History?

First organized March 13, 1898, as a Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church.

• 1906 First full time Pastor

• 1908 Land purchased at Hancock & Mifflin Streets

• 1922 New Sanctuary completed, church renamed to Gloria Dei

• 1923 Language change from Swedish to English

• 1926 Name changed to Central Evangelical

• 1963 New Messiah Church on Cottage Grove Rd held first worship service on Thanksgiving Eve

• 1966 Messiah Church Preschool formed

• 1990 Sanctuary remodeled

• 2009 Expansion of Church, addition of new Sanctuary

• 2020 Renovation of the Education Wing, Community Room, Office space and addition of the Canopy