the corner of Trinity and High Streets and the front/side of the building had been blocked in what appears to be a large window..could have been a church building. The larger building further down the street, was a possibility strictly based on its size.

The church apparently moved in the 1920s to McElderry and Port Streets. In 1996, Trinity merged with two other historical churches in the area, Martin Luther and Bethany. The church remains at McElderry and Port Streets. The church is now called Amazing Grace Lutheran Church.

Pastors:

Rev. Mr. Guistiniani (was first a priest in the Roman Catholic Church)

Rev. Father Heyer (during his tenure bought the church from the Episcopals)

Rev. W. Weyl (founder of St. Matthew's German Lutheran Church)

Rev. Mr. Weimann (Lost his life is a steamer accident in 1858, while returning to Germany)

Rev. Martin Kratt

Rev. W. Strobel

Rev. Jacob Pister

Rev. C.F.A. Kaessmann

Rev. E. Hartmann

Rev. F.A. Sterger

Rev. Gary Dittman

Address/Contact:

2424 McElderry Street (N. Milton & McElderry)

Baltimore, Maryland

410-276-5674

Email: agelc7office@verizon.net

See also Maryland State Archives

Records at the Maryland Archives MSA S 1512-2655 (00/59/06/36)