St. John’s Lutheran Church Nearly 175 Years in Arnold
St. John’s Lutheran Church Nearly 175 Years in Arnold
Founded by pioneers after itinerant preacher named Sabbath didn’t show up
This article quotes excerpts from a booklet published by St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1948, on the occasion of its 100th anniversary:
“In 1848, gold was discovered in California. That same year settlers in Jefferson County discovered that the ‘kingdom of God and his righteousness’ are ‘more to be desired than gold…’” In their struggle to live “those stalwart pioneers” did not forget how to live, namely, unto the Lord.
“Their ancestry was German and they continued to speak that language for many years. In the early 1840s an itinerant preacher from St. Louis by the name of Sabbath came at intervals to preach to them in their native language. People came to those services from miles around, meeting in homes. . . An attempt was made to build a log church when sixteen families contributed the necessary logs and other material.”
Rev. J.M. Johannes and wife Carolina St. Johns Lutheran Church
“On a given date the cornerstone was to be laid and the logs raised. The assembled congregation waited long past the set hour for the preacher who was to officiate at the ceremonies.” A settler rode to St. Louis to ask why the man who called himself called Sabbath didn’t appear. The settler was told that the itinerant preacher was not a true clergyman. When the settlers learned this they were so disheartened that they decided not to build.
Their disappointment in the so-called preacher who called himself Sabbath made the Lutheran settlers wary of itinerant preachers. “When they learned of a true Lutheran church in St. Louis, they sent a delegation to the pastor, the Reverend C.F. W. Walther, for consultation and spiritual ministration.” The Reverend Walther was first president of the organized Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri. A very respected man, Reverend Walther arranged with the young Reverend J.F. Buenger, who was then assistant pastor of St. Louis’ Trinity Lutheran Church, to temporarily serve Jefferson County Lutherans. The delegation that rode to St. Louis to make those arrangements was comprised of Jacob Baeumner, Sr., Daniel Mueller, William (Wilhelm) Flamm and John Siepp.
The German-American publication Das Lutheraner on June 13, 1848, noted that St. John’s Lutheran Church was established in the spring of 1848. Services were held in members’ homes, most of which were log structures in what was then called Beck, which was one of the villages incorporated into the City on Arnold in 1972.
German Lutherans
Arnold Community News reported earlier this year that 38 percent of Arnold’s population has German ancestral roots, and German is the number one claimed ancestry on Missouri census forms.
A Lutheran minister named Friedrich Münch helped hundreds of Germans who wanted to immigrate to Missouri make the trip and he influenced thousands of others to do the same.
Germany’s ruling aristocracy was corrupt in the 1830s; the German working class was ruthlessly oppressed. A German journalist named Gottfried Duden visited Missouri. He published reports promoting this region as an idyllic Vaterland (homeland), with resources along the Missouri River similar to Germany’s Rhineland.
Knowing that, Friedrich Münch co-founded the Giessen Emigration Society to transport German citizens across the Atlantic Ocean to Missouri and create a utopia. In 1834, Münch helped 500 German settlers relocate. Those who sailed on the ship Olbers arrived in New Orleans on June 2, 1834. Those who sailed on the ship Medora, arrived in Baltimore on July 24, 1834. More Germans arrived by the thousands in years ahead.
Allen Flamm, a well-known local historian, says it’s no surprise that 38 percent of Arnold’s population has German roots, according to the U.S. Census, and German is the number one claimed ancestry in the state.
He says, “In 1836 my great grandfather Wilhelm Flamm arrived from the village of Merseburg, Germany to farm here and plant fruit orchards. Almost everything around was German. Church schools taught in German. My grandfather learned reading, writing and arithmetic in German. Today, some members of St. John’s Lutheran Church still speak German to each other. So did my parents when they didn’t want kids to understand what they were saying. The German influence is all around Arnold – from cornerstones in old buildings dedicated in German, to gravestone epitaphs honoring dearly departed.”
Arnold Lutherans
St. Johns original 1848 Church Building was renovated and enlarged in 1882
The original St. John’s Lutheran Church in Arnold was located on a donated two-acre plot near its current site at 3517 Jeffco Boulevard in the village of Sulphur Springs. At its birth in 1848 the original congregation of about 16 members chose to affiliate with the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, now known as The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.”
One year later at a Synodical convention the new church was formally recognized; Reverend J.M. Johannes became its first official pastor, succeeding the young temporary pastor Reverend J.F. Buenger. Reverend J.M. Johannes was nearly as young as Reverend Buenger. “He was ordained and installed June 4, 1848,” according to the church’s 1848 centennial booklet.
