Preserving Gruetli Church

Caring for the Past. Preparing for the Future.

Our current preservation effort actually began with something fairly straightforward:

We wanted to repair the windows.

Some of Gruetli Church’s historic windows have deteriorated considerably. Wood around the frames is failing, portions of the frames have begun to deteriorate, and the windows themselves have become increasingly fragile.

In fact, several of the windows can no longer safely be opened because of the risk that the glass may fall out.

That creates more than a preservation concern. Gruetli Church is primarily used during the warmer months, and the building does not have air conditioning. Historically, opening the windows has been one of the primary ways of ventilating and cooling the sanctuary. When the windows cannot safely be opened, keeping the church comfortable during summer gatherings becomes increasingly difficult. So we began looking into restoring the windows. What we discovered was that the windows are only part of the problem.

We cannot responsibly repair the windows until we address the foundation.

Why Can’t We Just Fix the Windows?

The foundation beneath Gruetli Church has been settling. As the foundation has moved, portions of the structure above it have moved as well. Evidence of that movement can be seen throughout the church. The large wooden doors no longer open fully as they once did, due to the uneven bowed floor.  Window openings have shifted. In several places, the wood surrounding the windows has deteriorated significantly.

The windows need attention now, both to preserve them and to make the building more usable. But repairing them while the structure continues to shift could mean investing thousands of dollars in restoration only to have the repaired windows damaged again.

We need to stabilize what is underneath the windows before we can properly replace the windows themselves.

What began as a window restoration project has therefore necessarily become a larger Gruetli Church preservation project.

The Foundation Comes First

We have begun consulting with professionals and gathering preliminary estimates to determine what will be necessary to stabilize Gruetli Church. One of the significant findings has been that repairing the existing foundation while leaving the church exactly where it sits may not be the most practical or economical solution.

The option currently being explored involves carefully lifting the church, temporarily moving it, constructing a new foundation, and then placing the church onto the new foundation.

Preliminary estimates currently include approximately:

These are preliminary estimates, not a final project budget. (Tentative estimates at this time are between $150,000 and $200,000) We are continuing to gather information and determine the full scope of the work before deciding whether to complete restoration is financially feasible.

Why Gruetli Is Worth Preserving

Gruetli Church is more than wood, windows, pews, and a foundation.

It represents generations of worship, weddings, funerals, Christmas Eves, family stories, community gatherings, and memories. The worn floors and wooden pews matter because people have gathered here. The windows matter because generations have looked through them and opened them to the Nebraska summer air. The doors matter because generations have walked through them.

Preservation does not mean making an old building look brand new. It means caring for what has been entrusted to us so that its story has an opportunity to continue. That is what we hope to accomplish at Gruetli Church.

Project Updates

Future updates will be added here as estimates are received, decisions are made, fundraising progresses, and, we hope, preservation work begins.

September/October/November 2026 | Where We Are Now

We are currently in the investigation and planning stage of the Gruetli Church Preservation Project.

The process began by evaluating the deteriorating windows, several of which can no longer safely be opened because of concerns about the glass. Because Gruetli is used primarily during warmer months, restoring the ability to safely open the windows is an important practical need as well as a preservation priority.

As we explored the window restoration, it became apparent that movement of the foundation needs to be addressed before significant window work can responsibly take place.

Preliminary estimates have now been received for lifting and moving the church and constructing a new foundation. We are continuing to gather information regarding window restoration, structural needs, and other work that may need to be addressed as part of the project.

Help Preserve Gruetli Church

A special fund has been established through St. Luke’s United Church of Christ for the Gruetli Church Preservation Project.

Those who would like to help preserve Gruetli may contribute through this website or by sending a check payable to:

Because we are still determining whether the completed project is financially feasible, we want to be transparent about contributions received during this planning period.

If it is ultimately determined that the proposed restoration cannot reasonably move forward, donors will be given the opportunity to have their contribution returned or, if they prefer, allow it to remain in an interest-bearing fund dedicated to future Gruetli Church repairs, maintenance, and preservation needs.

Follow the Journey

We invite you to return to this page as the project develops. We will continue sharing photographs, estimates, decisions, fundraising progress, and preservation updates.

What started with a few windows that could no longer safely be opened has led us to a much bigger question: What will it take to preserve Gruetli Church for the generations still to come?

We do not yet know exactly where this journey will lead. But we believe Gruetli’s history is worth taking the time to explore what is possible.

The foundation may be settling, but the story of Gruetli Church does not have to end here.