Saint Paul Lutheran Church was born on June 3, 1962 when the Mason City congregations of Central Lutheran Church [organized in 1927] and Immanuel Lutheran Church [organized in 1914] became one. All moveable contents as could be used from Immanuel Lutheran Church were transferred to the Central Lutheran Church building, still used and located at 329 East State Street.

The WICKS Memorial Pipe Organ from Immanuel Church was moved and installed in the chancel and was in use in December of 1962 and continues to serve our congregation. The Immanuel Church and parsonage were rented but eventually sold.

The church was built by the congregation of Central Lutheran Church. Central Church was organized in 1927. Their first services were held at the Chamber of Commerce rooms.

This newly-formed congregation set about planning a building in which they could worship. The original plan was to construct the basement and then build the superstructure. According to this plan the basement was to serve as a foundation for the superstructure and at the same time the basement would give the congregation a home in which they could worship. Ground-breaking was celebrated on October 14, 1927, and the basement portion of the church was dedicated on March 25, 1928.

The Globe-Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Saturday, March 23, 1940, Page 11

 The Rev. Walter Kampen, pastor of the Central Lutheran church in Mason City, will present the daily devotional progarms over KGLO next week, heard Monday through Friday from 2 to 2:15 p.m. Theme for the week will be "The Resurrected Christ," with the following daily topics: Monday - "The Dawn of the Resurrection Hope," Tuesday - "The Resurrected Christ Appears to His Disciples," Wednesday - "The Resurrected Christ Appears at Tiberias," Thursday - "The Resurrected Christ's Final Appearances in Judea," and Friday - "The Resurrected Christ's Appearance to Paul."

The following paragraphs are taken from a pamphlet about Central Lutheran Church:

The years ahead were trying ones for the congregation. Due to the depression and higher interest rates the proposed building program suffered an arrested development.

In spite of these discouragements the congregation pressed on, adding to its original membership other consecrated Christians who assisted in retiring the indebtedness of the Church basement.

It was indeed a happy day in the history of the congregation when their record was wiped clean of all indebtedness. This occasion was celebrated at a formal service on February 1947.

The congregation was now ready to start on a new program for building the superstructure. With determination the member of the congregation set aside money for this new project. The completed structure stands as a mute testimony of careful and able planning.

The church superstructure was dedicated on April 16, 1950.

In June, 1962, the newly formed congregation of Saint Paul Lutheran Church voted to purchase the land adjoining the church on the south as the first step toward building the Educational Unit. Plans were made for the Educational Unit and redesigning the chancel area of the church to accommodate a free-standing altar with more kneeling area. The ground-breaking ceremony for the Educational Unit was September 6, 1964, and the dedication service was Sunday, May 16, 1965.

Submission by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2011; updated December of 2014