It was the year 1884 that the Rev. Jacob
Maierle, Pastor of St. John's Evangelical Church,
Wheatland, Union Twp., Iowa began to preach the gospel in
New Albin. The following year, he was successful in
gathering a group of people who were willing to form a
Christian congregation. On January 17, 1885, this
congregation was organized to be known as "Deutsche
Evangehsche St. Petri Gemiende." A constitution was
adopted and signed by 24 men, the women evidently having
no voice in the matter.
The first minister, the Rev. Jacob Maierle, was born in
Neustuttgart, Russia, in 1858 and came to America in 1883
as a missionary to the German immigrants of this country.
He resigned after serving a number of churches in
Illinois.
The Rev. Ernest Birkner was the second pastor in charge.
He was born in 1860 in Bavaria, Germany. When he was 20
years old, he came to America with his brothers. In June
of 1886, after graduating from Eden Seminary, he became
pastor of the New Albin church. It was during his
pastorate that the Swedish Lutheran Church, which had
thus far been rented, was purchased for the sum of $200.
Later on, this building was sold and the owner remodeled
it into a home. Rev. Birkner resigned in the fall of
1892.
The next pastor was another German born immigrant, Rev.
Bernhard Vogelsang. He was born in 1853 and came to
American in 1889, studying at Eden Seminary in St. Louis,
MO and graduating in 1892. The New Albin church was his
first field in the ministry. It was during his pastorate
in the year 1895 that the old church (little white one)
was built. Charles H. May was the contractor and builder.
Charley May
~photo contributed by Laura Stadelman
Exact figures are not available, but the entire cost
was in the neighborhood of $1400. The bell in the tower
(which was reinstalled in the new church) was donated by
Mr. & Mrs. Henry Luettchens, charter members of St.
Peter's Church. After four and one-half years, Rev.
Vogelsang left St. Peter's Church and later passed away
in 1907 from influenza and pneumonia.
In 1897, the Rev. Henry Kunz became pastor of St. Peter's
& St. John's. He was born in Switzerland and came to
America as a missionary. He came to the New Albin charge
in 1897. It was during his charge that the congregation
became a member of the German Evangelical Synod of
America. Rev. Kunz served six years and resigned in 1903.
He was succeeded by Rev. Karl Bizer who, after serving
several other charges, accepted the call in 1903 to
become pastor of the New Albin, IA charge where he had a
long pastorate of twenty-one years, fifteen of these at
St. Peter's & St. John's. During his pastorate,
folding chairs were purchased, the old fence enclosing
the church property was removed, the church received a
new coat of paint & plans were discussed for the
uniting of St. Peter's with Peace Church at Crooked
Creek. He resigned his pastorate in 1918.
The next pastor, Rev. Theophil Stoerker, accepted the
call in 1918. This was his first pastorate. The first
action under his leadership was that morning services
began at 10:00 & that English and German languages be
held alternately, with Sunday School to use the English
language. It was during his pastorate that the present
parsonage was erected in 1919 at the cost of
approximately $4000. Before occupying the parsonage, he
made his home with the Henry Fruechte family. He resigned
in 1923.
Rev. Louis Dennerghaff was the next pastor from
1923-1926. It was during his tenure that it was decided
every member was to receive an annual financial report.
The congregation was next served by Rev. P.C. Keinath
from 1926-1930. Little information is available
concerning his pastorate.
In the year 1931, Rev. Fredric Bemberg accepted a call to
be pastor of St. Peter's & St. John's Churches. He
was born in Gennany. In the year 1935, the 50th
anniversary of the church was observed. Mrs. Bemberg died
while he was pastor here in 1935.
In the year 1938, the Rev. Erwin J. Florin became pastor.
During his pastorate, a new alignment was created whereby
St. Peter's & Peace Church (Crooked Creek) were
united to fonn a charge. While he was pastor, the altar
& pulpit which are used in the present church were
secured. Also in 1938, women were allowed to vote at
church meetings for the first time. Rev. Florin resigned
in 1943 to become a chaplain in the U.S. Army.
