Our History

In October, 1961, the voters assembly at Pilgrim Lutheran Church resolved to purchase a ten-acre tract of land from Mr. E. Oscar Rosenkoetter on what was then U.S. Highway 67 (currently Highway 367). The first worship service was held on September 8, 1963 at what is now Kirby Junior High in the cafeteria, with 180 people in attendance.

On October 1, 1965, 220 people transferred from Pilgrim to become members of what would soon become the new Chapel of the Cross - Lutheran congregation. The name for the new church was chosen on October 26, 1965.

A ground-breaking ceremony for the Educational Building was held on November 21, 1965. This building was completed in time for the Christmas service in 1966. Pastor Milton J. Nauss left Pilgrim to become the first pastor of Chapel in December, 1965.

June 11, 1967 marked the next ground breaking, this time for the sanctuary itself. It was completed and dedicated on March 31, 1968. On March 11, 1973, ground was broken for the gym, kitchen, and general purpose building, which includes today’s rooms A and B upstairs and the largest preschool room downstairs. This was all dedicated on March 17, 1974.

Chapel continued to experience rapid growth during the 1970s. By the end of 1975, there were 2000 members. In the following years, more people were brought on to lead various ministries, including pastoral assistants, youth, music, care, outreach, education, and preschool directors, and seminary students. A fourth worship service on Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. was added in May, 1978. A bus ministry was also started for people who could not get to church on their own. In May 1979, the voters passed a motion to build a garage next to the gym to house the church’s bus and van, and to store larger items.

Chapel began its media ministry in April, 1976, when a contract was signed with KFUO-FM to broadcast the 9:30 worship service. A broadcast booth was constructed in the balcony to accommodate this special ministry. In 1983, Chapel began to air its own television show called, “Action Today,” which was shown on cable TV, and produced entirely by church members.

Chapel began a new daughter congregation on March 14, 1982, when the first service of Chapel of the Cross, St. Peters was held.

Chapel expanded its facility again with the addition of classrooms and a youth room next to the gym, completed in 1985. Pastor Nauss retired in May of the same year, having served 20 years as Chapel's pastor. Pastor Jonathan Stein accepted the call to be the church's new pastor and was installed on June 9, 1985.

In 1993, a fifth building project was completed, adding new offices, larger fellowship areas, an elevator, lounge, new vestry and sacristy, preschool room, choir room, Bible study classrooms, stage, maintenance room, and playground.