St. Martin Church Will Observe Centennial SundayShawano Evening Leader, October 2, 1959
Sunday, October 4, St. Martin's Lutheran Church, Belle Plaine, will celebrate its centennial anniversary with services in the morning, afternoon and evening. Speakers for the festival services will be a former pastor, the Rev. Otto E. Mueller, 10 a.m.; Rev. William Kupsky, a son of the congregation, 2:30 p.m.; and Rev. Lloyd H. Goetz, Nekoosa, president of the North Wisconsin District, Missouri Synod, 8 p.m. The formation of the congregation of St. Martin's goes back almost to the time Shawano Co. was incorporated and a year after the township of Belle Plaine was established. The first church constitution bears the date Oct. 23, 1859. The early settlers, mindful of the Word of the Savior: "What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" petitioned some of the nearest Lutheran ministers to serve them. They requested help in establishing services, in giving instruction to the young, and in administering the Sacraments. The Rev. Frederick Ruhland of Oshkosh consented to help, to minister to the needs of the people as time permitted and to baptize the children. He made long and difficult trips through the dense, mosquito-infested forest partly by the Wolf and Embarrass Rivers, by ox-wagon, and on foot. After only a few trips the people formed the congregation. Charter members were: Carl Raasch, Martin Preuss, Carl Reisner, F. Jaeckel, G. Mielke, H. Eckert, Frank Degener, Carl Retzlaff, Christian Retzlaff, C. Manteufel, C. Bartelt, W. Retzlaff, J. Klickmann, C. Schewe, F. Tappendorf and F. Kirschberg. |
The first services were held at Carl Reisner's home. A little later the congregation used the public schoolhouse which occupied a place on the present church grounds.
Pastor J.N. Beyer served St. Martin's from 1860-63, making the trips from Readfield. First resident pastor was Rev. Peter Dicke, who came to Belle Plaine during the Civil War years. Using Belle Plaine and later the Town of Washington as a base of his ministerial operations, Pastor Dicke founded a score of congregations in the area.
The first church was built in 1869, and served the congregation until 1907, when the present church was erected. During the years, St. Martin's supported the work of the church at large, and gave of its membership to other congregations. It now totals two hundred baptized souls.
Through the past century, fourteen pastors have served St. Martin's including the present one, Rev. W.H. Werling. The church had its own Christian Day School for many years until it was discontinued in 1955, primarily because of the dearth of teachers.
All friends of the congregation are invited to the jubilee services Sunday. The ladies of the congregation will serve a ham dinner at noon and a supper following the afternoon service. Refreshments will also be served after the evening service.
Pastor J.N. Beyer served St. Martin's from 1860-63, making the trips from Readfield. First resident pastor was Rev. Peter Dicke, who came to Belle Plaine during the Civil War years. Using Belle Plaine and later the Town of Washington as a base of his ministerial operations, Pastor Dicke founded a score of congregations in the area.
The first church was built in 1869, and served the congregation until 1907, when the present church was erected. During the years, St. Martin's supported the work of the church at large, and gave of its membership to other congregations. It now totals two hundred baptized souls.
Through the past century, fourteen pastors have served St. Martin's including the present one, Rev. W.H. Werling. The church had its own Christian Day School for many years until it was discontinued in 1955, primarily because of the dearth of teachers.
All friends of the congregation are invited to the jubilee services Sunday. The ladies of the congregation will serve a ham dinner at noon and a supper following the afternoon service. Refreshments will also be served after the evening service.