About St. Paul Lutheran Church
Are you looking for a faith community where you can grow in your beliefs and share your gifts?
Do you want an extended family that will walk with you, uplift you, and help you in your journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ?
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If so—or even if you have no idea what these questions mean!—we invite you to St. Paul Lutheran Church.
St. Paul is a congregation of the ELCA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which claims, “All people seek meaning. This can come in the form of knowledge, relationships, spirituality, or organized religion. We believe God’s grace, God’s unfathomable love, is available to all people as a gift through Jesus Christ. All are welcome here with their whole selves. Questions and doubts are welcome.”
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Being part of St. Paul does not hinge on what you wear, your financial or social status, your education, background, ethnicity, race, age, family structure, or gender. Instead, our church affirms the promise of eternal life with God in Christ. This relationship is nurtured through Word, prayer, sacrament, fellowship, and service.
Come and learn more about St. Paul and what it means to be a member of this family of faith!
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Our History
First Worship Service May 10th 1953
​​​​​​Don and Margaret Richardson were among the group of 33 persons who got together for the first worship service on May 10,1953. A year and a half later they were joined by 52 others in signing the charter roll. During the first year the average attendance was 40, the number of new members received was 32 and the number of members released was 20.
Founded December 5th 1954
Saint Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized on December 5, 1954. By the end of the first full year, the membership had reached a total of 95. Don was one of the first to dream of a Lutheran congregation in the Maryville - Alcoa area.
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During the early years much was accomplished when the congregation was able to call its first full-time pastor. There were setbacks as well, such as when the military air base at McGhee Tyson was vacated and the Alcoa Aluminum plant operations were cut back to a 1937 personnel level. In the Spring of 1960, there were only 8 members who communed. During that year Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church offered its facilities for use by the Lutherans.
Groundbreaking of First Location April 29th 1962
Groundbreaking for the first unit of the church at our first location was held on Sunday, April 29,1962, and the first service in the new building was held on October 21st of that year. In 1967, a building fund was begun and with that financial base, a second unit was completed in June, 1969.
Second Location Dedicated November 16th 1986
From such humble beginnings, Saint Paul has continued to grow requiring more space. A new Sanctuary was built and dedicated on November 16, 1986. It seated 160 and was designed for 220. We then reached close to our capacity again. Realizing the need for more space and replacement of an inadequate facility, the congregation overwhelmingly voted in 2000 to sell the facility, buy new property and build an entirely new facility. We then temporarily relocated to the former East Maryville Baptist Church.
Moved Into Current Location April 2002
In April 2002, we located in our new home on Sandy Springs Road. Saint Paul has always had a wealth of talented members willing to share with each other and the community, their faith, assistance and the Good News of Jesus Christ We are grateful for the way the Holy Spirit of God has been at work through those who began the Lutheran ministry here and is now at work through us who are involved in the life of Saint Paul today.
