St. Paul Lutheran Church Celebration 130th Anniversary

Saint Paul Lutheran Church of Fayetteville will host its 130th anniversary celebration at 10:30 a.m. led by ELCA Bishop Michael Rinehart and Pastor Jen Kinnsvatter.

The first Lutheran worship services in the Fayetteville area were held as early as 1851 when Pastor J. C. Roehm of Basel, Switzerland, organized the first Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Texas and began preaching, serving the Ross Prairie Lutherans. Other pastors who served the area in the early years were Pastor Rudolph Jaeggli, Pastor Frank Wohlschlegel, Pastor John Doerfler and Pastor J. Frehner. The Ross Prairie group officially organized as St. John Lutheran Church on Dec. 26, 1859. Years later, the church building was moved to Ellinger at which time the Lutherans in Fayetteville decided to organize their own congregation.

On July 24, 1894, the small group purchased land from Hugo Zapp Sr., in the town of Fayetteville for $275.00 to the German Evangelical Lutheran Church Community of Fayetteville.

A church building was built and a pastor called, Rev. Vaclav Pazdral. Pastor Pazdral served the congregation until 1911 and also organized a union Sunday School. During the pastorate of Hans Krause the congregation joined The Texas Synod in 1913 and The American Lutheran Church in 1930. By 1938, the name changed from St. John to St. Paul Lutheran Church. Services were held in English and German until 1947.

In September 1962, St. Paul purchased the Lutheran Church building and annex from Sealy’s Trinity Lutheran Church which serves as the current church building and fellowship hall.

In early September 1974, Waldeck Lutheran Church decided not to purchase the 1880 Pfeffer Tracker Pipe Organ offered to them by Joseph Arch Park, organ builder. On Sept. 10,1974, Pastor Vlasak, who was assisting Waldeck locate a new church organ, proposed to St. Paul Council to purchase the Pfeffer Organ. The church council voted to hold a congregational meeting for approval. On Oct. 13,1974, the congregation voted by a 2 to 1 maj ority to purchase the 1880 Pfeffer Pipe Organ. Voters in attendance immediately pledged $1,060 toward the organ fund.

Mid January 1975, Mr. Park and two helpers drove to Chicago to pick up the antique Pfeifer and found its tracker action and case work badly broken by those who had disassembled it for storage. He promised to come forward with a different type of pipe organ. On Feb. 12, 1975, Mr. Park met with the Church Council and explained his proposal for an alternate pipe organ. A motion was made and seconded that the organ project be followed through according to the alternate proposed presented. The council appointed an Organ Committee. On March 28, 1975, Mr. Park sent sketches of the organ enclosure and the contract to be signed. On April 5, 1975, The Organ Committee recommended the width of the organ chamber be reduced by 10 inches and the chamber constructed to match the interior of the church with no outside display of pipes. On April 10, 1975, the council passed the recommendation of the pipe organ committee and the contract was signed. On May 12, 1975, construction began on the Organ Chamber. In early August of 1975, Mr. Park began installation and finished the major portion Sept. 27 with several changes and adjustments made in early October. On Oct. 5, 1975, the council voted to set the dedication day for Oct. 26, 1975 at the 10:30 a.m. service with Dedicatory Recital by Mr. Joseph Park at 3 p.m.

A renovation project was completed in the year of 2000 by Shawn Sanders, Pipe Organ Technicians, Inc. with the addition of chimes. St. Paul is the birth church of all SLM staff musicians and several other musicians who share their musical gifts to the Lord.

Other pastors who followed Pastor Pazdral were Pastor Hans Krause (1911-1921); Pastor E. O. Lindenberg (1922-1927); Pastor J. E. Scheffel (1927-1929); Pastor J. Bosshardt (1929-1947); Pastor Paul S. Fisher (1947-1949); Pastor Walter Wolf (1950); Pastor H. F. Wolber (1950-1955); Pastor Milroy Gregor (19551960); Pastor Waldemar Wendel (1960-1965); Bishop Schulte (1965-1969); Pastor Don Vlasak (19691976); Pastor James Snyder (1976-1986); Pastor Robert Braun (1986-1993). St. Paul terminated the two point parish agreement with St. Paul Shelby in 1993. From September of 1993 to 2000, the congregation had been served by supply Pastors Gregor and Clarence Ehler.

A co-op was formed in May of 2000 for a shared ministry. On Jan. I, 2001, The Shared Lutheran Ministry of Fayette County (SLM) was officially established consisting of four churches: St. John Ellinger, St. Johns Warrenton, St. John Ruterville and St. Paul Fayetteville. Pastor Karl Johnson served as the first pastor for SLM in January 2001. Other pastors, interims, and interns servicing SLM: February 2001-2003: Associate Pastor Laura Olsen 2003: Associate Pastor Suzanne Guin 2005: Pastor Linda Mosley, Interim 2007: Pastor Glen Holt, called 2009: Pastor Karen Buck, Interim 2010: Pastor Marcia Kifer 2017: Intern Birgitte Simpson 2018: Intern Rachel Seija 2019: Intern Jonathan Mollenkopf 2020: Intern Cole McGlynn 2022: Pastor Candis O-Meara, Interim 2023: Pastor Jill Vivroux, Interim 2024: Pastor Jen Kindsvatter, called Long standing supplies pastors include Pastor Lawrence Bade and Pastor Paul Bohot. St. Paul serves as SLM ministry coordinators for Second Chance Emporium, AMEN Food Pantry, and the Meals on Wheels program. St. Paul member coordinates the Fayetteville’s Mobile Food Pantry/Central Texas.

The quilting ministry began during the era of Pastor Ehler with his wife, encouraging the ladies to quilt for various charities. The group has since grown from members of St. Paul to several women in the community.

The quilting ministry has provided hundreds of quilts to various charities including Lutheran World Relief, Fayette County Sheriff department, St. Mark’s hospital, Fayetteville Fire Department, the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Lickskillet feast, unique quilts for graduating high school seniors along with other charities.

St. Paul’s Lutheran heritage has broadened into a community fellowship with religious backgrounds from the Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopalian worshiping together. St. Paul Lutheran Church continues in the traditions of its founders.

Sources: The Fayette County Record, Sealy New’s, Pipe Organ dedication brochure & Shared Lutheran Ministry