Early records show that St. Paul Lutheran Church was formally organized August 26, 1886, with the history of the congregation dating to 1861. The German population in Ottmwa in the 1860's, 1870's & 1880's was rather large and in 1886 the synod sent a pastor to conduct services in various homes in Ottumwa, Martinsburg and Soap Creek.The organizational meeting was held August 26, 1886 and the name chosen was St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church with Rev. N. Hansen as pastor. The cornerstone to the church, then located at the corner of Vine & East Second, was laid November 1, 1886. A parsonage was built a few years later.
As early as 1924, consideration was given to relocating the church from the Vine Street address. With assistance from the Mission board in May 1944, relocation plans were finalized for a move to the north part of the city. St. Paul Lutheran Church was to be the first church north of the downtown portion of the city. The church was completed and dedicated December 23, 1945, and a parsonage was built in 1949.
With the sale of the Carl Martsching estate in 1957, then deeded to the church, all building debts were paid and the congregation pledged itself to build a bell tower in memory of Carl Martsching. This was accomplished in 1990.
In 1986, the congregation celebrated its Centennial Year with former Pastors Rev. Bruno Schlachtenhaufen, Rev. Hubert Graening and Rev. Jordan Jacobsen present. Also attending were Dr. Wayne Stumme, son of former pastor Rev. Lawrence Stumme and the widow and daughters of Rev. Gerhard Bunge. Rev. Robert Lehmann was pastor from 1977 to 1994.
In the last many years, gifts and improvements include stained glass windows; handmade matching altar, hanging cross and communion table; a dossal curtain; a new organ; a memorial board; a silver pouring chalice; a silver plated communion set; a silver paten for bread; a new piano; the funeral pall; an advent wreath stand; a dry sink in the sacristy; a computer printer; new office furnture; the first and second church computer; the front of the old altar; new cupboards in the sacristy; the processional brass cross (preserved from the original church) and an elevator.
