Merged churches celebrate 100 years

CENTRAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

By Paul Chambers

Central Lutheran Church (CLC) will mark its 100th anniversary July 24 with services at its sanctuary at 1000 Easton Rd. in Dallas. The congregation will take a nostalgic look back at its rich history that began with just a handful of Norwegian immigrants who met on July 22, 1922, in the old YMCA building on Commerce Street in Downtown Dallas.

In 1923, property was purchased at Victor and Carroll Streets in East Dallas, where a chapel was built by brothers Mike and Tom Grann. Services were held in the original chapel until 1933.

The church remained at its east Dallas location until its current property at 1000 Easton Road was purchased in 1957. CLC’s current sanctuary — with its impressive stained glass — was formally dedicated in December 1968.

Central Lutheran Church of Dallas has been in continuous operation since 1922, and merged with Bethany Lutheran Church of Dallas earlier this year. The combined congregations now worship at the Easton Road location. Bethany’s Child Development Center continues to operate at the former church’s location of 10101 Walnut Hill Lane in Dallas.

Both congregations are united and looking forward to growing the combined churches in the years ahead.

Central Lutheran Church is planning several private events. All are welcome to join the church in its main sanctuary for the anniversary service on Sunday, July 24 at 10:30 a.m. Bishop Erik Gronberg, of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will be conducting the service.

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