3843 Bethel History.indd

A History Bartonville, Illinois 2009 Bethel Lutheran Church



Bethel Lutheran Church has a long and rich history that came to be through God’s grace and the faithfulness of early church leaders. 3

Pastors F.B. Bess of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Peoria, A. Gruber of Zion and G. Oepke of St. John’s Lutheran in Limestone all attempted unsuccessfully to organize a Sunday School in Bartonville in 1894 and 1895. Six years later, Rev. C. August Decker of Zion, with help from Rev. Otto Torge of the Church of the Redeemer in North Peoria, tried again but failed when opposition arose against using a public school Rev. A. Gruber Rev. G. Oepke Rev. F.B. Bess building to hold a Sunday School. Bartonville at speaking church services to the little village just that time was a boisterous farming and mining south of Peoria. On April 30, 1907, a resolution community, and life was hard. Farmers and was passed at a meeting of the Eastern Illinois miners walked to work every day on muddy Conference of the Southern District of the unpaved streets, while women scrubbed the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iowa and Other family’s laundry on a rough washboard after States directing the Mission Board’s attention carrying it by hand from a well or cistern. The to Bartonville. In a house-to-house survey, average life expectancy then was about 47 years Pastor Decker found 50 families whose children old. attended no Sunday School or who were anxious to have them attend a Lutheran Sunday School. Still, these pioneering Lutheran leaders did The Mission Board then voted to move forward not give up on their mission to bring English and promised to pay rent for a place to meet. 4

Bethel attract members who had emigrated from England, where the Liturgy and worship were similar to the Lutheran Orders. Bethel was no longer a church with only German members, and that diversity remains today. One of the first activities of the new church was to organize the Ladies Aid Society in 1908. The ladies made quilts, served chicken suppers and sold lunches at farm sales, all to raise funds to Huxtable Hall help keep the small congregation on its feet. With On a stormy morning July 14, 1907, Sunday these activities, the society helped the church School was held for the first time at Huxtable with financial aid for more than 84 years before Hall in an upstairs room in the old Bartonville disbanding. School. Only 15 children turned out in the inclement weather, but 48 attended the next week. The first regular worship service was held on that second Sunday, July 21, 1907. In keeping with the tradition of the time, these early services were held in German. However, the switch was soon made to English, which helped 5 Original Council and Members 1927-1928 Sunday School photo on lawn of church at corner of Garfield and Jefferson

On March 7, 1909, Bethel Lutheran Church Altpeter of Zion Lutheran Church in Peoria took officially organized with about 15 members. over at Bethel, making the two churches part of Shortly after, the church’s trustees authorized the same parish. A year later, on December 14, Rev. Decker to solicit funds to build a church. 1911, the Bethel Luther League was organized A lot was purchased on Garfield with 17 charter members. One of the church’s Avenue for $600, paid for with most active leagues, the group’s earliest fund- contributions from other churches raising and social projects included watermelon of the Southern District of the socials, box suppers and minstrel shows to give Iowa Synod. Construction began young folks an opportunity to display their with additional pledges amounting talents in good Christian fellowship. Rev. Decker to nearly $1,000, including contributions from congregations in Earlville, Benson, Shumway Various furnishings for the new church, and Chenoa. Eight months later, on November including the altar, pulpit, baptismal font and 14, 1909, the first church building was ready for bowl, and the hymn board, were either donated dedication, having been built at a total cost of by other congregations or bought by the Ladies $2,570. Aid, Luther League or Confirmation Class. The congregation voted to raise the funds to pay the Not long after moving in to pastor’s salary themselves beginning in 1912, the new church, Pastor Decker thus becoming self-supporting. accepted a call from another congregation. Pastor S.J. In November 1919, the church was remodeled and redecorated. This, together with Rev. S. J. Altpeter the paving of the road in front of the church, cost $717.25, which was paid for by members and friends of the church. Before the roads were paved, Pastor Altpeter once told the First Church Building Built in 1909 6

Early Photos of Original Church congregation how he had lost his overshoes rent and coal. He accepted the call and served walking in the mud between Bethel and Zion. the church until his resignation in 1923, after which Rev. Otto Dieter, a recent graduate of the By the fall of 1920, the small but growing parish seminary, accepted a call to the parish. decided to call a pastor of its own and purchased a house next to the church at a cost of $4,100 During Rev. Dieter’s time, the congregation of for a parsonage. The following September, all Gillespie donated a bell for the church tower, the church’s debt was paid off with help from the Sunday School purchased a Hinners grand the Ladies Aid, Luther League and Sunday choral reed organ to replace the School. Four months later, on January 8, 1922, old pipe organ, and the Bethel the congregation voted to make Bethel a parish Guild was organized with a separate from Zion beginning immediately after charter membership of 20 women. Pentecost. Over the years, the Guild served the church by selling greeting After the congregational meeting Rev. Otto Dieter cards, hosting bake sales, serving on September 22, 1922, a call banquets, and even hosting an annual fashion was sent to Pastor Grover Weber show. The Guild contributed substantially to the of Harrel, Illinois, offering him Building Fund, but disbanded in 1980. an annual salary of $1,000, free Rev. Grover Weber 7

When Rev. Dieter left to be an associate professor at Wartburg College in Clinton, Iowa, recent Wartburg Seminary graduate Rev. F. Alvin Park of Flanagan accepted a call to Bethel, and he was installed on February 17, 1929. Pastor Park was a man of varied talents, but what he looked Rev. F. Alvin Park forward to most was the erection of a new gothic style church that would do honor to God and be an imposing testament to our faith. There were those who felt Bartonville was not the right place for Bethel, but Pastor Park thought—and proved—otherwise. Money was tight at this time as the country was entering the Great Depression. As church treasurer, Walter Frerichs went around to the membership many times to get money to pay Thee The Th Th the church bills. However, through Pastor Park’s congregation efforts, the congregation continued to grow, and soon realized that if the church were to the old church at times could not hold all the continue to grow, newer and much larger facilities people coming to worship there. were needed. The little concrete block church building was now 30 years old and showing its Bethel observed its 25th anniversary on age. Some thought was given to building on November 18, 1934, inviting former Pastors W.G. the same site, but not enough ground could be Weber, C. August Decker and O.A. Dieter to secured, so the search turned to other property. preach. A capacity crowd of 534 attended the On January 17, 1937, the congregation voted silver anniversary banquet in the Bartonville to buy the Hill property at the end of Jefferson School auditorium. Street on Colona Avenue. Proceeding with the 8 Debt Reduction Collection Trees for Parsonage and Parish House

plans if $13,000 could be raised in pledges that year. All rejoiced when ground for the first two units was broken seven months later. Upon completion, the two buildings were appraised at $60,000, but the actual cost to the congregation was $38,000 due to the great amount of labor and material that had been donated. Countless hours were given by church members in cutting down walnut trees from farms in the Limestone area for wood to be used in both the Parish House and the Parsonage. Since Pastor Park and the congregation felt the project was not complete without the construction of the sanctuary, no formal dedication service was held at that time. The Parish House then served as an interim house of worship for nearly 16 years, beginning during Easter in 1941. The construction debt was a struggle for the small parish. During the war years, Bethel’s members spent hundreds of hours collecting scrap iron 25th Anniversary building project was no small task. The country and paper to raise funds to help reduce the debt. was still in the grip of the Depression, and the In addition, the women collected cooking grease project required substantial sacrifices on the part to sell and trade for ration stamps to buy meat of the church members. Pastor Park knew this and other food items, which they used for church and wisely recommended that a parish hall and suppers to help raise funds toward the debt parsonage be built first, leaving the construction retirement fund. of a new church for a later date. The congregation voted on January 8, 1939, to go ahead with the 9 Ground Breaking Parish Hall and Parsonage