“There was much to be done by the pastor and congregation. Land was acquired and logs were cut that a parsonage and a church might be built. A school was opened that the children of the parish might receive instruction, especially in the Christian religion. Thus they built wisely upon Christ as the chief cornerstone, insuring an intelligent and staunch Lutheran church membership for the future.”
St. John’s Lutheran Church has achieved many milestones and grown mightily thanks to many pastors since its founding congregation of about 16 people. The original log-built church was renovated and enlarged in 1882 when St. John’s had grown to about 350 members due in part to Pastor Peter Weseloh, who was called to the church in 1876. That was three years too late to celebrate the church’s 25th anniversary, yet Reverend Weseloh helped celebrate the 50th Jubilee as active pastor and its 75th Jubilee as Pastor Emeritus. He served St. John’s for 28 years – far longer than any other pastor. He retired in 1904, continued to occasionally preach sermons, and died in 1926 at age 88, outliving his wife and their two daughters.
New Zealander
German born George Henry Hilmer was installed as St. Johns new pastor in 1927
Pastor Henry C. Harting was a native of New Zealand who after emigrating to America attended Concordia College in Indiana; the University of Missouri-Columbia; and then graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in 1914. After serving small churches in central Missouri he accepted St. Johns’ call in 1920. Pastor Harting is noteworthy for “publishing a history of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran congregation for the Diamond Jubilee in 1923; serving as chairman of the Western District Finance Committee; and preparing to build a new church edifice on two additional acres that St. John’s acquired next to the old church property.” Pastor Harting accepted another calling at a different church in 1927, yet St. John’s Lutheran Church grew to 430 members during his tenure.
George Henry Hilmer, born in Germany, was installed as new pastor in 1927. It became his task to “crystalize plans and preparations for the new church building” that opened in 1929, which he did. He also dealt with the Missouri Highway Department as it built a new, four-lane roadway in front of the new church building. When Pastor Hilmer had assumed his role upon the retirement of his predecessor Pastor Henry C. Harting, the value of St. John’s church property was $6,000 and communicants numbered 260. When Pastor Hilmer retired 13 years later in 1940, the new church sanctuary had been built, communicants numbered 227, and the value of church property was $30,000.
Pastor Jeremy
Jeremy Schultz, Senior Pastor St. Johns Lutheran Church in Arnold
St. John’s current Senior Pastor Jeremy J. A. Schultz was born June 1, 1972, to Reverend Donald and Mary Schultz. He was baptized into the Christian faith that year at Triune Lutheran Church in Sharon, Wisconsin. He attended Concordia University in Chicago, graduating in 1994 with a degree in Elementary Education, and enrolled at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. While there, he was assigned as a field work student at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Arnold. In 1995, he preached his very first sermon ever in the pulpit of the 1929 sanctuary.
Completing his studies in 1998, he became associate pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Des Peres, Missouri. While later serving as Senior Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Royal Oak, Michigan, members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Arnold nominated him for consideration as new Senior Pastor. In 2012, Reverend Schultz was installed as St. John’s Senior Pastor and today “greatly enjoys the ministry and life. My wife Michelle is a nurse at Barnes Hospital in south St. Louis County. Our two kids are Lydia, 23, who teaches high school English in Florida and Elijah, 20, a junior at Missouri State University.” Pastor Schultz’ brother, Jonathan D. Schultz, is president and CEO of Concordia Publishing House in St. Louis.
During Pastor Jeremy’s tenure, the St. John’s congregation purchased additional property that is now home to the congregation’s Care Connections ministry. “The church also recently acquired the four and a half acre adjacent property, formerly known as Keller Farm, for future work in the Lord’s vineyard,” he says.
“Our congregation is extremely proud and supportive of our Care Connections ministry and our school. Many people in Arnold don’t know that our school dates to 1848 when the church was founded. As a faith-based school, we combine faith and family to create an environment of academic excellence.
“Care Connections is a community organization that helps empower our community and members of St John’s Lutheran Church and School by connecting people to resources and support. We offer support groups and counseling for anyone going through a crisis. Care Connections recently received a $20,000 grant from the Jefferson Foundation to help support our care coordination and Foster Kid Friday programs, which are awesome.”
St Johns Lutheran Church arnold
175th Anniversary
In 2023, St. John’s Lutheran Church will celebrate its 175th Anniversary, offering a preview of that milestone during this year’s Arnold Days in September. A commemorative history book, including old and new photos, is being written by church member Jason Christ, whose great, great, great grandfather John Dornshief, Sr. was a founding member of St. John’s in 1848.
Today’s congregation of 2,000 souls eagerly anticipates a year of special events, special sermons, and a joyous all-member gathering at Rickman Auditorium on May 14, 2023. Says Pastor Jeremy: “It’s a glorious time for doing God’s work.”
Story for the City of Arnold by Jeff Dunlap.