First English Lutheran Church of Spring Valley, Minnesota, was founded by the Reverend Julius A Stein who, at the time, was the pastor of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Wykoff, Minnesota.

It was 1929 that the Rev. Stein first suggested opening a Mission Church in Spring Valley. The suggestion met with disapproval.

In 1931 and 1932 student Walter Schultz was instructed to make an inquiry concerning the starting of a Mission. This again met with disapproval as the St. Johns congregation of Wykoff was not interested.

In 1935, Rev. Stein, Albert Bleich, and Charles Schroeder made arrangements to rent the Evangelical United Brethren Church, located on Highway 63 South. The first worship service was held on November 24, 1935, conducted by the Rev. Stein, with 86 in attendance.

In late March, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod purchased a lot. It was decided to build a story and a half structure. Work began on the church building on September 1.

The First English Lutheran “Cottage Chapel”, located at 109 South Hudson Avenue, Spring Valley, was opened with special dedicatory services on Sunday, December 6, 1936.

On March 24, a meeting was duly called with families living in and around Spring Valley Who felt they should form a new congregation and ultimately have their own house of worship in Spring Valley. They, herewith, resolved to organize a Lutheran congregation joining themselves together for this purpose.

May1: Another meeting was held whereby they now voted to start a Mission Church in Spring Valley. On May 11, the congregation organized and the first officers were elected.

May 25: Constitution presented to the congregation by Rev. J. A. Stein. The constitution was adopted and the name First English Lutheran became official.

The upstairs of the Cottage Chapel was converted into living quarters, and on June 23, it was decided to call a resident pastor.

In April, a building committee was elected; on June 3, the congregation voted to build a church. At the July 10th meeting, it was decided to purchase 2 lots on Grant Street for $2,750.

July 5 it was decided to have an architect draw preliminary plans for a new church on Grant Street, with a seating capacity of 225.

December 13, plans were discussed and adopted at a special meeting for a new church building.

In March, the voters unanimously voted to begin work on the basement of the new church building. The basement was dug and groundbreaking was observed on September 24. Rock was gathered from the Bly Quarry and unloaded at the site, but actual construction didn’t begin until the following spring.

November 13, the debt on the basement was $11,628.47. It was decided to lower the dept before building the church.

January: The debt on the church basement was $5,500.

In January, First English could finally say, “We are DEBT FREE”.
On November 24th, Thanksgiving Day, we observed the 25th Anniversary of our first church service in Spring Valley.

Construction of the church began on June 15; services continued to be held in the basement. All the stone from the Bly Quarry was donated.

July 9: The cornerstone for the new church was placed by the general contractor, Martin Schlottack.
The new church was dedicated on November 19, 1961, with three services.

Monthly payments for the new church building were $577.00 for the first 3 years, then $277.00 for the remainder of the loan.

A larger parsonage was purchased with an October 15 possession date. It is located at 305 Pearl Street, Spring Valley. The Cottage Chapel Parsonage was then sold for the sum of $13,500.

First English helps with the Meals on Wheels Program, delivering meals to shut-ins, Monday through Friday.

May 22 a pot-luck luncheon was held to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of First English Lutheran.

On May 15, a catered noon meal was held to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of First English Lutheran.

1947 The proposed budget was $2,150.47 ; Pastor’s salary was $1,720.

1959 January: A new dial telephone was installed at the church. The number was 346-2793. First English Lutheran still has that number.

1973 First English begins delivering meals for Meals on Wheels; this continues to the present.

History compiled by: Carllie Marzolf, Ethel Olson, Agnes Recknor, Laura Stoltenberg and Lorraine Albrecht.