St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Ottawa

St. Peter's Lutheran Church
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
Location	400 Sparks Street Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1R 5A2
Denomination	Lutheran Church of Canada
Churchmanship	Protestant
Membership	400
Website	St. Peter's Lutheran Church Website
History
Dedication	St. Peter
Dedicated	1954
Architecture
Status	Active
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Cecil Burgess
Style	Gothic style
Groundbreaking	1951
Completed	1954
Specifications
Materials	sandstone
Administration
Province	Ontario
Presbytery	Ottawa Presberty
Clergy
Pastor(s)	Barton Beglo

St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church is a church in Ottawa, Ontario situated on Ottawa's ceremonial route and overlooks the Garden of the Provinces, the Ottawa River and the Gatineau Hills. St. Peter's is an Ottawa landmark. The motto is "A community of faith seeking to grow in God's grace and love".

The church was established in 1910 with 66 members. On July 10, 1910 the first services were held with 46 persons attending the morning and 40 attending in the evening at King’s Daughters Hall, 214 Laurier Avenue. St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church was established July 10, 1910 with 66 members. A permanent organization is established with 66 charter members on October 9, 1910. The Church Council met for the first time and selected the name “St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ottawa” October 19, 1912.

The early members were predominantly of European origin, whether residents of Ottawa, recent immigrants, or arrivals from neighbouring towns and rural communities. In April 1913, a property at Lyon and Nepean Streets was purchased which consisted of three small houses with sufficient land behind them to erect a small church. Plans for the church were approved and building began on Lyon Street September 24, 1914. The first building was dedicated on Easter Sunday April 12, 1914. St. Peter’s was without a pastor 1915-1917. With a congregation of only 40 members, foreclosure was threatened on the debt in 1918. Pastor Luther McCreery served at St. Peter’s in 1919-1930. He canvassed for donations in order to keep St. Peter’s open, reduce the debt and for a building fund. The membership rose to 100.

After many years of financial hardship, the congregation gradually increased and outgrew its church building. In fall 1937, a two-manual Franklin-Legge organ was purchased. The organ was rebuilt and moved to the new church in 1954. The interior of the church was remodelled and redecorated and a new altar cross, candlesticks and vases were purchased in 1944. In 1944, the row of houses on Lyon Street were sold and the debt was discharged. The congregation was growing and the church building was too small. In November, 1948 a site at Sparks and Bay Street was purchased. In 1951, the buildings on the site were demolished to make room for the new church.

The present building was dedicated in 1954. designed in traditional Gothic style, the architect was Cecil Burgess. The sandstone was cut from the same quarry as stone used for the Parliament buildings. On July 6, 1952 ground was broken for the new church. On October 26, 1952 the cornerstone was laid.