The history of Ascension Lutheran Church began on a Summer day in 1951 when two devoted women, Mrs. Ella Day, a parish worker, and Mrs. Harlie Roberts, began a survey in the Scottsdale area to determine the interest and need for a Lutheran church. On December 13, 1951 the first organizational meeting was held in a rented house on Indian School Road. Seven confirmed members were present. Pastor Charles Schmitz, area mission director and pastor of American Lutheran church, conducted this meeting at which time the congregation received its name, Ascension. This rented house served as the place for services until the first sanctuary was erected.

On January 15, 1952 the congregation was officially organized with sixteen members. The property for the first church was purchased from Mrs. Ella Mae Foley for $5000 and the ground was broken for the first church building at 75th Street and Indian School Road February 10, 1952.

In 1953 the confirmed membership had reached 128 and by December of 1956 it was 160. 1957 brought the membership total to 227, by 1958 it had reached 300 and had passed 500 by 1960. At the time of the construction of the new church in Paradise Valley in 1964 the membership was 750. During the time Ascension was at the Indian School Road location they had supplied a substantial nucleus of members for four other congregations in the area.

In 1960, because of a lack of room for expansion at the Indian School location, the congregation voted to purchase a ten-acre site at 7100 Mockingbird Lane in Paradise Valley. Ground was broken March 3, 1963 for the new church building.

Frank Lloyd Wright Associates at Taliesin West designed the new structure. William Wesley Peters was the architect of record, in conjunction with John Rattenbury and Charles Monthooth The worship center is constructed in the shape of a pentagon, which Mr. Wright considered to be a perfect geometric figure reflecting the perfection of God. The pentagon theme is carried out in the worship center in the lights, altar rail, door handles, and baptismal font.

The focal point of the sanctuary is the stunning cross rising 40 feet above the altar directing attention to the pentagon shaped stained glass window above the altar.

In its present configuration the combined seating capacity of the sanctuary and balcony is 800. 

A four manual Moller pipe organ was purchased for $52,900 in 1961. In today’s market the estimated replacement cost of the organ would be over $250,000.   (click here for more information about the organ)