Salem United Church of Christ
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Marker Inscription
Salem United Church of Christ (Evangelical and Reformed) was founded as the first German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jefferson City, March 8, 1863. The first worship services of Salem were held in temporary quarters. The congregation erected its first church building on the corner of Milan and Camp Streets, dedicated March 18, 1866. It was replaced by the present building, dedicated March 25, 1906. Diboll and Owen, architects. J.A. Petty, builder. The adjoining educational building was dedicated November 15, 1936. Sam Stone, Jr., architect. G.E. Reimann, builder. Worship services were conducted in the German language until October 8, 1895, at which time English language services were introduced. 125th Anniversary 1988
The Story
Founded on March 8, 1863, as the first German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jefferson City, this congregation served the German-speaking immigrants of a suburb later absorbed into New Orleans. It dedicated its first building in 1866 and the present church in 1906, and it preached in German until English services began in 1895. The parish, now Salem United Church of Christ, marked its 125th anniversary in 1988.
Why it matters
It reflects the large German immigration that shaped nineteenth-century American cities and the slow shift from immigrant languages to English.
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