| Additional Information: | This property consists of the St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (1967) and a one-story educational/parish hall facility that was completed in 1954. The one-story and full basement structure to the west is topped with a flat roof and is sheathed with Lannon stone. Original multiple-light windows have been replaced with modern examples. A one-story, Mansard-roof entrance (1990) connects the 1954 building to the 1967 church and is sheathed with a stone veneer that is very similar to that found on both structures. The church is largely front-gabled in form; however, the chancel end (north) is topped with a vaulted ceiling and multi-point roofline. The entrance elevation is comprised of thirty-six, bas relief stone carvings that symbolize the patriarchs, prophets and the Apostles; a rectangular tower rises at the southwest corner from which a spire rises. A grille encloses the carillon speakers near the base, while a cross is situated at the top. The first floor of the building’s N. Grand Avenue (east) elevation is dominated by twenty-two panes of multi-faceted glass (designed by Bernard Gruenke of Conrad Schmitt Studios) that depict the Life of Christ. The remainder of the exterior wall space is sheathed with Lannon stone, aside from the chancel’s blue-gray, Thermopane window walls that are supported by concrete columns. The church interior retains its original wooden pews, pulpit and baptismal font, wood-trimmed ceiling, granite altar and slate altar steps. A wooden reredos “wall” features carved wooden statues of the twelve Apostles hung amongst wooden blocks that combine to represent a fisherman’s net. At the center is a 22-foot, bronze cross. The sacristy and pastor’s office rooms are accessed from the west side of the chancel. In addition, the church was built with a small chapel to the west, which incorporated the following elements from the former 1927 church: wooden pews, altar, pulpit and light fixtures. The upper level of the chapel space features thirteen windows that depict the life of Luther. The church was originally built to connect to the parish house at the basement level.
Comprised of 39 charter members, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church was organized on 31 August 1921 at the YMCA formerly on South Street (current location of the Municipal Parking Ramp, 255 South Street). Approximately one year later, and with their first regular pastor in place, the group purchased a parcel at the northwest corner of N. Grand Avenue and Carroll Street, where they would ultimately build their first church. Groundbreaking occurred on 28 November 1926 and dedication was held on 27 March 1927. In 1954, the Alfred Siewert-designed, one-story, stone-sheathed, educational building was added to the property at an approximate cost of $210,000. The red brick church, which was constructed of red pavers removed from Grand Avenue, served the congregation until August 1965, at which time it was dismantled and groundbreaking occurred for their new (current) house of worship. While they were without a church, the congregation held services in the Park Theater at 717 N. Grand Avenue (no longer extant).
Dedication of the church, which was designed by the architectural firm of Cooley & Borre & Associates of Park Ridge, Illinois, was held on 18 December 1966. The cost was approximated at $256,000 and construction was completed by Oliver Construction Company of Oconomowoc. In 1989-1990, renovations were made to the church, which included the addition of a new entrance that connected the parish house and the church and added basement-level classrooms and an elevator. Despite that addition, the church proper remains entirely intact. In 2011, the congregation celebrated their 90th anniversary. The congregation is currently investigating how to renovate their church interior in order to best take advantage of its existing available space.
2019: In 2017, significant interior remodeling occurred which included a new chancel (including the removal of the original carved wooden reredos), new pews and new lighting. Most significant was that new windows were cut into the formerly solid stone exterior wall of the nave. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Original permit for church dated 23 August 1965, est. cost $256,000.
In 1990 a new entrance was completed and that now entirely connects the church and the interior of the earlier building.
Jim Huston, “St. Luke’s New Church Features Clean Lines but Traditional Look,” Waukesha Daily Freeman, no date (Ca. 1966-67), Clipping included in panel history compiled by the church’s 90th Anniversary Celebration Team, 2011, Panels on display in the Cloninger Hall, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Waukesha, WI.
“Our History,” Available on St. Luke’s Lutheran Church website at www.stlukeslutheran.org/our-history, Accessed July 2014; “Spring City’s Past,” 70; Original permit for educational building/parish hall, 24 September 1953; “Golden Anniversary, 1921-1971,” Prepared by the St. Luke’s Lutheran Congregation, 1971; “The 90th Anniversary of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church,” Celebration weekend (21 and 22 May 2011) booklet prepared by the 90th Anniversary Celebration Team, 2011, Booklet available at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church.
Penn Loerke, Jean. "The Spires of Waukesha: Ten Churches Plus One" Waukesha County Museum, May, 1975. |
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