"In the beginning...."

To accommodate the continued growth, the congregation built the present House of Worship on Inkster and Sinclair. In 1960 a nearby building was purchased for the Sunday School and Luther Centre for Seniors . The Luther Centre later became the home of Canadian Lutheran World Relief . In 1965 Christ Lutheran Church financed the purchase of Luther Village on behalf of the Lutheran Camping Association . In 1967 the congregation purchased the property for Luther Home, an eighty bed personal care home. This ministry now includes two apartment blocks and a home for community living.

In 1979 the congregation purchased a refurbished pipe organ originally built in 1897 by George Hutchings of Boston. In 1987 the building was made more user friendly with the installation of a ramp, an elevator, floor level communion rail, handicap accessible washrooms and a sound system with assisted hearing devices. To meet the needs of ministry to children and youth, a Minister of Youth was employed to teach confirmation, do youth ministry and assist in pastoral ministry.

Out of the Past + taken from "The Services of Dedication", 1956 Christ Lutheran Church, one of the oldest congregations in the American Lutheran Church, in Western Canada, first organized in the Fall of 1905, with ten charter members. A small church as immediately constructed on Pritchard Avenue, and dedicated on December 17th, 1905. In the spring of 1907, the church was moved to Aberdeen Avenue, a half block west from the construction recently vacated. It was not until Pentecost, 1906, that the first resident pastor was installed; this was the Rev. G. Spohr, who had helped to serve the congregation during the previous winter. (Pastor Spohr passed to his eternal rest December 18th, 1953). Rev. J. Kroeger accepted the call, and in October, 1909, was installed. At the annual January meeting, in 1910, a motion was passed to start a church building program; at the spring meeting it was resolved to sell the church and purchase two lots on the corner of Aberdeen and Andrews. Excavation was begun in May; the cornerstone laid at the end of June, and the new church dedicated on the first Sunday in Advent, 1910. During the period of Rev. Kroeger's ministry with Christ Congregation, the congregation grew rapidly; Christian education was greatly emphasized, with a parochial school being organized in 1915. Pastor Kroeger resigned in September, 1923. Our third pastor, Rev. E Schiewe, was installed in December, 1923. During his ministry the church debts were liquidated, various fixtures purchased, and general renovations made. This term also saw the celebration of the Congregation's Twenty-fifth Anniversary, the first Sunday in Advent, 1930. Pastor Schiewe resigned in September, 1947, but consented to serve the congregation until the new Pastor arrived. Rev. J. Propp was installed in January, 1948. With his coming, English services became a regular Sunday feature. The parsonage on Inkster Blvd. was purchased in the Spring of 1948 and major improvements made to the church basement. The church paper had its beginning; the duplex envelope system was instituted; the Brotherhood was organized. September, 1951, marked the end of Rev. Propp's ministry with Christ Church. It was not until March, 1953, that the services of our present pastor, W. T. Weind, were procured and his epoch is still in the making. [1956]

If the Ten Could See It Now: taken from "The Services of Dedication", 1956

It's a far cry from the building on the corner of Aberdeen and Andrews -- and even a farther one from the small beginning in the middle of the block in 1906 -- but it's still Christ Lutheran Church. We're referring of course to the new edifice on the corner of Inkster Boulevard and Sinclair Street.

Our story goes back to the year 1906. At that time Christ Lutheran Church was organized with then charter members -- ten members with courage and foresight (building in 1905 was no easier than building in 1955) -- courage, with the help of God, to do, and foresight to know that a beginning had to be made then and there, foundations had to be laid for a congregation, which at one time in the future was to become the largest congregation in the Canada District of the former Ohio Synod.

As is always the case, there are only two ways to go -- backwards or forwards -- and in 1910 a big step forward was taken -- a motion was passed to rebuild - this time on the corner of Aberdeen and Andrews -- and on the first Sunday in Advent, 1910, the new church was dedicated. When the church debts were liquidated everyone heaved a sigh of relief. This was our home of the present and future -- surely our needs would never increase to such an extent that something larger would be needed.

But, oh, we were so wrong. The congregation, with very few set-backs -- kept on growing -- new systems were introduced -- the church was used seven days a week -- facilities were needed to accommodate the ever-increasing Sunday School attendance, Luther League activities, Women's Mission Society and Brotherhood undertakings, Junior Mission Band, the church paper, and so on. Again it was time for a change.

Long and serious thought went into the resolution to build which was passed at the spring meeting, 1954. On February 15th, 1955, sketch and floor plans were approved, and the Building Committee and the Church Council "were empowered to secure any loans required to finance construction of the new church building, and to commence construction as they saw fit." Once again Christ Church was preparing to pull up its roots.

Property was purchased at the northeast corner of Inkster Boulevard and Sinclair Street, and on September 11th, 1955, the ground breaking ceremony was held. Excavation began soon after, and our building was on its way. The courage and faith exhibited by the ten back in 1905 were again brought into play; courage was called upon in the face of many obstacles which arose, and faith was a necessity when the going was not quite as easy as it might have been. The church gradually took shape -- the laminated arches were first to rise tot he skies. Walls covered this frame -- windows were installed, and, with the completion of the exterior, work went on inside which was not seen by the passer-by. To those of us not active in the building -- time passed so slowly, but, it did pass. The sun wasn't the only thing which shone on Pentecost Sunday, May 27th, 1956 -- this, the day of our cornerstone laying, served a dual purpose in that, along with the former event, we celebrated our Fiftieth Anniversary.

Now, four months later, our church is ready for occupancy. Until the C.P.R. tracks are removed, the church will come as a surprise to anyone approaching from the east side. The rise of these tracks conceals our building, and only the tower and cross are visible until one has actually crossed the tracks. The new Christ Lutheran Church comprises an area of approximately 112 ft. by 75 ft. This fully modern structure is finished in hard, permanent, self-cleaning, light buff brick. A large H-steel beam cross, rising above the tower, faces Inkster Boulevard, while a smaller cross hugs the west wall. Double-glazed windows are used for the exterior. The five steps leading to the copper-clad, specially decorated-in-design entrance doors are flanked by Tyndall stone planters. The front entrance leads into the narthex, approximately 18 ft. by 39 ft., which contains facilities for a mother's room, cloak rooms and lavatory. This narthex is separated from the nave by sound-proof glass, but it is fully wired for sound, so that the occupants may see and hear everything going on in the nave. The nave, approximately 39 ft. by 76 ft. and 28 ½ ft. high, is of wood and brick construction (no steel whatsoever), and will seat approximately 416 people on its white oak pews. On entering the nave one's attention is immediately focused on the chancel -- the stark cross centered on the chancel walls -- louvers so arranged that the light is directed towards the altar -- the mahogany furnishings including the intricately carved altar, the pulpit with its carving of "Jesus -- Evangelist", the lectern with its symbols depicting the four Evangelists, the font with the "Lamb of God" on its cover, and the communion rails, also symbolically carved, combine to form and atmosphere of rest, peace and spiritual well-being. A further survey reveals the small chapel at the front of the nave, which is equipped to handle any overflow in attendance, robing rooms, and the pastor's study, all tastefully furnished. Our tour of inspection leads us down the front stairs, the sides of which are finished in brick similar to the exterior, to a mezzanine, containing three rooms, and thereafter to an auditorium, 60 ft. by 39 ft. in size. This is presently equipped with a stage, and will later be equipped with recreational facilities. Three classrooms at the rear can be separated into six smaller classrooms by means of folding doors. A modern kitchen, furnace room, wash rooms, asphalt tile floor and indirect lighting, complete the picture. The auditorium, too, is fully wired for sound, again accommodating any overflow in the nave. After a thorough examination, we take the other stairs up (this stair-hall is also finished in brick) -- and before leaving stop to take one final look at the chancel. We've become aware of a soft warm glow, and find this is reflected by the amber-tinted windows. There's also an inner glow -- not of pride, but of thankfulness and humility -- it's a tremendous responsibility we've taken on -- servicing a fairly new community. It is our prayer that all who enter herein will find:

A room of quiet . . . a temple of peace.
The home of faith . . . where doubtings cease.
A house of comfort . . . where hope is given.
A source of strength . . . to make earth heaven.
A shrine of worship . . . a place to pray.
I found all this . . . in my church today.
Poem written by Cyrus E. Albertson