Luther League Conventionz During the ‘40s, the Lutheran Brotherhood in the Muscatine Children’s Home, sent funds to the Peoria area was very strong, and the Bethel help young people attend Leadership Training Brotherhood was no exception. Annual fund- School and handled the annual Christmas Seal raisers included the Oyster Supper, which Drive for Grace Lutheran Sanitarium in Texas. was held each February for 40 years, and an Funds raised by the Brotherhood purchased annual fish fry. The Brotherhood also makes the beautiful statue of Christ that appears over available to the congregation the “Portals of the main entrance to the new church and new Prayer” devotional booklets, helped support carpeting in the parlor. 10 Ladies Aid Oyster Supper

In the spring of 1946, Pastor Harold Knappe of Anaheim, California, was called by Bethel to be associate pastor. Both Pastor and Mrs. Knappe were musically inclined and helped develop the church choir. They also were instrumental in the Rev. Harold Knappe congregation’s decision to replace the Hinners organ with a Wurlitzer electric organ. The Hinners was ultimately given to the new mission at Beverly Manor, which was a project of the Brotherhood. In August 1948 Pastor Knappe accepted a call to Zion Lutheran Church in Peoria, leaving Pastor Park to once more assume leadership at Bethel alone. Watermelon Eating Contest On December 4, 1948, the Bethel congregation was greatly saddened to learn of Pastor Park’s sudden death the night before by heart attack. During his 19 years of service to Bethel, the congregation had grown from 40 members to about 300. In February 1949, Rev. Karl Landgrebe of Iowa was called Married Couples Club to succeed Pastor Park. Under his leadership, attention was given to beautifying the Parish House chancel. Members of the Rev. Karl Landgrebe congregation donated a brass altar cross, candelabra, altar vases, a Bible stand, altar candlesticks and candle lighters and snuffers. Musical interest also continued within the church, and a Junior Choir was established. Junior Choir Pastor and Mrs. Landgrebe organized the Married Couples Club in 1950, which provided wonderful fellowship and a chance to raise funds to assist in the work of the congregation until it was disbanded in 1975. Also during Pastor Landgrebe’s time, the building plans for the new church were dusted off and taken under serious consideration. However, it was not his mission to see those plans through, and he left for Emmanuel Lutheran Church in 11 Evansville, Indiana, in November 1953. Social Club

Pastors at Conrnerstone Ceremony Groundbreaking Ceremony In the interim, Dr. William J.H. Knappe, Pastor Emeritus of the congregation, very capably performed pastoral duties until a call was accepted by Pastor F.M. Bunge of Chicago. Soon after Rev. J. H. Knappe Pastor Bunge was installed on February 21, 1954, the building program went into full swing with a successful fundraising drive. The congregation voted 93 to 4 in favor of starting construction on a new Rev. F. M. Bunge church in 1955 and ground was broken on March 4, 1956. The cornerstone laying Laying of the Conrnerstone on September 9, 1956, followed this, at which time an offering was taken to purchase the spire on the new church building. The inscription on the cornerstone, “Dei Gloria,” meaning “God’s Glory,” symbolizes the conviction of Bethel’s congregation to continue in the great work begun by so many during the years since the church’s humble beginnings in 1909. Cornerstone Ceremony 12

