Christ Lutheran Church

Church History 1889 - 1944

A Short History of Christ Ev. Lutheran Congregation

By Pastor Norman Bosse

Christ Ev. Lutheran congregation was organized in the spring of 1889 under the leadership of Pastor J. M. Johanssen, then pastor of Salem Ev. Lutheran Church in nearby Pemberville. One day while cutting wood together, Mr. Henry Holtmeyer and Mr. Henry Schroeder decided that they would try to organize a congregation in this vicinity and thus they interested neighbors in this project and gathered subscriptions for a new church. They succeeded in arousing enough interest and the building was soon begun.

The cornerstone of the church was laid on the 6^th of June 1889, by Pr. J. M. Johanssen. At this service, Pr. F.A. Cordes of Luckey preached in the German language and Pr. J. Born of Stony Ridge preached in the English language. The church building is a structure 36 feet wide and 55 feet long plus the tower. The cost of construction was $2600 besides the wood and stone, which were donated.

It was dedicated on the 20^th Sunday after Trinity, November 3^rd, 1889. Pr. J.M. Johanssen performed the rite of dedication and served as liturgist. Pr. P. Roether of Woodville and Pr. F.A. Cordes preached at the morning service on the texts Luke 19:1-10 and Exodus 20:22-24 respectively. The offering amounted to $80. At the afternoon service, Dr. Theodore Mees of the Woodville Teachers’ Seminary preached on 1.Corinthians 6:16 in the English language and Pr. J.M. Johanssen on Matthew 19:13-18. Teacher Oberschulte of Pemberville served as organist at both services.

The church bell was installed in 1895 and was dedicated on November 24^th of that year, in connection with the Mission Festival. Rev. W.C. Lembke of Luckey and Rev. C. Lembke, the local pastor, were the festival speakers. The text and inscription of the bell are: "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord." (Psalm 150:6)

During the pastorate of Rev. A. W> Baumann, the basement was constructed under the church, and a new furnace was installed. A new Schantz organ was installed in the church in 1928.

A parochial school building was constructed east of the church in 1890. This was dedicated on the 2^nd of November, 1890, in the name of the Triune God. On the following day, school was opened with 34 scholars present.

The parsonage was built in the year 1890.

History since 1944

1944 German services discontinued
1953 Narthex added and Bathrooms installed
1955 Steeple covered with copper and new stainless steel cross
1960 women of the church organized
1965 Educational addition built on back of the church
1997 Youth attend National Gathering in New Orleans
1998 Ramp Built on Back making the church partially accessible for mobility impaired

Pastors of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church:

1890 Pastor Eugene Schmidt
1892 Pastor Paul Hensge
1899 Pastor W. Prigge
1903 Pastor A.J. Grossmann
1906 Pastor Paul Eberle
1907 Pastor R. Otto
1928 Pastor C.G. Althoff
1940 Pastor John Wulf
1944 Pastor Norman Bosse
1962 Pastor Paul Pfankuch
1964 Pastor Adam Graf
1969 Pastor Paul Horn
1975 Albert Nelson
1996 Pastor Anna Marie Hunter