New Life Lutheran Church (Florence, Or.)

The first service of this congregation was held on February 20, 1949, with nineteen persons present. Official organization as St. Paul’s Lutheran Church occurred on October 30 of that year with 26 communicant members. In April of 1951 construction began on a basement chapel located on Highway 101 South, on land that was donated to the congregation. This was dedicated on July 6, 1952, and Rev. Donald Butenshon was installed as the congregation’s first ordained pastor. On April 3, 1952 construction began on the main edifice. The first worship service in the new sanctuary was held Easter morning, April 18, 1954, and the new building was dedicated on September 12 of that year. The congregation celebrated its Tenth Anniversary on November 1, 1959. In 1969 the congregation voted to relocate, purchasing the land which is their present site. Groundbreaking occurred that September. Dedication of the new building was held on September 12, 1971 to New Life Center. It was again changed in February of 1981 to New Life Lutheran Church. On October 28, 1984 the congregation celebrated their 35th anniversary and Mortgage burning.