Divinity Lutheran Church (Oregon, Ohio) records

In 1912 a small group of Lutherans in Ironville, then a suburb of Toledo, saw the need for an English Lutheran Church. They rented space in the Ironville Neighborhood House for their first worship services. On June 1, 1913, Rev. R. H. Benting, DD was installed as a missionary pastor, and the formal organization of the congregation occurred on June 12, 1913. That same year construction of a building began at the corner of Clarence and Case Streets on property purchased from Mr. H. Blum. The sanctuary was completed and dedicated on January 11, 1914. Five years after the congregation was organized, it became independent. The congregation thrived in this community for 45 years.

In 1959 the City of Toledo began an Urban Renewal Program for Ironville. Property owners were notified that the city of Toledo would purchase all properties, buildings would be removed, and the area made available for industrial development.

In July of 1963, the congregation purchased 5 acres at the corner of Pickle and Wynn Roads in Oregon, Ohio, and celebrated groundbreaking on July 31, 1966. Mission status was granted to the congregation by the synod to assist with relocation. The first service and dedication of the Wynn Road building was June 11, 1967.

The congregation grew steadily and then sporadically and once again requested aid from the synod. In 2001, the congregation attempted to enter a co-operative ministry with St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Curtice and then because of financial difficulties voted to merge with St. Luke's. The closing service was August 19, 2001.

The facility was sold to Joseph and Bianca Freck and now houses the Freck Funeral Chapel. Divinity records are stored at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Curtice, Ohio.

This history was prepared by Sheron Baumgartner.