We at Saint Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church are a group of people who love the Lord. We welcome you to come and discover who we are by worshiping with us!
Our Church History
In 1884, Saint Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized by Pastor D Lebahn of Iowa Synod. His call was to seek out and gather settlers of German descent into congregations. In Thompson, he found several families that had moved here from Rippon, Wisconsin. For the next year Pastor C.G. Eisenberg led the church, in members' homes. The congregation continued to grow until 1902 when money was raised to build a church building on a corner of Lewis Block farm just north and west of Thompson, ND.
In 1923 the church was moved to 5th street and changed its affiliation to the Norwegian Synod.For 10 years, it was part of a three-church parish, which included Walle Lutheran. Then, in 1933, Saint Matthew's voted to affiliate with the Missouri Synod and was the first part of a joint parish with Immanuel Lutheran in Grand Forks. Then, from 1950 on, it was yoked with a new mission congregation in Grand Forks.
In 1979, Saint Matthew's made the decision to join the American Lutheran Church. This occurred at the same time as a major growth spurt in the congregation's size. The congregation had outgrown the building. Land was donated by Tillie Bohlman, funds were raised, and much of the work was completed by members of the congregation. The first service in the present parish was held on June 27, 1982. During the 1980s, Saint Matthew's became a part of a joint parish with Rosendal Lutheran which lasted until Rosendal closed in 1991. In 1988, the American Lutheran Church become a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America of which Saint Matthew's is currently a member.
Saint Matthew's outgrew their building again and broke ground for a new addition in 2010. We are blessed to have additional classroom and fellowship space that we are already beginning to outgrow. We pray as we continue to write our history, that we can continue to follow God's leading, and give Him thanks for the many blessings he has given!
In 1923 the church was moved to 5th street and changed its affiliation to the Norwegian Synod.For 10 years, it was part of a three-church parish, which included Walle Lutheran. Then, in 1933, Saint Matthew's voted to affiliate with the Missouri Synod and was the first part of a joint parish with Immanuel Lutheran in Grand Forks. Then, from 1950 on, it was yoked with a new mission congregation in Grand Forks.
In 1979, Saint Matthew's made the decision to join the American Lutheran Church. This occurred at the same time as a major growth spurt in the congregation's size. The congregation had outgrown the building. Land was donated by Tillie Bohlman, funds were raised, and much of the work was completed by members of the congregation. The first service in the present parish was held on June 27, 1982. During the 1980s, Saint Matthew's became a part of a joint parish with Rosendal Lutheran which lasted until Rosendal closed in 1991. In 1988, the American Lutheran Church become a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America of which Saint Matthew's is currently a member.
Saint Matthew's outgrew their building again and broke ground for a new addition in 2010. We are blessed to have additional classroom and fellowship space that we are already beginning to outgrow. We pray as we continue to write our history, that we can continue to follow God's leading, and give Him thanks for the many blessings he has given!
