St. Paul Lutheran Church History

The history of St. Paul Lutheran Church began in January, 1866, when ‘Evangelische Lutherische St. Paulus Gemeinde’  was organized by a group of German settlers who had come the Altamont area from Buffalo, NY. The first church was built on land owned by one of the members and was located on the Cumberland Road. 

In the spring of 1867, William H. Grobengieser came to serve the congregation as a parochial teacher. Using the church as a schoolhouse, he served until 1869, when the congregation was able to call their first minister, the Rev. H.G.M. Hilleman. At that time, a room was added to the rear of the church to serve as a parsonage. 

On February 26, 1870, a deed was recorded between Erdman Wurl and trustees Philip Milleville, Daniel Schultz, and Frederick Siebert on the behalf of the congregation for $75 for 8.55 acres of land. 

With the congregation growing, a new church was built on the site where the present church now stands and was dedicated on September 20, 1875. It was completed at a cost of $2,500. A parsonage and schoolhouse were built the same year. In 1893 a bell and steeple were added to the church. 

During the 1890’s a church band was formed, as well as a choir. In 1904 the church installed an organ, which required the use of ‘pumpers’ for operation. 

In 1916, the church celebrated its 50th Anniversary. The present parsonage was built the same year. In 1922, the church was remodeled by lengthening the structure to provide a chancel. A new pulpit was built, stained glass windows were installed and the interior was redecorated. The total cost was $5,000. 

On Sunday evening, June 28, 1925, during a severe thunderstorm, the steeple was struck by lightning, setting the church on fire. The church was a total loss with only a few furnishings saved, including the statue of Jesus, candlesticks, the two side chairs by the altar and some hymnals. Services were held on the church grounds for the remainder of the summer. The congregation then accepted an invitation from the First United Methodist Church in Altamont to use their facilities for Sunday afternoon services during the winter months. 

On November 22, 1925, the cornerstone was laid for the present church. On October 17, 1925, the church was dedicated to “The service and Glory of God.”  The church was built of vitrified brick with Bedford stone trimming in the Gothic stye architecture. The construction cost of $40,000 left the congregation with a heavy debt when the depression struck, yet the debt was paid in 15 years. 

Until 1923, all services were conducted in German. By 1945, both German and English services were held every Sunday morning. In 1944, the confirmation was conducted entirely in English for the first time. German was no longer taught in the parochial school and in 1945, because of small enrollment, the school was discontinued. 

The Ladies Aid was formed in 1916; in 1960, they became the American Lutheran Church Women and in 1987, they became the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA). In 1937, both the Brotherhood and Luther League were formed. 

Sunday school was organized in 1947 for continuing the Christian instruction of the children. In 1953, a class for adults was added and in 1971, The Christian Fellowship was organized for the young adults of the congregation.

The Junior Mission Band began in 1954 under the direction of Mrs. Arthur Langholz. The name was eventually changed to Junior Lutherans and was led by Mrs. Adela Goers. Mrs. Elsie Winter later led the group until it was discontinued in 1989. 

Mission work has always been an important part of St Paul. In 1966, the congregation celebrated 100 years and the Faith Mission congregation in Augusta, IL was designated to receive the centennial offering. In 1969, St. Paul mortgaged the church property for a $50,000 loan to St. Luke’s Congregation in Manchester, MO.  The 110th anniversary was observed in 1976 with a special offering being sent to Christ Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, IL. During a United Mission Appeal Drive, St. Paul netted $12,950. In 1984, a loan was made to Shepherd of the Hill Lutheran Church in Bridgeton, MO, and in 1985, support was given to Faith Lutheran Church in Benton, IL. In 1988, St. Paul received a bequest from the estate of Henry and Irmgard Ziemer Fossen in the amount of $77,468. It was decided to invest the money in the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Fund. 

The congregation began sponsorship of Lutheran Vespers on WMIX radio in Mt. Vernon, IL on September 3, 1972, and continued until October 31, 1982. On February 10, 1985, the congregation assumed sponsorship of Lutheran Vespers on WCRA/WCRC radio in Effingham. 

A new constitution was adopted in 1970, with the President and Secretary of the congregation becoming part of the council. Committees on Youth, Evangelism, Worship and Stewardship were formed. 

In 1977, a new hymnal, “Lutheran Book of Worship”, was introduced to the congregation.  In 1979 the organ was relocated in the balcony, and the women of the congregation were given the right to vote. Henrietta Beccue was the first woman elected to the church council as church treasurer. 

