Our History
Welcome home to the Reformation!
The Old Latin School was constructed in 1564 only thirty-five yards from the main entrance to the “Mother Church of the Reformation”—St. Mary’s Church, where Martin Luther preached more sermons than anywhere else. Stemming from the new approach to education being taught by the Wittenberg reformers, the Old Latin School was built as the city school for boys. During its long and interesting history, it has served also as a newspaper office and printing shop, a clothing factory, and finally, after many years of neglect and decay, the building was restored to be a place for education.
In 2007, a partnership developed between the SELK in Germany, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and Concordia Publishing House. They eventually formed the International Lutheran Society of Wittenberg (ILSW) for the purpose of repairing and restoring the Old Latin School property. On May 3, 2015, the International Lutheran Center at the Old Latin School was formally dedicated. The day was marked by worship and celebration throughout the city of Wittenberg and attended by guests from all over the world.
The Old Latin School is a distinctly Lutheran presence in the birthplace of the Reformation, serving as a house of study, a platform for the Gospel, and a haven for confessing Lutherans worldwide. With gratitude for all that the Lord of the Church has given us in this place, the International Lutheran Center at the Old Latin School stands as a beacon of hope and as yet another place in the beautiful city of Wittenberg for people to gather, learn, research, and reflect on the saving Good News of Jesus Christ. We join Luther in pointing to Christ as we humbly say, “Here we stand. God help us. Amen.”
The Old Latin School is managed by the International Lutheran Society of Wittenberg gGmbH (ILSW). This German non-profit organization is a partnership of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany (SELK), and the International Lutheran Council (ILC). The ILSW is also a Recognized Service Organization of the LCMS.
