German Evangelical Lutheran
St Paul Congregation of New Hampton



St Paul's Lutheran Church, New Hampton
(Circa 1920)

This society was organized March 15th 1871, by Rev John KLINDWORTH of Galena, Illinois and Rev Edward Wachtel of New Hampton.

The first members were:

Rev Edward Wachtel was the first regular pastor and still has pastorial charge [1883]. The church membership comprises twenty-two families. Services were at first held in the courthouse hall, then in the English Congregational church, afterward in Dawes Hall.

The present church edifice was erected in August 1880, is 52 feet x 28 feet in dimensions, and cost $1,900.

The present church officers [1883] are: Fred DEPPE, treasurer; George DANNER [DENNER], H. DEPPE, Albert DREWELOW, trustees; August ARNDT, deacon; Th. JAEHRLING, president; Albert DREWELOW, secretary.

Source:
History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties IOWA
By W.E. Alexander
 Western Publishing Company, Decorah, Iowa
Date: 1883
Chapter IX, pages 225 - 226



St Paul Lutheran Church + St Olaf Lutheran Church = Trinity Lutheran Church

Trinity Lutheran Church of New Hampton came into existence on 31 July 1958, when the St Paul (ALC) and the St Olaf (ELC) congregations voted to merge and adopted new articles of incorporation. The impressive first service of the merged congregation was held on Sunday, August 10th, with pastors, officers, and members of the new congregation proceeding into the church together, singing "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God". The former pastor of St Paul, the Reverend Paul T. MEYER, preached the sermon and the former pastor of St Olaf, the Reverend Paul T. LINDSTROM, conducted the liturgy and installed the new church council. Trinity is the first merger of an ALC (American Lutheran Church) congregation in Iowa and has a baptized membership of over 800 souls, of whom 650 are confirmed. Luther BERVEN was installed as the first pastor on November 23rd. The congregation is worshipping in the former St Paul Church. A sizeable fund has already been gathered for a new educational unit.

The beginnings of St Paul goes back to 1870 when a number of Lutheran families in New Hampton and vicinity decided to secure the services of a Lutheran pastor. The first service was held soon after Easter in 1870 and the congregation was organized 15 March 1871. The first church, a frame building 52x28 feet, was erected in 1880 and the present church in 1900. The parsonage, now used as a Sunday School and church annex, was built in 1910. The pastors who have served St Paul are:

  • 1870 - 1884   Edward WACHTEL
  • 1884 - 1888   C.P. HASSKARL
  • 1888 - 1895   Julius PROTTENGEIER
  • 1895 - 1905   S.W. FUCHS
  • 1906 - 1917   Gottlieb FRITSCHEL
  • 1917 - 1924   G.J. IDE
  • 1924 - 1937   W. ENGELKE
  • 1937 - 1954   Theophilus FRITSCHEL
  • 1954 - 1958   Paul T. MEYER
  • 1958 -           Luther BERVEN
St Olaf was organized in 1937. In 1941 the congregation moved a church from Bassett to its present location on West Main Street. This is now Trinity Chapel and serves for released time classes and other meetings. The modern parsonage, in which Trinity's pastor is now living, was purchased in 1955. The following pastors have served St Olaf:
  • 1937 - 1940   H.W. FINSTAD
  • 1940 - 1948   T.O. TORGESON
  • 1949 - 1954   Leo BJORLIE
  • 1954 - 1957   Harold PEARSON
  • 1957 - 1958   Paul T. LINDSTROM

Source:
Historical Sketches, Iowa District of the American Lutheran Church
By The Iowa District Historical Committee
Date: June 1959
page 106

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