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During the
past thirty years the Klein area has been rapidly transformed from a quiet
rural area farmed by descendants of 19th century German immigrants into a
bustling suburb of the nation's fourth largest city. Though the land has
undergone tremendous change, memories of the early people and their communities
can still be found. The community of Klein still vigorously preserves much of
its German heritage.
The Klein community received its name from one of the early
German immigrants, Adam Klein, who moved to the area in 1854. Other German
immigrants, the Stracks, the Brautigams, Roths, Kaisers, Theisses, Wunderlichs,
Hasslers, Krahns, Lemms, Haudes, and Klebs farmed the rich Texas soil and began
to establish a strong German community.
The
Christian faith of the early German immigrants helped sustain them throughout
the many hardships of pioneer life. In 1874, Adam Klein, Jacob Theiss, Jost
Wunderlich, Henry Kaiser, Henry Benfer, Henry Bernshausen, William Lemm and
John Brill formed Trinity Lutheran
Church as a place of worship for the German families in the area. The
church became an important part of the spiritual and social life of the growing
community. Christian education has always been an integral part of Trinity
Lutheran Church. Trinity Lutheran School
was founded in the same year as the church and educated the children of the
immigrants in spiritual and moral truths. Lessons were taught in both English
and German for many years. The local school districts in the Klein community
have recognized the important contributions of Trinity's founding members and
have named its schools after these families.
Trinity Lutheran Church and School continues to serve the
community after 134 years. The church
baptized membership has grown to over 3600. As of June 15, 2008, the Trinity community
will hold worship in its fourth sanctuary. This new facility will seat 1300
people with an attached chapel with a seating capacity of 200. The brass bell which was purchased in 1882
and hung in the steeple of the first white wooden church still calls the
faithful to worship today. This treasured piece of history has been placed in
the new sanctuary to peal out a welcome to generations to come.
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