VGI Updates

The early Volga German settlers from Norka gathered in their homes to read and study scriptures. These gatherings became the nucleus of the group that formed the congregation of Salem south of Vegreville. In 1901, the Rev. C. F. W. Gräser from Josephburg Reformed Church (northwest of Vegreville) visited the congregation at Vegreville on a bi-monthly basis. In between the minister's visits the congregation would continue to meet. An elder would either preach a sermon in German or read from a sermon book, also printed in German, when the church was without a minister.

The Brush Hill Reformed Church was founded in 1916 by Volga German settlers from Norka.

The Volga German settlers from Norka who settled near Stony Plain beginning in 1889 built a small log church in about 1890 a half mile south of the present old church building. They were supplied by various pastors that were not directly connected with the Synod of the German Reformed Churches in the United States.

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.

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

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.

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, 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.

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.

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.