One hundred fifty years ago this month, 22 people met with Burrell N. Hopkins, a licensed pastor, to form Salem Lutheran Church.

They held worship services in a long building, 50 by 35 feet.

Five years later, the congregation bought 30 acres of land for $100.

Since then, they’ve endured two devastating fires, always rebuilding what the flames destroyed. Today’s modern brick sanctuary and educational building at 5080 Sherrills Ford Road sits only a short distance from the original log meeting house.

On Sunday, about 350 people gathered at Salem to observe the end of its sesquicentennial year. Dr. Leonard Bolick, bishop of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, delivered the sermon and assisted in the rededication service.

Afterward, members and visitors enjoyed a traditional homecoming dinner, and many visited the newly opened Salem History Room.

Sunday’s activities brought to a close a busy year for the Rev. Clarence Sifford and the Salem congregation. Edward Church chaired the special Sesquicentennial Committee, which included John and Vickie Davis, Daryl Hester, Sandra Jarrett, Jimmy Kepley, Alice Stephens, Bobby Lippard, Janet Rash, Wayne Wilson, Carolyn Fesperman, Rachel Webb and Sifford.

Some of the highlights of the year included:

• Dedicating the picnic shelter in October 1999.
• An 1850s worship service in November, and a service in December, using carols from 1850 to the present.
• Youth Sunday in March, featuring the Catawba Chorus presentation of God’s Top 10.
• A June service under the picnic shelter, recalling early worship services held under brush arbors.

During that service, members presented the church with a special Sesquicentennial Quilt, and the niece and nephew of Bob Petrea, author of “Salem’s Memories,” presented a copy of the book.

• A special evening worship service on Aug. 18, the official anniversary date for the congregation.

Pastor Sifford baptized four children during the service, and members buried a time capsule, which they intend to open on Aug. 18, 2050.

After buying 30 acres of land in 1854, the congregation met in the original building almost 30 years. Members laid the cornerstone for a new building on Sept. 16, 1882, and consecrated the new church on Nov. 25, 1883.

Fire destroyed the building on April 9, 1950, Easter Sunday. The congregation already had established a building fund and began work on a new structure a few days after the fire. The first service in a new brick building was held June 11, 1951.

Fire struck again on Jan. 31, 1979, and once again the congregation set about rebuilding, breaking ground in May 1980. The congregation held services at Hurley Elementary School until the current sanctuary was finished on Nov. 21, 1980.

Almost six years later, even while paying off the building bonds, the church voted to proceed with an education building.

The congregation dedicated the outer shell and seven classrooms on Aug. 9, 1987, and nine additional Sunday school rooms were finished in early 1990. This phase of Salem’s construction was completed debt-free.

On Nov. 1, 1992, All Saints Sunday, the church dedicated and rang the brass Bell Memorial, a gift from Jack and Junior Cauble in memory of their parents, Herbert O. Sr. and Lizzie Cauble.

The final phase of the construction project — a covered walkway and some parking improvements — was completed in March 1998.

On Sesquicentennial Sunday, Sifford reminded the congregation: “It is exciting that on this first Sunday after our yearlong Sesquicentennial Celebration, we will be about continuing to fulfill that Great Commission as we recognize and install Salem’s Sunday school and preschool staff.”

He also noted that the church begins its next 50 years just as Steven Peeler, a member of the church, enrolls in Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary.