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In 1849 a Lutheran Church was formed known as St. John to minister to the spiritual needs of the German immigrants, who embraced the Lutheran faith in their German language. In 1856 this became Trinity Church, and in 1869 this became Christ, the mother church of the English Lutheran Church. Over those years, two church buildings were erected on the site which was purchased in 1851. The present large red brick edifice was built in 1877. In 1967, Trinity, the present site of Mill Hill Playhouse, and Trinity consolidated to form the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. Renovations and additions were made to the site and completed in 1974
1777 |
The original site of the Douglas House which was owned by Captain Alexander Douglas where General George Washington planned the maneuvers that resulted in the second battle of Trenton and the battle of Princeton. |
1851 |
The Douglas House was purchased by the pastor of Trinity Church from Ann Douglas and served as the parsonage of the church and then was moved to Centre Street in 1860. |
1867 |
First German Lutheran Parochial School was built on the site of the rear two story church Sunday School building. |
1896-1899 |
Large stained glass window over the altar, portraying Jesus' crucifixion was given by Washington Augustus Roebling in memory of his mother, Anna Herting Roebling, who was a member of the church. Washington was part of the Roebling family known for the wire rope industry in Trenton. |
1915v |
The Kimball Pipe Organ was installed and is still used for the services of the present Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. |
1926 |
Because of the decline in the parochial school enrollment, the school building was rented to the City of Trenton as a public school annex. |
1928 |
The former school building was used as a Hospitality Center for the World War II soldiers visiting the city from Fort Dix. |
1930-1950 |
Bruno Hauptman accursed killer of Charles Lindberg's son was a member of Trinty Church and ministered to by Pastor Matthiesen. One of the anecdotes surrounding this highly publicized trial was digging up of the dirt floor in the basement of the church because of the belief that the ransom money was buried there. |
1971 |
The Mill Hill Infant Center was started in the Church Sunday School building behind the church for abused or suffering from abandonment of children and a counseling site for troubled parents of these children. The Center expanded and moved to larger quarters located on Oakland Street in Trenton. |
19?? |
The Church Sunday School building was named the Brauninger Center in memory of George Brauninger of the Lutheran faith. Known for his newsstands around the city, Mr. Brauninger left a portion of his estate to Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey for the welfare of persons living in the city. The building is currently the home of the Lutheran Refugee and Immigration Center. |
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