St. Salvator Lutheran Church
Brief History
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History
In The Beginning
St. Salvator Lutheran Church is located about forty miles southeast of St. Louis and belong to the Upper Kaskaskia Circuit. the Pastor was Ottomar Fuerbringer who was called through the hands of Pastor O. H. Walther, first Pastor of Old Trinity Church in St. Louis. The early history of the congregation is a record of many trials and hardships, but God's richest hand of blessing is constantly in evidence, and the entire Lutheran Church at large has felt the impact of these blessings. In 1840 a log cabin which served as church, school, and parsonage was erected at Elkhorn Prairie which is now Johannisburg, one mile south of Venedy. The old name of this parish is "Die Gemeinde an Der Elkhorn Prairie." Pastor Fuerbringer delivered his inaugural sermon on August 23, 1840, although the first official church art was a baptism recorded in 1837.
The Split and the Early Years
Doctrinal controversy within that first congregation prompted the Pastor and six families to form "Die Evangelishe Brockschmidt Hill" now Venedy. In the plans for the community Gehard H. Brockschmidt donated three acres of land for a church, a school and a cemetery. In 1842 a frame building was built, and its was used for church, school and parsonage. Between the years 1843 and 1845 fever and cholera thinned the ranks of the congregation when fifty-nine people died. Pastor Fuerbringer helped the founding of the Missouri Synod in 1846, and St. Salvator congregation joined the Missouri Synod in 1848.
Daughter Churches
The Elkhorn Creek runs nearby and during church services heavy rains came at times and the people could not return home because of the flooded roads, so in 1850 the membership of the congregation was reduced when some members living east of Elkhorn Creek in Grand Prairie withdrew to form a congregation of their own. Due to a shortage of ministers they failed in their efforts to obtain a Lutheran pastor, so they appealed to the Evanagelical Synod and was successful. Today this congregation bears the name of St. Paul's United Church of Christ. There were, still in Grand Prairie, a number of families who had not severed their connection with the Venedy congregation, so in 1853 they branched off and founded Ebenezer White Church congregation on the Grand Prairie. The congregations in Okawville and Hahlen, south of Nashville are daughters of Ebenezer.
The Church and School Buildings
The first school building for St. Salvator was dedicated to serve as school and teacherage. The first school picnic was held in July, 1862. A Young People's Society flourished under Teacher Miessler in 1865. The present church of St. Salvator was erected in 1864 -1865, and dedicated in 1866. The dedication speakers were Dr. C. F. W. Walther, Professor Brauer and Pastor Buenger.
Early Beginnings
A Ladies Aid was organized around 1868. In 1872, the congregation added two rooms to the parsonage, and the present school building was erected in 1872 and dedicated in 1874. The present parsonage was built in 1907, and dedicated on second Christmas Day the same year. The young people were reorganized and joined the Walther League under the supervision of Teacher Lorenz around 1922. the introduction of English worship services twice a month was in 1923. A number of English communion services were held each year by resolution of the congregation in April 1931. During the ministry of Rev. E.J. Saleska the large English hymnal was introduced together with the Common Order of Service.
Celebrations
St. Salvator congregation celebrated their ninetieth anniversary in 1932, and the Centennial Services were held on September 20 and 27, 1942 with E.J.Saleska serving as Pastor. The last german worship service was in the 1940's. A Sunday School was organized in 1947 under the direction of Rev. Karl Schroeder. A Dorcas Lutheran Women's Missionary League were organized in 1962 while Joseph Schlichting was serving as Pastor.
Dual Parish
A dual parish was formed with St. Salvator and St. Peter's congregation at New Memphis during a vacancy of the two congregations in 1960. Rev. Joseph Schlichting was the first Pastor to serve this dual parish and was installed on January 8, 1961. The 125th Anniversary of St. Salvator Lutheran Church was held in October 1967 with Theodore Dautenhahn and John Saleska as guest speakers. Rev. Walter Symank was serving the congregation as vacancy pastor. David Block served the congregation as Student Pastor during the vacancy. A call was extended to Eldon Winker, and he was installed as Pastor on July 20, 1969. In 1973, he accepted to Mountain Home, Arkansas. On Palm Sunday , 1974 Dale Meyer was installed as Pastor. Later he accepted a position at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and his farewell sermon was delivered on April 26, 1981. On May 3, 1981 Richard Smith was installed as Pastor. He accepted a call to Cleveland, Tennessee, and his farewell sermon April 29, 1984. Rev. Glen Thomas served the congregation as vacancy Pastor. On January 6, 1985, David G. L. Fletcher was ordinated and installed as Pastor of St. Salvator and St. Peter Lutheran Church. Rev. David Fletcher retired on March 1, 2009 after serving 24 1/2 years. On May 17, 2009 Rev. Dr. Art Eichhorn was ordinated and installed as their current Pastor.
Sesquicentennial Anniversary Celebrations - 1992
In 1992, St. Salvator Lutheran Church celebrated their Sesquicentennial Anniversary with four worship services. Rev. John Saleska, Rev. Eldon Winker, Rev. Glen Thomas and Rev. Dale Meyer served as guest speakers.
Highlights
- 1972 - Children began lighting the candles for worship service.
- 1975 - Renovation of the organ in church.
- 1976 - The beginning of the Chicken Dinner on Father's Day held at Brockschmidt Park.
- 1977 - The School building was remodeled with the addition of two rest rooms.
- 1978 - Dedication of the new church bells on August 20th.
- 1979 - A Field Student Program was adopted. The official records of baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and burials of St. Salvator were placed on microfilm at the Historical Building in Nashville.
- 1980 - A Parochial school fund was established to assist parents the opportunity to send their children to Immanuel Lutheran School in Okawville. The minutes were translated from German to English. Dedication of the new front entrance of the church and the remodeled Sacristy on November 30th. The work on the Nativity Scene inside the church was completed for Christmas.
- 1981 - The choir was reorganized.
- 1982 - The beginning of a Songfest which is held every year before Christmas.
- 1984 - A Christian Parents Organization was formed. The group with the help of church members made apple butter, organized a Chili and Chicken Soup Supper and or made apple pies each year.
- 1985 - A grand piano was purchased for the church. Storm windows were installed on the church windows.
- 1986 - The bell tower was repaired. It was approved in the voters meeting, that any communicant member is eighteen years old is eligible for voting membership in the the congregation, including women.
- 1987 - The beginning of both the common cup and the individual cup at each Communion Service.
- 1988 - A chime unit was added to the organ.
- 1991 - White vinyl shutter replaced the old green wooden shutters on the church steeple. The gold ball and cross was replaced. Four ceiling fans with lights were installed in church.
- 1992 - The front entrance to the church was remodeled with a wheelchair ramp added.
Updated
August 7, 2009
