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 began holding worship in its fourth sanctuary. This new facility seats 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.