In 1980, the congregation accepted the Lutheran Care Center Corporation document and in 1983, pledges and gifts from the congregation to the LCC special fund drives reached $63,576. St. Paul, along with other Lutheran churches in the area, continues to support Lutheran Care Center in Altamont, IL. 

On July 28, 1986, lightning once again struck St. Paul, this time striking the schoolhouse. It was decided to replace the building with an attached parish hall. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on August 30, 1987. During the excavation for the foundation, a piece of Bedford stone was found that had been broken during shipment and buried by the builders. It was decided that “the stone the builders rejected would become our cornerstone.” The cornerstone was placed on November 22, 1987, 62 years to the day that the cornerstone was placed for the present church. On February 14, 1988, at a total cost of $100,000, the parish hall was dedicated. The hall has handicap accessible restrooms, a wheelchair lift, a kitchen, offices for the Pastor and secretary, and a large meeting/dining room. 

Mergers 

There have been several mergers that St. Paul has experienced. In 1930 the Buffalo Synod merged with the Ohio and Iowa Synods to become the American Lutheran Church. In 1960, the American Lutheran Church merged with the United Evangelical Lutheran Church to form “The” American Lutheran Church. In 1987, The American Lutheran Church merged with the Lutheran Church in America and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). 

Interesting Firsts 

First Baptism: Frederick William Kruger, son of Christopher Kruger

Born November 16, 1865; baptized May 21, 1866

Sponsors: Carl Rehwald, August Wurl, Mrs. Elizabeth Wurl

First Confirmands: Sophie Hillemann, Anna Schultz, Frederike Siebert, Auguste Midler, Helene Grashoff, Lottie Drews, John Milleville, Chris Wendt, Fred Suchow, Ernest Witte, Gustav Krohn, William Grobengieser, William Proefrock, John Grobengieser. 

First Marriage: August Kroll and Auguste Milleville

First Burial: Anna, wife of Gustus Grobengieser. Died October 14, 1866. Was buried October 16, 1866, age 90 years, 2 months, 5 days. Leaves to mourn, her husband, Gustus Grobengieser, two sons and two daughters. 

Previous ministers serving St. Paul include:

Rev. J.G.M. Hilleman – 1869 – 1879

Rev. Carl Sabban – 1879 – 1883

Rev. Edward Nemeschy – 1884 – 1899 

Rev. Robert Ziemer – November 29, 1899 until his death on September 17, 1923

Rev. Herman F. Guse – November 29, 1923 until his death on May 2, 1953 

Rev. Arthur G. Langholtz – November 22, 1953 – June 1956

Rev. Elmer Elzey – April 1959 – August 1962

Rev. Marcus Mueller – December 1962 until his retirement in 1976

Rev. Ronald Brooker – December 1976 - - June 1991

Rev. George Gehant  - August 1992 – 1998

Rev. John Woods – June 1998 – April 2001

John Rogers, Interim Pastor – July 2001 – 2002

Rev. William Veith – March 2003 – 2006

Rev. Don Klepzig, Interim Pastor – 2006 – 2008 

Rev. Tim Hubert, Interim Pastor – January 2009 -December 2014

Rev. Chris Hale, Interim Pastor – January 2015 – December 2016 

Rev. Stephen Goodwin, Interim Pastor – January 2017 – December 2019

Rev. Gary Ryden, Interim Pastor – January 2020 – October 2020

Rev. Maria Bonine – October 2020 – 

Sons of the Congregation: 

Rev. Harold C. Guse, the son of Rev. and Mrs. H.F. Guse, was born in Medina, New York, November 24, 1905. He was ordained into the holy ministry in St. Paul Lutheran Church, Altamont, IL, June 1931, his father officiating. 

Rev. Harold Goers, the son of Sam and Elfrieda Goers, was born August 17, 1926. Graduate of Capitol University, Columbus, OH, Class of 1949. Graduate of Evangelical Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, OH, Class of 1953. He was ordained into the holy ministry in St. Paul Lutheran Church, Altamont, IL by Rev. Herbert Leupold, D.D., on June 14, 1953. 

Rev. Gary Sproat, the son of Melvin and Adeline Sproat, was born June 28, 1947. Graduate of Wartburg College, Waverly, IA, Class of 1969. Graduate of Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, IA, Class of 1973. Ordained into the holy ministry at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Altamont, IL by Rev. Donald Groskreutz.