Temple in Bell County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

First Lutheran Church

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, December 10, 2025

1. First Lutheran Church Marker

Inscription. When this church was organized by the Rev. Carl Kreutzenstein in 1886 for Temple's German-speaking Lutherans, it was named Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church. Charter members included the Schmidt, Paulus, Scholz, Koch, Bosl, Jahnke, Rhein, and Haedge families. A small frame sanctuary was built at the corner of Avenue F and Fourth Street. By 1913 the congregation needed larger facilities, and a new building was erected at Avenue G and South First. In 1946 the church was renamed First Lutheran Church. A new sanctuary was built at this site in 1958.

Erected 1989 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1737.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.

Location. 31° 6.111′ N, 97° 21.435′ W. Marker is in Temple, Texas, in Bell County. It is at the intersection of N 31st Street and West Adams Avenue (Texas Highway 53), on the right when traveling north on N 31st Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1515 W Adams Ave, Temple TX 76504, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Texas.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Immanuel Baptist Church (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bird Creek Battlefield (approx. ¼ mile away); 36th Division, 143rd Infantry Regiment, Company D Memorial

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(approx. 0.6 miles away); Santa Fe Memorial Hospital, Inc. (approx. 0.6 miles away); W. Goodrich Jones (approx. 0.7 miles away); Lake Polk Park (approx. 0.8 miles away); Bernard Moore Temple (approx. 0.8 miles away); Cora Anderson Negro Hospital (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Temple.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, December 10, 2025

2. First Lutheran Church Marker

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, December 10, 2025

3. First Lutheran Church Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 11, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 52 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 11, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.