Title: Trinity Moravian Church (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) Records
Inclusive Dates: 1898, 1932-1963

Creator:

• Trinity Moravian Church (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.)

Call Number: Stevens Point Mss AE

Quantity: 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box)

Repository:

Housed at the Nelis R. Kampenga University Archives & Area Research Center, Learning Resources Center, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

UW-Stevens Point Library / Stevens Point Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Records of the Trinity Moravian Church, consisting of printed weekly bulletins, 1932-1944; a building dedication program, 1958; catechisms, 1898; and a 1963 history and list of pastors for both the Scandinavian-speaking Trinity Moravian Church and the German-speaking First Moravian Church which united in 1946 and became the Wisconsin Rapids Moravian Church.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-stpt00ae

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

On November 4, 1888, the earliest Moravian church services were held in the Wisconsin Rapids (then called Grand Rapids) area. The First Moravian Church was formally organized on January 20, 1889, with 86 members. A church and parsonage were erected in 1889 and 1890, respectively. Services were held in German, Norwegian, and Danish.

In 1897 language differences caused the congregation to divide into the German speaking First Church segment, and the Scandinavian Moravian Church branch, which later became Trinity Moravian Church. This latter congregation, which was primarily Norwegian in background and language, continued to use the original church building. As the language barrier ceased to be an important factor, plans were made to reunite the two churches for greater effectiveness. Merger occurred in 1946 under the name of the Wisconsin Rapids Moravian Church. New, larger church buildings were constructed, and were dedicated on July 13, 1958.

The major portion of the papers consists of copies of “The Trinity Times,” church bulletins printed weekly beginning in 1932. Also present are a printed history of Trinity and First churches, a list of pastors, both from 1963, and copies of Moravian catechisms published in 1898. One of the catechisms bears the name of Ida Evanson; at one time these papers apparently belonged to the Conrad Evanson family of Rudolph, Wisconsin.

Acquisition Information

Presented by James Joosten, Rudolph, Wisconsin, 1975. Accession Number: M75-636

Processing Information

Processed by Menzi Behrnd, March 21, 1979.

Box   1 Folder   1	History, List of Pastors, and Dedication Program, 1958; 1963
Box   1 Folder   2-8	“The Trinity Times,” 1932-1944
Box   1 Folder   9	Catechisms and Miscellany, 1898, 1934