Renovations and expansion is underway at Holy Ghost Lutheran Church, the oldest congregation in Fredericksburg, for the first time in about 80 years.

“Everyone has been generous and responsive to preserving the church,” the Rev. Bobby Vitek said.

After a structural engineer surveyed the bell tower and recommended restoration, the projects, which will last four years, were initiated. The first of three phases has begun.

Being a Texas Historic Site, certain structure guidelines are required to be...