The founding members of Friedens (the meaning of Friedens in German is Peace) have all passed on to life with Jesus in heaven so we cannot ask them exactly how the Gospel work began in Randolph. The brief information stated here was gathered from fragmentary sources. Lutheran worship services were conducted at irregular intervals in a Baptist church situated on South High Street which the Baptist
congregation donated to the Lutherans for their use. Services were held there from the fall of 1884 to the end of 1887. Friedens congregation was organized early in the summer of 1888. A church was built on Center Street and in 1892 a parsonage was built on Grove Street. The present church building was erected in 1900 on the corner of Dane Street (Jones Drive) and Germania Street. The old church was moved to the new site and used for a school to teach the children of the congregation German. (German, at that time, was the only language used in the worship services). The present parsonage next door to the church was erected on Germania Street in 1927. Through many extensive remodeling and improvement projects, both the church built in 1900 and the parsonage in 1927 continue to serve Friedens congregation as their House of the Lord.” The bells in the steeple continue to call members to worship today as they have done since they were purchased in 1904, a hundred and nine years ago. Ornamental steel sheathing installed in 1911 can still be seen on the walls in the small room located on the south side of the chancel. But more important than buildings and stained glass windows is the message of our Savior God. The same Word of God preached to the founding members in 1888 continues to be preached today at each service conducted at Friedens. We are a sister congregation with St. John's Lutheran in Fox Lake, WI where many of our members attend the school. We are often leading shared bible breakfasts, Lenten services and other events with our sister congregations in the surrounding area.
