Here's a short timeline of early Lutheran and LWML History inthe Carolinas.History
1669 1970 John Lederer, first known German to enter North Carolina, was sent by the Governor of Virginia to explore. We do not know his religious affiliation, but no doubt his maps and descriptions influenced Germans who we know were Lutherans to come looking for a place to make their home.
1674 The first Dutch Colony of Lutherans settled on James Island, SC.
1709 The Palatines and Swiss Germans arrive at New Bern, NC.
1734 Colony of Salzburgers land in Charleston, SC.
1735 The German and Swiss colonists of Orangeburg, SC organized the first Lutheran church in the Carolinas. Rev John Ulrich Giessendanner was the first ordained Lutheran pastor.
1742 Rev Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, DD was sent from the Mission Society of Halle, Germany to visit the Salzburg Colony.
1745 Zion and St Johns (Mt Pleasant, Cabarrus County) were organized.
1750 April 25 German Evangelical Lutherans settled in Congaree, SC (settlement named Saxe-Gotha, Lexington County). German Lutherans from Pennsylvania began settlements in Central North Carolina.
1763 1764 German Lutheran Church at Hard Labor Creek, Abbeville, SC.
1773 Zion and St Johns of Cabarrus County called Pastor Adolphus Nussman and Teacher John Gottfried Arends from Hanover, Germany.
1775 Arends was ordained, becoming the first Lutheran pastor ordained in North Carolina.
1785 Arends moved to Lincoln County and organized many congregations (St. Johns, Conover). Rev Arndt (spelling change!) became the acknowledged founder of the Lutheran Church west of the Catawba River.
1803 Lutheran Churches became members of the North Carolina Synod.
1820 The Lutheran Churches joined the Tennessee Synod.
1839 Founding of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
1877 Rev Polycarp Henkel called to serve German farmers in Missouri.
1877 At a meeting on August 18 at St Johns (Conover), a decision was made to build Concordia College at Conover.
1877 Rev Polycarp Henkel returns to Conover to help develop the college and to serve St Peters (Conover) and Bethel (Claremont) congregations.
1883 Concordia College becomes property of the Tennessee Synod.
1892 May 29, Rev W H T Day (English Missouri Synod) installed as President of Concordia College. July 31 George A Romoser (from
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) installed as Professor.
1939 After many years of work under the leadership of Dr H B Hemmeter, President of Concordia College, Conover, the first convention of the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod was held at Concordia Church, Conover, NC site of the college.