St. Pauls Evangelical Church

The history of Lutheranism in Slinger goes back to the 1840's. On December 8, 1849, five pastors met at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Milwaukee to make plans for the formation of the "First Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Wisconsin." One of those in attendance was a Pastor Paul Meiss. He was serving German immigrants in Schleisingerville (Slinger) and the surrounding area. St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, however, was not organized as a congregation until May 19, 1873. It immediately joined the First Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Wisconsin, now called the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Rev. Albert Opitz of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hartford served the congregation as its first pastor. He served from 1873 to 1880. He was succeeded by Pastor C. Probst who served Peace in Hartford and St. Paul in Slinger from 1881-1909. The congregation purchased the so-called "Doctor's House" in February of 1875 for $1,200. This served as the house of worship until 1886. In that year the congregation built the church at 204 Kettle Moraine Dr. S. This served St. Paul as a house of worship for nearly 100 years.