Erecting Arches Champaign became Bethel’s next minister. During his three-year pastorate, Bethel enjoyed substantial growth and attendance. The Cornerstone When Pastor Kalkwarf left in The pastor, congregation and many friends of 1971 to serve a new mission in Bethel rejoiced with hearts full of thanks to God Schaumburg, Bethel issued a call when our “Beautiful Bethel” was dedicated on to Rev. Everett I. Hagemann of October 6, 1957, to the honor and glory of God. Minneapolis. Many members Furnishings literally came from all over the world, had heard him speak at various as well as from local communities. The pulpit Rev. Carl Kalkwarf conventions and were impressed and lectern were made in nearby Peoria, the pipe by his eloquence. Pastor Hagemann organ was made in Canada and purchased with was installed on December 19, funds donated by Mr.W. W. Barton, the bells 1971. During his four years at were made in Holland, and the marble altar and Bethel, he gave a very personal carving of Christ, which appears over the main ministry to many and made a door, were sculpted in Italy. The congregation has striking figure with his flowing always been especially proud of the stained glass silver-gray hair, monocle and a gift windows in the new church. The Park family, in Rev. Everett I. for oratory second to none. Hagemann memory of Pastor Park, donated the inspiring masterpiece of stained glass that appears in front of the sanctuary over the altar. With completion of the new church, the congregation now had ample room to carry out its many activities. Pastor Bunge spent the remainder of his time at Bethel overseeing stewardship programs and increasing the membership rolls. He retired on September 1, 1968, after which Rev. Carl Kalkwarf of Stone Construction 13

Bethel’s next pastor was Rev. David P. Lerseth of South Dakota. Installed on December 14, 1975, Pastor Lerseth was of Norwegian descent and the first in the church’s history Rev. David P Lerseth not of German descent, which reflected a growing ecumenical attitude within the church. Being younger than his immediate predecessors, he brought a youth and vitality that was easier and more singable. Pastor Lerseth the church needed. He also possessed exceptional introduced chanting to his part of the Liturgy, administrative and organizational skills, leading which was well received at Bethel. Also, chanting the church in the rewriting of the Constitution of the Psalms began at this time, adding to the and reorganization of the Church Council, which solemnity of worship. enabled the church administration to operate more effectively. In September 1979 the congregation authorized the borrowing of $150,000 to renovate the Toward the end of the ‘70s, the church, which was now more than 20 years old, new Lutheran Book of Worship and the Parish House, which was almost twice was published and distributed by as old. The high ceiling in the Parish House was the American Lutheran Church lowered, making it more energy efficient, cheerful through a joint effort of most and better lit. The lower level room in the Parish of the Lutheran bodies in the House was remodeled into meeting rooms, an United States and Canada. As office, library and administrative space. with many new things, it was not without controversy. New hymns were included with the old, and a new liturgy had to be learned, but it 14

The area under the sanctuary was divided into In 1982 the Church Council decreed that the classrooms, giving the Sunday School all the congregation begin a two-year celebration of space it needed for the first time in the church’s Bethel’s 75th anniversary. Events included the history. Also added were a bride’s dressing room, sale of commemorative paperweights and plates, Sunday School office, remodeled youth room and and a banquet at Limestone High School at kitchenette. However, funds were depleted before which time six previous pastors were honored, as the sanctuary and chancel could be remodeled. well as Mrs. Park, the widow of the late Rev. F. Alvin Park. Also around this time, Bethel sponsored the Trans (a Vietnam Refugee family) for a year, providing a home, food, clothing and help in finding work. Many members of the congregation devoted untold hours enrolling the children in schools, driving them to medical appointments and driving the parents to work until they could support themselves about a year later. Overall, this was deemed a good experience for all involved. Tran Children 15 New Sunday School Classroom 75th Anniversary

