About Us

HISTORY OF ASCENSION

In 1917 Rev. D. Bruce Young, then pastor of Monroe Avenue Lutheran church, helped to promote the idea of a Lutheran church in the north end of Columbus. It was felt that such a church could serve Ohio State University students, as well as Lutherans in the neighborhood. A canvass of the area was done. 

The first service was held March 4, 1917, in the home of G. B. Francisco with 15 persons in attendance. On May 17, 1917, 26 members signed the charter roll, but the list was kept open until July 15 when there were 31 members listed.  In December of 1917, The Rev. E. Clyde Xander became the first pastor. Services were held in the parsonage until 1921. 

The location of Lane and Indianola Avenues was chosen for the church building, and in May of 1921 the cornerstone of Indianola Lutheran Church was laid.  The dedication of the church was on December 18, 1921. The congregation remained at the Indianola location until April 1, 1959, when that building was sold to the Church of the Brethren for $61,000. 

New property had been acquired on October 7, 1958, at 1421 Morse Road for the cost of $17,000. A building committee was formed in January of 1959 to develop plans for a new church. Services were held at Clinton Junior High School from 1959 until 1962. On June 15, 1960, Indianola Lutheran Church became Ascension Lutheran Church. Ground was broken for the present day church in 1961. The first unit of the church on Morse Road was dedicated on June 2nd.

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The Ascension Lutheran Church Pastors

(Names in bold print indicate those who served as senior pastors.)
E. C. Xander 1916-1925
C. A. Robertson  1925-1930
L.A. Sittler 1930-1938
E. Rudolph Walborn 1938-1946
Warner E. Holmgren 1947-1953
John Schmidt 1953-1958
Edward A. Bary 1959-1964
Arthur Haimerl 1965-2000
Charles Gerlach 1967-1969
Ronald Huff 1977-2006
Mark Diemer 1987-1991
Jeff Lee 2002
Fred Wiese & Richard Match, interim pastors, 2006-2007
Timothy Muller  2007- present
Dale Linder  2016-2017