Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (HTELC) traces its beginnings to July, 1911, when the Rev. J. L. Morgan, missionary with the United Synod in the South, held the first meeting in the Raleigh Briggs building. The Morgan family and two others were in attendance. This stirred sufficient interest among other Lutherans in the area and a year later on July 7, 1912, HTELC was officially organized with 12 charter members. Officers were elected and a constitution adopted. Charter members included 6 men and 6 women.

Services continued in the Briggs Building until a new church was constructed at Boylan and Hillsborough streets. The first service in the new building was held May 9, 1915.

Busy years of organization and new growth saw the beginnings of Luther League, Children's Missionary Society and the Ladies' Aid Society, as well as many baptisms and confirmations.

HTELC, being the first Lutheran church in the Raleigh area, became the “ Mother Church ” sponsoring the establishment of other Lutheran congregations. St. Paul in Durham was the first followed by several others over the years, including Christ the King in Cary, St. Philip and Good Shepherd in Raleigh, Lord of Life in Garner, Abiding Presence in Fuquay-Varina, and most recently the Joy of Discovery in Southeast Raleigh.

In 1941 the original constitution was amended permitting women to serve on the congregation council. This was a much needed but heavily debated change.

In 1953 the present church site at Brooks and Clark was purchased from North Carolina State College. To accommodate a membership that had outgrown the original building, plans for construction of an educational building and student center were begun. The first service in the newly completed building was on December 2, 1956. The education building served as a place of worship until the present sanctuary was completed in 1968. The 3 rank Moeller organ, donated for use in the temporary sanctuary by Mrs. E. E. Randolph, church organist for 37 years, has long since been replaced.

The beautiful church window from the original church building was moved and now serves as a focal point in the Gethsemane Chapel. Linking the two buildings and serving as a gathering place, the Emily Kees Pavilion was dedicated in 1997.

The congregation participates in numerous community ministries, including resettlement of refugees, local, national and global mission work and is the location and congregational agency for Lutheran Campus Ministry for NCSU (NCSU) and other Raleigh campuses. The congregation housed the first offices of Lutheran Family Services of the Carolinas . Additionally, the congregation partially supports the WCPE broadcast of the "Sing for Joy" music program on Sunday mornings at 7:30 a.m. with Rev. Bruce Benson.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , HTELC Archivist

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , HTELC Historian