First Lutheran Church

First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brockton was organized on April 30, 1867 as the First Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of North Bridgewater.  Founded by Swedish immigrants, the church was the first religious institution in New England established by Scandinavians.

The sanctuary was erected in 1922-23 upon the site of the congregation’s first church building.  The church was designed by architect Charles Coveney of the Boston architectural firm, Brigham, Coveney & Bisbee. This firm also designed the Christian Science “Mother Church” in Boston as well as the Unitarian complex in Fairhaven, Mass. consisting of a grouping of buildings. The majority of the stained glass is of the English Antique painted style and was executed by the studios of Vaughn, O’Neill & Co. also of Boston.  The window in the west wall of the tower was the work of the Alfred M. Bell Studio of Boston and is in the laminated opalescent style of Tiffany.  This window was restored in 2003.  The stained glass in the choir was added in 1971.

The organ is the church’s second instrument.  In 1968 the Schantz Organ Company of Orrville, Ohio installed their Opus 824 in the sanctuary replacing the original 1923 instrument which was located on the far left of the chancel.  Dedicated on February 25, 1968, the Schantz organ was built at a cost of $50,000.00 in 2008 the instrument was removed, sent back to the Schantz factory and was completely rebuilt and upgraded to include many modern technological features, this was done at a cost in excess of $250,000.00.  The rebuilt instrument was re-dedicated on February 1, 2009.

The altar, reredos, pulpit and chancel cresting are of red oak and designed and carved by the studios of Boston sculptor, Angelo Lualdi who also designed and sculpted major portions of the high altar at Washington D.C.’s National Cathedral.  The church’s bell is a 1500-pound bell cast by the Meneely Bell Company of Troy, New York and tolls in the key of G.  The church building was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1923, by the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden, Nathan Söderblom.

In 2022, by enthusiastic and unanimous vote, First Evangelical Lutheran Church and Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church joined hands and merged as one expression of Lutheran practice in the city of Brockton. Both congregations were strengthened by becoming one in worship, Christian instruction, and outreach. The merged church continued as First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brockton.

Services are held each Sunday morning at 9 a.m. in the main sanctuary and on the internet through Facebook Live—ALL ARE WELCOME!

First Evangelical Lutheran Church is a Gospel-centered community of faith. A regional church, First Lutheran serves communities within a 35-mile radius of the City of Brockton. We are part of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.