Only three years later, the little flock felt it was strong enough to build its own first house of worship on a plot of ground on the present-day cemetery grounds. Above its enlarged doorway were carved the German words: “Deutsch Evangelisch Lutherische Sanct Trinitatis Kirche, Gebaut 1867”[1]. This sign was taken from the old building before it’s demolition and currently hangs in Trinity’s chapel.

The first church building had grown too small for the increasing membership and thoughts had to turn to a larger building. But since the members living in several different areas could not agree on a new building site, a separation was agreed on. A number of members built a new church in Lansing in 1883 and became St. John’s Lutheran Church. However, both congregations continued as one parish.

Trinity’s congregation continued to worship in the church on the cemetery until the year 1888. It was at that time that plans for a new building were made. The contact for the new building was given to the Semmelhaacks. Among those who did the carpenter work are names familiar to much of Lansing’s history: Jacob Semmelhaack, Helmuth Vierk, William Saas, George Erhard, and Carl Liepke. They also hired some men from the Deutsche Gesellschaft, an employment agency in Chicago, because carpenter work was scarce in this neighborhood at that time. The church was built on a lot bought from the Tonn estate on the north side of Indiana Avenue.

The present-day Trinity Lutheran Church now resides on the South side of Indiana Ave.