Our History
An Overview
“Friedens” is a German word which translates to English as “peace.” Incorporated in July of 1854, Friedens was the first Protestant church in Port Washington, Wisconsin. All worship and education was conducted in German until the 1920′s.
Friedens was initially affiliated with a Lutheran denomination but changed its affiliation in the late 1870′s becoming part of the Evangelical Synod of North America. In the 1930′s, the Evangelical Synod merged with a German Reformed denomination to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church. The name of the church was Friedens Evangelical and Reformed Church.
In the late 1950′s, the Evangelical and Reformed church merged with a denomination called Congregational Christian. The result of that merger was the United Church of Christ. Friedens was part of that denomination until July of 1991. Because of great concern regarding the theology of the United Church of Christ, and after two years of discussions and prayerful consideration, the membership of Friedens voted overwhelmingly to end its relationship with the United Church of Christ and become an independent, non-denominational church.
The original building was frame construction. In 1898, a brick structure was erected. We still worship in the main part of that building which was added on to and remodeled in the 1930′s and since. In the early 1970′s a Christian Education and office wing replaced an older separate building near the church. In 1990, the Congregation broke ground for its most recent building project, which included a new main-floor fellowship hall, restrooms, and lower-level classrooms.
In July 2002, fire damaged the 113-year-old buiding, destroying many of its stained-glass windows and its 90-year-old pipe organ, as well as gutting most of its sanctuary and damaging other parts of the building. A $1 million renovation project ensued, during which the pulpit and altar were moved from the west to the east side of the sanctuary.
Though many things have changed in the church since Friedens was founded in 1854, this has not: We are still committed to the ministry to which God has called us. We exist to serve Him and His Kingdom.Those who choose to become a part of the mission and ministry of the Friedens Evangelical Church of today are helping to write the chapters that will one day be history. “May all who come behind us find us faithful!”