From its founding over 100 years ago by a devout group of Scandinavians, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer has grown to 540 members representing a broad range of occupations, cultural backgrounds, and Christian service.
The congregation was officially organized on July 25, 1893 by Swedish immigrants who settled in Woburn, Massachusetts and felt the need to hear the Word of God as they had heard it in the land of their birth.
The group met in Fraternity Hall and was called to order by student N. E. Kron. On September 5, 1893, papers of incorporation of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church were filed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In 1897, the first church was built on Montvale Avenue in Woburn. The Swedish language was used in Worship Services and in Sunday School until 1930.
As the congregation grew, a church addition was built and a parsonage was constructed on Montvale Avenue.
By 1956, it was evident that a new church building would eventually be needed. A self study committee was appointed to investigate possible sites for a new church. Next, a long-range expansion steering committee was appointed. In September of 1959 the congregation voted to relocate.
The ten acre site on which the church and parsonage now stand was part of a larger parcel willed to the city for park and recreation purposes. The construction of Route 128 in the early 1950's divided the parcel into the church site and the Little League Park, currently referred to as Weafer Park, south of Route 128. Inquiries were made as to the availability of the portion north of Route 128 for a new Lutheran Church of the Redeemer to replace the Montvale Avenue location. Since this rocky knoll offered little hope as a useful recreation area, the City felt the land would be better used as a site for the Church. It generously made a gift of the land to Redeemer in May of 1960.
The congregation changed its name to "Lutheran Church of the Redeemer" on October 22, 1962.
Work on the current Alfred Street parsonage was begun in April of 1962, and was completed and dedicated in 1963.
In 1964 more than 60 people formed a research committee to study the meaning of their faith, and to prepare a written building program as a guide for architect Edward Tedesco that was based on the results of their study. The "Written Building Program," completed in May of 1965, was used to design the new church building. Architectural plans were accepted on June 22, 1967, and ground-breaking services took place on August 25, 1968. The new church was dedicated on April 19, 1970, fourteen years after the project was begun.
The Montvale Avenue church was sold to the Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston in 1972, who later sold it to the Anchor Baptist Church.