A Tradition of Excellence

Pacing up and down rows of neatly arranged desks, a teacher closely monitors her students as they recite the Lord’s Prayer. Focusing on one pupil who momentarily forgets a word, a quick, precise order in German halts the rest of the class. Starting again from the beginning, the children spent the next hour perfecting their dictation. Finally satisfied with their progress, the students are released for a brief recess after an arduous morning of hard work.

While the previous scene may be reminiscent of a German boarding school at the turn of the 20th century, it was in fact an accurate picture of Sunday school at Oak Lawn’s Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. As one of the oldest congregations in town, this devoted and caring parish can trace its roots back to the earliest days of a small community known simply as Black Oak.

When Germany edged even closer to unification in the late 1800’s, many Germans were unnerved by the rapidly changing political climate in their homeland.  A new wave of immigration to the United States during the 1860’s (even during the height of the Civil War) was the result of these pronounced fears.  Chicago, with it bustling German population on the far South Side, became a natural destination for these new Americans. But as they settled into their new home, the cramped and unsanitary living conditions in the city prompted many to relocate to a small community on the very fringes of Cook County.

As their horse-drawn wagons and carriages bounced down a dusty 95^th Street, the Germans were taken aback by the wide, open countryside that reminded them of the rolling pastures of Southern Bavaria.  In no time at all, farms sprouted up across the town and the newcomers began opening businesses.

The lack of a church in Black Oak became a pressing problem for the predominantly Lutheran Germans.  In 1862, Pastor Herman Wunderlich of Tinley Park was contacted by the village and began performing informal services in the tiny one-room schoolhouse located near 55^th Avenue.  As the congregation slowly grew, meetings were held in the parlors of prominent citizens until Wunderlich was succeeded by Pastor Augustus Reinke in 1869.

Under this new leadership, the parish of Trinity Lutheran was formalized in 1874.  Joachim Lange, a local merchant, donated a plot of land along 95^th Street in hopes that that enough money could be raised to build a lasting place of worship drawing in German immigrants from the surrounding areas. With the help of John Sahns and Charles Mickow, the church was completed in record time, and its first service was held in 1881.

Trinity Lutheran soon organized a fund-raising campaign that helped purchase a pot-bellied stove for cold Midwestern winters and a magnificent reed organ to be played during Sunday worship.  A “German School” as it would be known by members, soon taught catechism lessons and academics to the youth of Oak Lawn.  As with all services and social programs, classes were conducted entirely in German.

With Oak Lawn’s steady growth during the 1920’s and 1930’s, it was clear that the existing grounds needed to be expanded.  Pastor John Prange soon received a generous donation of property from Mr. and Mrs. Albert Brandt. Ground was immediately broken at this new site, located off 97^th Street. The first service was held in the spring of 1940 after a joyous procession of church members marched into the building to admire its splendor.

The exquisite stained-glass windows and spacious ceilings were topped by an equally impressive spire that could be seen from miles away. Trinity Lutheran’s congregation now felt that they had a church to call their own. Wasting no time at all, members welcomed new followers as Oak Lawn witnessed another population surge in the early 1950’s.

During this time, church organizations flourished as the parish’s reach stretched beyond the borders of Oak Lawn. The Ladies Aid Society, founded back in 1916, helped raise money for new pews and other furnishings. Part of the cost of the 1968 addition was funded by church social groups. Nursery and religious education programs helped busy parents ensure that their children received proper care during the weekends. Adult and youth choirs, in addition to numerous other charitable groups, continue their outstanding work in Oak Lawn to this day.

One of the most respected congregations in town, Trinity Lutheran has remained a constant pillar of support to the religious community. From a small collection of German immigrants to a bustling, modern center of worship, its members have risen to the occasion to show that hard work and determination, those oldest of virtues, can accomplish great things.

For more information on Trinity Lutheran Church and the other congregations in Oak Lawn, visit the Local History Room of the Oak Lawn Public Library.