During the interim from February to August, 1943, the
Rev. H. Radloff of Eitzen, MN supplied the church.
Then came the pastorate of Rev. Paul H. Franzmeier who
perhaps gave more of himself to this congregation than
any of the pastors. The old church proved to be
inadequate for the needs so a building fund was started
in 1945. However, little interest was shown until 1950.
During the week of June 6th while the pastor was away on
vacation, the congregation dismantled the old church.
Excavation was begun & construction of a new church
was begun on July 5th. During the time of construction,
services were held at the Methodist Church. This courtesy
was much appreciated. The cornerstone service was held on
August 13, 1950. Dedication services were held on June 3,
1951. After serving New Albin-Peace Church for ten years
Rev. Franzmeier resigned and went to NorwoodChaska, MN,
where he served until he died on January 26, 1960. His
wife, Esther, succeeded him in death on December 10,
1956.
The Rev. Edmund DeBuhr was interim pastor from November,
1953 until May, 1954, when Rev. Emil Burrichter accepted
the call to St. Peter's. During his pastorate, the
congregation cancelled the debt on the church, installed
a console Model Harmond organ, installed the remaining
art glass windows, secured new hymn books, finished the
basement floor and did considerable remodeling &
redecorating in the parsonage. The entire cost of the
present church figures in the neighborhood of $62,200.
Rev. Burrichter left in 1963 and from March to May, 1963,
the Rev. Mel Granpman from Eitzen served as interim
pastor.
In June of 1963, Rev. Clyde Lee came to St. Peter's.
Preceding his pastorate, in September of 1960, the
congregation voted to buy a tract of land for a cemetery
from Earl Hammell. It was named St. Peter's Memorial
Cemetery. In 1962, the E & R congregational
denominations merged together to form the United Church
of Christ.
Following Rev. Lee's resignation in 1977, the Rev. James
Dahlgren served as interim pastor until June of 1978 when
the Rev. Richard Waters accepted the call and remained
until 1985 when a farewell dinner was held for him on
October 20th. Many improvements were made in the church
while Dick Waters served and the 1985 Centennial
Celebration was one that shall never be forgotten.
Following Rev. Waters, Rev. Tom Oswald came as interim
pastor and served the first part of 1986. In the fall of
1986, Pastor Dan Jensen & his family accepted the
call. He stayed until March of 1989. During the last half
of 1989 and until August of 1990, Pastor Joan Fumetti
served as interim. Following her departure, we had
interim pastor Nancy Anderson who remained until the
present pastor, Rev. Dennis Siebert, came to us in April
of 1991.
Pastors of St Peter's U.C.C.
Reverend Jacob Maierle 1885
Reverend J. Ernest Birkner 1886 - 1891
Reverend Bernhard Vogelsang 1892 - 1897
Reverend Henry Kunz 1897 - 1903
Reverend Karl Bizer 1903 - 1918
Reverend Theophil Stoerker 1918 - 1923
Reverend Louis Dennerghaff 1923 - 1926
Reverend P.C. Keinath 1926 - 1930
Reverend Fredric Bemberg 1931 - 1937
Reverend Erwin Florin 1938 - 1943
Reverend Paul H. Franzmeier 1943 - 1953
Reverend Emil Burrichter 1954 - 1963
Reverend Clyde Lee 1963 - 1977
Reverend James Dahlgren 1977 - 1978 (Interim Pastor)
Reverend Richard A. Waters 1978 - 1985
Reverend Tom Oswald 1985 - 1986 (Interim Pastor)
Reverend Dan Jensen 1986 - 1989
Reverend Joan Fumetti 1989 - 1990 (Interim Pastor,
Student)
Reverend Nancy Anderson 1990 - 1991 (Interim Pastor,
Student)
Reverend Dennis L. Siebert 1991 - Present (As of 1994
when book was published)
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