| History of
First Lutheran Church
 In 1871, a group of Norwegian immigrants settling in the Fargo-Moorhead area were holding worship services. Many lived in tents in the sparsely populated river town. On October 4th, 1872, Rev. Niels T. Ylvisaker led the early settlers in worship at a Moorhead home. From this the "Moorhead Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation" was formed. This congregation's first church was built in 1874 but sold in 1878 because the financial burden was too great. The congregation instead chose to rent meeting facilities in Fargo. In September of 1878 the church changed its name to "Our Savior's Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church." Another name change took place in 1892 when the name "First Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church" was chosen. A church was built on the corner of Roberts Street and Fourth Avenue North in 1895 for $14,000. The membership had grown from 31 to 283 persons.
In 1903, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized at Charlie Nanim's home on 8th Street North in Fargo with 23 adult members. A building on the corner of Fifth Street and Sixth Avenue North was purchased. By 1914, membership had grown to 150 persons.
In 1917, First Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church and St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church reached an agreement to merge. This merger became effective on September 17th, 1917, thereby creating First Lutheran Church. The membership decided that new facilities would be necessary for the present and for future growth. The corner of Broadway and Seventh Avenue North was chosen as a building site. Land was purchased on April 10th, 1917, for $10,000. The first service in the new church was held in the basement on Christmas Day, 1919, with the first service in the sanctuary one year later.
In 1928, the church and pipe organ were dedicated. 2,000 members were listed with 680 enrolled in Sunday School. The value of the property was $145,000 with a $56,000 debt, becoming debt-free in 1946. The Parish Education Building was added in 1952. In 1957 the Red Owl Grocery building was purchased, completely remodeled and connected to the existing structures. It provided facilities for youth and family recreation until its demolition in 1995. A mosaic designed by C.M. Running was installed behind the altar in 1962. In 1965 a 47-rank Austin Pipe Organ was purchased at a cost of $67,300. In 1971 the narthex, with an elevator, was constructed and the parking lots redesigned.
Many more major improvements have been made to First Lutheran over the past few years: remodeling of the chapel, office, east narthex and Fireside Room; and tuckpointing and shingling of the main church building. Major renovation of the sanctuary organ increased the total ranks from 47 to 65 at a cost of $206,200. Now First Lutheran has expanded its actual structure by adding a new Celebration Center where the recreation center previously stood, and an administration wing to the east of the current education building. These additions include a new fellowship hall, kitchen, expanded youth facilities and multi-purpose area, music and choir rooms and a centrally located office complex.
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