In 1835…

In 1835, the first railway in continental Europe opened in Belgium between Brussels and Mechelen. The Great Fire of New York City consumed 600+ buildings and levelled the lower part of Manhattan. HMS Beagle dropped anchor off the Chonos Archipelago, and evolutionism godfather Charles Darwin disembarked. And a small group of German Lutherans identified a small tract of land near the Grand River in central Upper Canada and began to hold services. This was the humble beginning of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. In the 1990s the congregation added the word “Historic” to St. Paul’s, and since then the congregation has gathered for worship as Historic St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. 

Since 1835, confessional Lutheran Christians have been worshipping on this ground in what is now known as 137 Queen St. S, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. We thank and praise our God and Father Who still blesses and protects His church here and around the world.

Our Mission is our Promise to God and to our neighbours: 

Together, lift high the cross of Jesus, proclaiming the Gospel, and reaching out in loving service to our members, community, and world. 

Martin Luther once declared that when it comes to the things of God, we are beggars, unable to free ourselves from our sinful condition. But through Christ’s Holy Word and Sacraments we receive forgiveness of sin, life and salvation which can never be taken from us. And it is this overwhelming Good News that we at HSP give thanks and praise to God for, and which we share from Kitchener, and to Ontario, and to the ends of the earth! 

Please join us, in-person at HSP, and at our website, for our service live-stream and recorded weekly Bible studies. 

May the Lord bless you and make you a blessing! 

Rev Dr Jim Keller, Pastor—Historic St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church—2 Corinthians 5:7