History Club

History of Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Presentation to the Annandale History Club
October, 2002
Herold Neumann

The church organized in 1878 and joined the Missouri Lutheran Church Synod in 1917. (A German Synod). In 1928 the Congregation began one English service each month. By 1940 it was one German service per month. The last German service was in 1956.

Their 125th anniversary was in 2003; as of 2002 they had 200 members. The present [in 2002] pastor is Leland Bendix.

The first Church was in a 20 by 30 ft. log building (1879). The present structure was built in 1899, and the parsonage was built 1915 at the cost of $2700. The Church added a basement and redecorated 1939.

There was a bad flu epidemic in 1919 in the area and many of their people died, including Pastor Streuferts' wife.

The Christian Day School was built in 1902 and the resident pastor taught the school until 1920 when ministerial students did the teaching. The school closed in 1971.

Everyone was to have 2 years in parochial school. There were 8 children in the 1940 confirmation class and 4 are still living as of 2002.

Herold Neumann attended the Bethlehem Lutheran Church when he was young. In the winter they often went to church in a sleigh. They used a blanket over their knees to keep warm.

Rev. Wm. Kanning started the first radio station in the area (1937). Pastor Kanning received an Army and Navy Commission 1941. The Missouri Lutheran Church has a radio program known as The Lutheran Hour at 12:30 Sundays on the New Ulm station.

The church has a unique 1902 pipe organ. It was pumped by hand and the faster the helper pumped the better they thought the organist was. It was refurbished in 2005 and they had a concert to rededicate it. Many organists were asked back to play at the concert.

The Land of Lakes ice cream company made a TV commercial on the property as it is on a beautiful hill and very picturesque.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Middleville Township in rural Annandale is celebrating its 125^thanniversary with special services throughout the year.

The main celebration will be held the weekend of July 12 and 13. On Saturday, July 12, there will be games, food, fellowship and entertainment. The 2 p.m. service on Sunday, July 13, under the tents will include guest speaker Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer, professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and former Lutheran Hour speaker.

At a meeting on April 7, 1878, at the town of Albion , the German Evangelical Lutheran Bethlehem Congregation Unaltered Augsburg Confession was formed. The document was signed by chairman Carl (Charles) Lorenz and secretary Albert Schultz and witnessed by justice of the peace Charles Buckman and Fred Uecker. It was at the meeting of April 7 that the documents for incorporation were drawn up and signed by the duly elected officers. All but three of the charter members signed the document.

The document was delivered to the representative of the state of Minnesota and was sealed on April 11, 1878. It was filed for record on May 30, 1878. Upon the arrival of Pastor F. Kolbe in 1879, the congregation resolved to build its first church building, a log structure 20 by 30 feet. In 1899 the present church was built and a basement was put under it in 1937-38.

It wasn't until 1917 that the congregation joined the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

The newest Bethlehem Lutheran Church history book will be made available at the July celebration.