Pilgrim History - The Beginnings PDF Print

In its wisdom and foresight, the Mission Board of the Lutheran Church identified Bellaire-Southwest Houston as being a great and up and coming area.  A new mission station was established there in 1947.  Candidate Robert Ehlers, age 25, of Cornucopia, WI, was assigned as missionary.  On October 5, 1947, he was ordained and commissioned in a service at St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Houston.  Rev. Ehlers and his wife were provided a parsonage at 5112 Locust St. in Bellaire.

The first worship service of the new mission was held in the Bellaire City Hall on October 12, 1947, with 48 worshipers in attendance. Sunday School and Adult Bible Class started two weeks later.  Looking to the future, a one acre tract of land was purchased at 5314 Old Richmond Road (now Bissonnet) in Bellaire.

The organizational meeting of the congregation was held in Bellaire City Hall on November 30, 1947.  Constitution and by-laws were adopted on December 8, 1947.  The new church had a name: Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Pilgrim was officially received at the next scheduled Synodical Convention.

 

 

Bellaire City Hall
1947 Meeting place of Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church

The first few years were filled with changes for the fledgling community.  Rev. Ehlers served as pastor until March 1948, when he was forced to resign due to health concerns.  Rev. Leon Birnbaum then served from July 1948 until leaving to answer a call to Oklahoma in January 1950.  During his tenure, Pilgrim moved its worship services from the Bellaire City Hall to Harris County's Mary and Martha Chapel at the Bayland Burnett Home for Girls.  This was the chapel with the celebratred cross at the top.

 

 

Mary and Martha Chapel at the Bayland Burnett Home for Girls
House of worship for Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 1948-1949