VGI Updates

A Catholic chapel was built of adobe in San José in 1912 across the street from the present building. Father Matthias Saxler served as the congregation's first priest. The corner stone for the San José Catholic Church was laid on 31 October 1926 and dedication held on 21 April 1929. The architect was Salesian Father Ernesto Vespignani. The altar was a single piece of Carrara marble carved by the Mahlknecht brothers in Austria. The church was declared a Provincial Historical Monument on 12 August 1983.

By 1920, there were enough German settlers living in the newly founded town of Bashaw, that a congregation decided to form there. It was made up of members who had been attending the rural St. Peter's Lutheran Church north and west of Bashaw.

They purchased an existing building and converted it into an appropriate worship space which was dedicated on 14 November 1920. The congregation shared a pastor with St. Peter's and has ever since.

Zion is currently affiliated with Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

Location

401 9a Street NE
Calgary, Alberta

History

As Immanuel Lutheran was experiencing discord, a group decided to form an English-Language Lutheran parish in Calgary. On 2 April 1913, in the home of Edward Wolf (223 14th Ave. West), the congregation of First English Lutheran Church was established, but not formally constituted. They began holding worship services on Sunday evenings in the Swedish Lutheran Church at 6th Ave. & 2nd Street. The Rev. John E. Herzer was in charge of the services, but he soon accepted a call to Jehovah Lutheran Church.

Volga German Lutherans were gathering in Calgary for worship and Bible study as early as 1899 with the Rev. Emil Eberhardt of Stony Plain presiding. Immanuel Lutheran Church was founded in 1902 by Volga German families and was affiliated with the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

St. Paul Lutheran Church, a breakaway congregation from Immanuel Lutheran, never really materialized and by April 1913 had reorganized itself as Jehovah Lutheran Church. Until 1916, the new congregation met in Die Halle, a hall belonging to member George Luft. Subsequent services were held in the Methodist Church at 7A Street and 1st Avenue NE. The congregation adopted its first constitution on 12 May 1919. In 1920, the congregation began construction of a building at 6A Street and Murdock Road.

Under the leadership of Rev. Paul Bunge, an organizational meeting was held on 22 July 1909 at the home of John Schneidmüller, and a constitution was adopted to found St. John Lutheran Church. It was affiliated with the Iowa Synod. The following signed as charter members:

St. Paul Lutheran Church was established in 1913 by approximately 200 families following a split from Immanuel Lutheran Church. A building was begun, but apparently never completed. Eventually this group was reorganized as Jehovah Lutheran Church.

Zion Lutheran Church in Calgary was affiliated with the Ohio Synod. It was disbanded in 1918 and its members invited to join nearby St. John's Lutheran Church.

Location

The Rev. Edward Wolfe, a Baptist minister, had preached from time to time at Hope Reformed Church during its early years. In late 1907, he decided to establish a Baptist church. He held services in homes or the schoolhouse until a Baptist church was built just over one and a half kilometres east of the Fifth Meridian. It was called Glory Hills Baptist Church.