About: History

Timeline History of Augsburg

Like its older sister congregations in the North Carolina Piedmont, Augsburg Evangelical Lutheran Church,Winston-Salem, North Carolina, traces its history to the first arrival of German immigrants in the years between 1740 and 1750. Unlike those congregations, however, Augsburg was not founded by immigrants, but by descendants of immigrants, nearly 150 years later.

1891 - Rev. William Alonzo Lutz-First Pastor
1893 - Corner stone laid, Spruce and West Fourth Streets.
1895 - Sanctuary dedication
1904 - Luther League formed.
1906 - Congregation votes to build new church at 511 West Fourth Street.
1908 - Ladies Aid Society formed.
1909 - Pipe organ installed.
1910 - Altar Guild formed.
1925 - Purchased two lots on Fifth Street between Broad and Summit for current building.
1926 - Relaying of old cornerstone at new church building at 845 W. Fifth Street.
1936 - Evening Services with Centenary Methodist, Home Moravian and other churches.
1941 - 50th Anniversary celebrated.
1948 - Radio broadcasts of Sunday morning service through 1963.
1954 - Charity Reserve Fund began.
1954 - Purchased adjacent lot for future expansion.
1957 - Construction begins on educational building.
1957 - Augsburg sponsors new mission church, Christ Lutheran,in Winston-salem. Thirty Augsburg families transfer their membership.
1958 - The United Lutheran Church issues new Service Book and Hymnal (red book) replacing the Common Service Book (1917).
1962 - Augsburg Pastor John Yoder organizes the Lutheran Church of the Epiphany and twenty eight Augsburg families transfer their membership.
1962 - United Lutheran Church of America merges with other Lutherans to form the Lutheran Church in America (LCA).
1962 - Lutheran Church Women (LCW) formed.
1962 - Lutheran Brotherhood (men's organization) becomes Lutheran Church Men (LCM).
1964 - Evangelism committee formed.
1965 - Downtown Church Committee formed with Augsburg as a member.
1965 - Augsburg grows to third largest church in membership in the North Carolina Synod.
1968 - New pipe organ installed.
1969 - The Efird L. and Maria F. Hine Fund established in Mr. Hine's will.
1969 - Mrs. Mildred Fogleman is first woman to be elected to Augsburg's Council.
1970 - Augsburg houses (until 1991) a kindergarten and pre-school, sponsored by the Downtown Church Committee.
1971 - Air conditioning installation completed.
1972 - Augsburg's first vicar (seminary student) Roy Riley arrives.
1973 - Miss Mary Louise Shore, organist and choirmaster (22yrs) resigns and Dr. Richard G. Neubert assumes duties.
1973 - Tape (cassette) Ministry begins; Augsburg becomes involved with Crisis Control Center. 1973 - Vicar Carl Isaacson arrives.
1975 - Augsburg helps resettling refugee family (Van Nguyen's) from Vietnam.
1975 - Lay Ministers (Communion assistants) and later Lay Readers participate in worship services.
1976 - First female President of the Congregation, Mrs. Hope Harmon.
1977 - 50th anniversary of Augsburg on Fifth Street celebrated.
1978 - The Lutheran Book of Worship (green book) replaces the Service Book and Hymnal (red book). 1980 - Vicar David Yoder arrives.
1982 - Augsburg helps resettling refugee family/relatives (Konjou's) from Poland.
1983 - Augsburg shelters homeless during month of February (1983---1988).
1983 - Martin Luther's 500th birthday was celebrated at Augsburg with special events.
1986 - Augsburg suffers loss of oldest member, Mrs. Zella Melchor,who was confirmed at Augsburg in 1906.
1987 - Merger creates the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
1987 - Augsburg purchases Friends Meeting House on Broad St. (renamed Augsburg Community Center).
1991 - Augsburg Centennial celebration.
1992 - Dr. Donald Armitage replaces Dr. Richard Nuebert who served as choir director/organist for 18 years.
1997 - Augsburg renovates a cabin at Lutheridge.
1998 - Began Building With Living Stones campaign to build Family Life Center facility.
2001 - Augsburg becomes a Stephen Ministry congregation.
2002 - Dedicated new family life center, columbarium, and renovated the music, administrative and youth ministry areas.
2002 - Began "With Hearts and Hands and Voices" annual arts celebrations.
2003 - Provided money for two new cabins at Lutheridge/LutherRock, which are named in honor of Pastors C. Ross Ritchie and Ronald A. Rinn.
2003 - Ordination of Phillip W. Martin, Jr., son of Phil and Linda Martin and grandson of Bob and Ruth Helton, held at Augsburg.
2004 - Vicar Larry Hagerty arrives.
2005 - Vicar Phillip Vickers arrives.
2006 - Gathering Room Window and Furnishings dedicated.
2006 - Columbarium Cross dedicated.
2006 - Vicar Anna Merritt arives.

Pastors who have served Augsburg:

Pastor William A. Lutz: 1892-1900
Pastor Edward L. Folk: 1900-1901
Pastor C. A. Ritchie: 1902-1903
Pastor E. P. Conrad: 1904-1905
Pastor George S. Bearden: 1906-1908
Pastor Elonzo A. Shenk: 1908-1915
Pastor Irving E. Long: 1916-1920
Pastor Michael M. Kinard: 1920-1924
Pastor F. C. Longaker: 1924-1925
Pastor Samuel M. Hahn: 1925-1942
Pastor Ray R. Fisher: 1942-1971
Pastor Lethco C. Bumgarner: 1958-1971
Pastor C. Ross Ritchie: 1971-1988
Pastor E. Roy Riley: 1974-1980
Pastor Timothy H. Glenham: 1981-1989
Pastor Ronald A. Rinn: 1989-Present
Pastor David Winkle: 1990-1997
Pastor Lisa Anderson: 1998-1999
Pastor Shirley Harrison: 2001-Present

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About: History

Timeline History of Augsburg

Pastors who have served Augsburg: