On 14 October 1906, a group of Germans from Russia organized the Free Evangelical Lutheran Pilgrim Congregational Church. Early members included: Nicholas Schnell, Heinrich Stroh, Conrad Ross, David Sitzmann, George Walker, John Pheif, Henry Dietrich, Henry Feierstein, Peter Bohl, Jacob Liebsack, John Kammerzell, David Kühn, and Henry Rupp.
The congregation known as St. Paul Lutheran Church (later seems to have been known as the German Lutheran Church) was active very soon after the arrival of the first immigrants from Kolb. Franz W. Scheibel had been the schulemeister in Kolb and was the leader of the group that came to Campbell.
The first Lutheran worship service in Park City was held on 28 August 1907, under the guidance of Rev. Henry T. Rauh, a traveling missionary. The service was attended by 34 adults. Rev. Rauh continued to serve Park City Lutherans for the next six years, visiting the community about once each month, meeting in the Methodist Church, in homes, or in the school house.
The history of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church dates back to 10 February 1913, when a group of German Lutherans met in the home of George Miller to organize a congregation. The Rev. Henry T. Rauh of Billings was present, and he served the congregation of 15 for several months.
St. John's first church was built at 402 Durland Ave. in 1914. A new facilty was dedicated on 30 August 1959 at 417 W. Ninth Street in Laurel.
Attracted by the railroads and sugar beet industry of the Yellowstone Valley, many Volga German families settled in and around Laurel. On 28 January 1908, a group met to organize a congregation. The charter was signed by 103 members, and to keep harmony among the variety of faith practices from which these immigrants came, the congregation was called The German Evangelical Lutheran Reformed Congregational Church. Today, it is known as The First Congregational Church.
The original First German Congregational Church was dedicated on 11 September 1910 on the south side of Billings at the corner of South 36th Street and 4th Avenue South. There were 12 charter members who gathered in various homes before the first church was built. In 1936, the old church building was moved across the street and a new church was built. Services were held completly in German until 1943 when they began to hold both English and German worship services.
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church was established in 1873 by members from Trinity Lutheran Church at 10th & Wabash Streets. Following the death of Pastor Warkentin of the Deutsche Folkskirche, many of the Volga German Lutherans transferred to Immanuel. At some point, this congregation adopted the English spelling and became Emanuel Lutheran Church.
In 1875, Immanuel Lutheran congregation established the West Side Lutheran Cemetery at 340 E. Annapolis St. It later became known as Riverside Cemetery and many of the original Volga German settlers to St. Paul are buried there.
The Deutsche Volkskirche (later known as the Riverview Peoples Church) was one of two early congregations in St. Paul in which Volga Germans were active. It was a member of the German Congregational Church and was founded in 1895.
Following the death of Pastor Warkentin, many members transfered to nearby Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Location:
Clinton & Congress
St. Paul, Minnesota
Immanuel Lutheran Church was founded in 1852. It was the church home of several Volga German families who settled in and around Sebewaing.
Immanuel is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.
St. John Lutheran Church was founded on 21 December 1890, and became the home of several Volga German families who settled in Saginaw.
St. John is a member congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
Location
4705 Brockway Road
Saginaw, Michigan 48638
Phone: 989.799.0935