Toward the end of 1982, Pastor The Memorial Task Force reported that Bethel Lerseth accepted a call to become had received the first of several stock gifts from assistant to the bishop of the Ruth and Walter Swardenski, and Bethel would Iowa District in Miles City, receive approximately $174,000 from the Adelaide Montana. Pastor Eimo Hinrichs Bruninga estate in June. At the time, this was agreed to serve as interim pastor the largest endowment Bethel had ever received. until Rev. Harold Heidegger was The funds were used in part to have the organ Rev. Eimo Hinrichs installed on June 19, 1983. Pastor dismantled and shipped to the Casavant Co. in Heidegger’s wife, Liz, started the Canada, where it was enlarged and rebuilt; to pay bell choirs for both adult and off the church debt; and to loan $25,000 interest- children during the 12 years that free to Peace Lutheran, a mission church in North they served the church. During Peoria. An additional endowment of $360,000 was this time, the sanctuary and received from the Harold Dieckow estate in 1985. parlor area were refurbished and A portion of these funds were used to establish Rev. Harold new windows were installed in Bethel’s Trust Fund. Heidegger the Parish Hall. 1987 marked the completion of the merger of the American Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Church in America and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Church into a larger church body under the name Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. This new organization is the largest Lutheran body in the United States. In the spring of 1990 Bethel celebrated the 50th anniversary of the building of the original facility at 200 Colona and held a rededication of the renovated sanctuary. During this time, the parlor was also renovated, and Bibles were placed in the pews. A year later, a call was extended and accepted to Rebuilt Organ Rev. Nathan Frambach to serve as youth pastor for the church. Rev. Nathan Frambach 16 1994 Senior Lutheran Youth Organization

Rev. Paul Park Rev. Paul Tolo Rev. Richard Hanson After both Pastors Heidegger and Frambach had left Bethel in 1995, a 14-month search for a new senior pastor commenced. Filling the vacancy during these months were three interim pastors: Lord’s Supper Carving - “Brotgebung” Paul Park, Paul Tolo and Eimo Hinrichs. In 1996 Pastor Ken Tegtmeier accepted a call to Bethel and was installed on November 10. Pastor Marcy Wieties accepted a call as associate pastor a year later and was Hand Carved in installed on September 14, 1997. Oberamergau, Germany Rev. Dr. Kenneth Tegtmeier By 1998 neighboring houses were purchased to make room for an enlarged parking lot. New doors, restrooms and an elevator to assist the handicapped were installed, with many more changes planned in the near future. Pastor Meditation Room Richard Hanson served as Bethel’s interim pastor from 1998 to 2001. In 2001 Pastor Philip Lund accepted a call to replace Pastor Tegtmeier, who left to accept a call from Zion Lutheran Church in Farmersville. Reredos Installed 2004 Christmas Pagent Rev. Dr. Philip Lund 17 Christmas Eve 2004 Portico

In 2005, a new ramp and steps, choir loft permitting the organist along with a railing, were installed to play the organ and direct the at the upper rear door of the choir. The celebration included church to ensure the safety of visits from several of Bethel’s the children as they leave Sunday past ministers, a Sunday School School. Faith Stepping Stones, a celebration, congregation picnic, program designed to encourage pot luck dinners, compiling a cook strengthening the Christian faith book, designing a commemorative in young families, was also begun Christmas ornament, note cards, this year. By 2006, a committee quilts and finally hosting a banquet was formed to begin preliminary for 300 at the local ITOO Hall. plans for Bethel’s 100th anniversary This brought to a close our 100 celebration. In June, a new book years as a congregation and we look of worship, Evangelical Lutheran forward to the next 100. The words Worship, was introduced to the on our cornerstone read “Dei congregation. New chairs and tables Carving in Narthex Gloria”, meaning to God’s Glory, were purchased for the fellowship symbolizing the conviction of the hall, and the parsonage was rented to a non- Bethel congregation to continue the great work member family. begun by Pastor C. Decker continuing through Pastor Philip Lund. Our faith remains strong in 2009, as Bethel celebrates its 100-year anniversary. The first of As with many congregations, Bethel’s history January 2009 started a year long celebration. revolves around several significant “brick and This year started with Bethel participating in a mortar” events, but the real story is the mission one-year internship program with Vicar Brenda to proclaim Christ in the Bartonville area. Lovick. In July she was replaced for a second year Indeed, God continues to bless Bethel Lutheran by Vicar Juanita Krmaschek. The organ console Church. was moved from the side to the center of the Cornerstone 18

The original history was compiled and authored by Wilbur Busker, through much effort over many years. Elise Zwicky condensed and rewrote the history.