Tucked Away in the Heart of Phoenix
The Woodland stands as a timeless landmark of love, faith, and community. Long before it became a gathering place for weddings and celebrations, it was a sacred space built by the city’s first Lutheran congregation — a symbol of hope and tradition that has watched Phoenix grow from a dusty frontier town into the thriving city it is today.
With its tufa stone walls, steeply pitched roof, and slender spire clad in Arizona copper — crowned by a bronze cross rising 75 feet into the sky — the chapel is a graceful nod to Old English design. Simple yet enduring, it was built not only to inspire awe, but also to embrace those who entered with a sense of belonging. Generations have walked through its doors, marking milestones of faith, family, and love.
Today, The Woodland honors that legacy by welcoming new stories within its historic walls.
Chapters of Our Legacy
1909 — The first congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Phoenix was organized.
1911 — On May 28, 1911, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church was formally established.
1918 — The original church building, known today as the brick room, was completed at Ninth and Woodland Avenues. Designed by Tucson architect H.O. Jaastad, it became the foundation of the congregation’s story.
1938 — The new chapel neared completion just in time for Christmas services. Its design embraced the original brick room, which was transformed into the Sunday School wing — a beautiful blending of past and present.
1958 — The church submitted an application to expand the building once again, ensuring it could continue to grow with its community.
1961 — Ground was broken on an addition to the west of the chapel, shaping the historic structure much as we know it today.
