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Did you know that the area now occupied by University Lutheran Church (ULC) was once scheduled to be the site of three churches – one Episcopal, one Presbyterian and one Lutheran?

That was the vision in the late ‘50s when the three church bodies acquired adjoining sites. Each thought the area was ideal for ministering to MSU students. It was close to major residence halls (existing and planned). And it was also close to the many married, graduate and international students living in Spartan and University Villages. In short it offered opportunities to reach out to a broad cross-section of both students and resident families.

ULC was instrumental in the early planning by the three denominations. Officially founded in 1941, it has always been a congregation of residents as well as students. For many years, it had no church building and, at one time, worshipped in the State Theater on Abbot Road. After World War II, ULC built the church building that now stands at the corner of Division and Ann Streets and is owned by the Seventh Day Adventists. By the 1960s, it had outgrown the small building and was holding four services on Sunday morning in order to accommodate its parishioners.

After debating the possibility of staying at Division and Ann and building a special ministry building on Harrison Road, the ULC congregation committed itself in 1968 to moving completely to the new site. In 1972, the new building was dedicated and in 1991, a major renovation and addition were completed. The Presbyterians and Episcopalians eventually decided not to build and sold their holdings to ULC.

Old timers in the neighborhood will remember the small house that once stood on the north side of ULC. It was occupied by Lillian Dennison who sold the land on condition that she receive lifetime tenancy. ULC honored the agreement and also assisted Mrs. Dennison in many ways.


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