The Swedish Evangelical Clara Lutheran church was officially organized on May 8, 1882, in a school house on the corner of Oak and Sixth Streets. Pastor N. J. Brink conducted the formal organizational meeting. Beckman's carpenter shop on the corner of Seventh and Maple Streets, Brainerd, had been a meeting place for the young congregation for several months.
On Dec. 6, 1883, a church building project was completed on a site purchased from J. P. Pearce on the corner of Eighth and Norwood. The $400 needed to purchase the lot was a gift from other Swedish Lutheran congregations of the Minnesota conference.
Several students and itinerant preachers served the small church until the first resident pastor was called. Pastor J. G. Hultkrans arrived in December, 1888. During his three-year stay, a parsonage was built. He left in December, 1891, and until June, 1894, the congregation was basically served by students. In succeeding years, the resident pastors included: Dr. F. M. Eckman, Pastor J. A. Johnson, Dr. J. E. Oslund, Pastor Hugo Thorene, Pastor Elof Carlson, Pastor August Samuelson, Pastor Martin C. Olson, Pastor Martin Lingwall, Pastor Emil Swanson, Pastor Floyd Brause and Pastor Dallas Young.
The original frame building constructed in 1883 became increasingly inadequate for the growing congregation. In June 1912 plans were approved for the construction of the present church building. Services were conducted in the completed basement area for more than two years. In October, 1915, the completed sanctuary was dedicated; with much of the final construction and finishing done by members.
The present name, the "First Evangelical Lutheran church" was approved in 1929.
The present Parish Education Unit and Narthex was built in 1956. Before it was dedicated a severe fire in the church necessitated major renovation and redecorating. In 1959, the present parsonage at 420 Vine was purchased.
Since 1962, the church has shared in the Intern Field Work program of the Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago, Ill., in which students spend a year in parish service. In 1963 Messiah Lutheran church merged with First Lutheran church, and their renovated parsonage became available for intern housing.
Recent maintenance projects have included the remodeling of the church kitchen, addition of an informal memorial lounge area and major redecorating of both parish house and parsonage.
The congregation has taken an active part in support of community programs. At least one-third of its annual budget is given to the work of missions through the Minnesota Synod and the Lutheran Church in America.
Reproduced from the Centennial Edition of the Brainerd Daily Dispatch (1871-1971).
