German Evangelical Congregation in St. Louis

Established 1843

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PAGE CONTENTS

Also known as
Community
Chronology and locations
History
Church records
Pastors
Sources

See also cemetery information

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Also known as

Evangelische Gemeinde in St. Louis, Missouri

Community

North Church: St. Louis—Downtown (1843-1845)
South Church: St. Louis—Soulard & Old North St. Louis (1845-1848)

Chronology and locations

1843—Congregation founded as a split from Holy Ghost Church; met at Benton School, 6th & Locust
1845—Built two identical buildings, the North Church (Obere Kirche) at 14th & Carr and the South Church (Untere Kirche) at Jackson (now 3rd) & Soulard
1848—The two locations become independent, with the North Church becoming St. Peter’s and the South Church becoming St. Marcus

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History

When the Rev. George Wendelin Wall, pastor of Holy Ghost Church, helped organize the German Evangelical Church Society of the West in 1840, the action brought him in conflict with a rationalistic, anti-clerical faction in the congregation. In July 1843, Wall and 76 families, including half of the church council, withdrew from Holy Ghost and founded the German Evangelical Congregation in St. Louis, Missouri at Benton School, 6th and Locust Streets.

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Left: The Rev. George Wendelin Wall (1811-1867) was serving Holy Ghost Church when controversies with the congregation caused him to leave and form a new one.

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Because its members lived in various parts of the city, the congregation built two identical church buildings in 1845: the Obere Kirche (North Church) at 15th (now 14th) and Carr Streets, and the Untere Kirche (South Church) at Jackson (now 3rd) and Soulard Streets (now Layfayette). Both locations were served by Pastor Wall until illness forced him to resign in 1845. The Rev. T.G. Caviezell served briefly, followed in 1846 by the Rev. J.J. Riess.  The Rev. Adolph Baltzer was called to serve the South Church in 1847.

Although there were two locations, both churches operated as a single congregation. When the north and south churches agreed separate in 1848, Baltzer remained pastor of  the South Church, which took the name St. Marcus in 1856. The North Church became St. Peter’s with Riess as its pastor.

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Right: The "Untere Kirche" or South Church of the German Evangelical Congregation as it probably appeared in 1845. It later became St. Marcus.

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Pastors

George W. Wall, 1843-1848
T.G. Caviezell, 1845-1846
J.J. Riess, 1846-1848
Adolph Baltzer (at South Church), 1987-1848

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Left: The Rev. J.J.Riess (1811-1855) was called to serve the congregation after Wall resigned because of illness. He continued to serve St. Peter's Church until his death in 1855.

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Church records

Records should be included in St. Peter's Church records. Original records are located in the Archives at Eden Theological Seminary, and microfilm copies are also available.

 

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Sources

Schneider, Carl E. “Early History of the St. Paul’s Evangelical Church of St. Louis,” type-written manuscript, Archives at Eden Theological Seminary, s.d.

St. Marcus Evangelical Church, Saint Louis, Missouri, Centennial Observance, October 10, 1943.
St. Louis: St. Marcus Evangelical and Reformed Church, 1943.

“St. Marcus United Church of Christ, St. Louis, Missouri,” congregational Profile, 1980.

St. Peter’s United Church of Christ: 150th Anniversary, 1843-1993. Ferguson, Mo.: St. Peter's Evangelical United Church of Christ, 1993.

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Updated September 2008. Queries, corrections and problems should be submitted to Scott Holl, Archivist at Eden.