Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Wartburg was organized in 1841 by pastor G. A. Schieferdecker and settlers from Saxony, Thuringia, and Westfalia, Germany. The site was donated in 1849 by Johann Christian and Katherine Just. The present church was erected in 1863, and the tower was rebuilt in 1913. English services were introduced in 1926 but did not predominate until 1946. Monthly German services were discontinued in 1967. The congregation also operated a Christian Day school here from 1841 until 1960. Holy Cross is considered the mother church of several surrounding congregations.