Promise to Stay Downtown: Trinity Lutheran Church Celebrates Completion of 4-Year Project in Moorhead – InForum

MOORHEAD – On Sunday, Nov. 3, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a baked potato, watch the Minnesota Vikings game and see the newest addition to downtown Moorhead.

Although Trinity Lutheran Church has been in Moorhead since the late 1800s, the four-year, $14 million construction project is complete.

With Trinity pastors joined by Chamber and City of Moorhead officials, the church cut the ribbon on its new addition and renovation on Friday, November 1st.

For the past four years, the longtime Moorhead church has been working on a new welcome center and community area;
basically removing the old center of the church.

“So, we’re excited to be here in downtown Moorhead. We have been here since 1882. We celebrated our 140th anniversary a couple of years ago and look forward to another 140 years,” said Matt Peterson, Trinity pastor.

Trinity has been part of the downtown Moorhead skyline since Scandinavian pioneers settled here. Trinity was rebuilt here after a fire in 1950 destroyed everything.

Several years ago the community had to make a decision. Since renovations are sorely needed, should parishioners move to a more established and growing part of Moorhead or stay downtown.

“The church is not a building, but people. And our impact is in the community where our members live their faith and are a light in Moorhead, that’s how we make a difference,” Simon Fensom, Trinity’s pastor, said.

The kindergarten, located here since the 1960s, has a new, safe home. The two places of worship remain the same. There is now a new middle space to welcome the community, which will have access to events and meetings.

“It gave us a new sense of purpose: We are a church that is located downtown to meet the needs of the people downtown and cares about others, not us,” said Mark Jensen, a church member.

One of the biggest challenges for the architects in building the new space was all the changes that had occurred at Trinity over the years. There are parts of the property from the 1800s, 1900s and later. Foundations from the 1800s, church additions from the 40s, 50s, 60s and 80s. All with various HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems. Zerr Berg Architects was responsible for the project.
Now the new space is 140 years later and one of Moorhead’s oldest churches promises to remain in the downtown area.

An open house for the entire Trinity Lutheran Church community will begin at noon Sunday and will include a baked potato bar, dessert and refreshments, and the Minnesota Vikings game. The church is located at 210 7th St. S.