Our History-St. James Lutheran Church, Lafayette Indiana

By this history we can definitely conclude that God has blessed St. James Lutheran Church and School since their beginnings. St. James has certainly undergone many changes including 15 Pastors, and countless teachers. The one constant has been God Himself.   As long as He is the center of a church's life and activities, that church will be blessed.

1847- First German Lutheran services conducted in Lafayette by itinerant preachers.

1850- September 29th. St. James organized, with 40 people signing original constitution.

1850-1851- Edo Lemhuis, first Pastor of St. James

1852-1858- G. Frederick Koenig, second Pastor of St. James

1856- St. James affiliates with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states.

1859-1889-  Henry Schoeneberg, third Pastor of St. James

1866- New building for church and school conducted with two class rooms on the lower floor and a place for worship on the upper.  the building was 35'X70'.  Dedicated September 30, 1866.

1870- June 10th. cornerstone laid for Grace Episcopal church, building currently used as the St. James sanctuary.

1872- Grace Episcopal Church completed. Size: 50'X120'.

1874- St. James ladies society formed.

1884- St. James purchases Grace church building for $8000 and spends additional $2000. for renovations.

1889-1916- George M. Schumm, fourth Pastor of St. James

1898- Ladies Society purchases and installs St. James Altar, which still graces our sanctuary today. (See Picture)

1900- 50th anniversary celebration with services in both German and English.

1901- Membership included 801 with 145 students in the school.

1909-1930- St. James Orchestra

1906- Arrangements made to have English services on an ongoing basis.

1908-  A 2000 lb. bell purchased and mounted in the belfry.   Electric lights installed in the sanctuary.

1913- State of the art school building completed. It is the same school building we use today.

1916- January 9th. St. James adopts the official name "Saint James Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession."

1916-1951- Paul g. Schmidt, fifth Pastor of St. James.  part of his call specified the introduction of regular English services.

1917- Growth of the English service dictated morning services alternated between German and English, and all evening services would be done in English only.

1918- Motivated largely by anti-German sentiment due to World War 1, it was resolved that all subjects in the school be taught in English for the 1918-1919 school year and beyond.

1918- April 30th- St. James Men's Club founded.

1925- 75th anniversary celebration. New organ purchased for $7000.00. Also as part of the anniversary, new pews, pulpit, lectern and stained glass windows were installed.

1932- German language services occurring only twice per month, it was resolved to reduce them to only four per year.

1930's- The Pastor, teachers, and custodian voluntarily took a reduction of salary to ease the burden during the great depression.

1941- New communion rail and kneeling cushions installed. New hymnals were ordered and used in worship.

1948- Until now, men and women sat on opposite sides of the church. Family grouping was allowed from this time forward.

1949- Present day roof installed

1950- Organ moved from front to the balcony of church.  Front steps widened and additional front doors added. Centennial celebration of the congregation.  John W. Benken, President of the Missouri Synod was speaker at the centennial service.

1951-1959- Kenneth R. Schueler, sixth pastor of St. James.

1955- Property between church and school building purchased.

1959- Pastor Schueler resigned to become  Professor of Theology at Concordia College, River Forest Illinois. no replacement could be found.  David Young served the congregation as vicar under the supervision of Pastor Rudolph Rehmer of University Chapel.

1960-1976- Marcus T. Lang, seventh Pastor of St. James.

1960- Practice of having Greeters at worship began.

1964- St. James approves plans for the Parish Center.

1965- Parish Center completed and dedicated.

1966- New pipe organ dedicated, presently in use today.

1968- St. James survives arson attempt. (another in 1973)

1969-1970- Steven P. Cluver, eighth Pastor of St. James, first assistant Pastor

1972-1974- George Nickelsburg, ninth Pastor of St. James

1975- Sanctuary painted in its current style.

1976-Present- Daniel P. May tenth Pastor of St. James.

1976- St. James averaged 350 in attendance on Sunday, with 900 communicant members and 115 children in the grade school.

1980-1988- Luther Brunette, 11th Pastor of St. James.

1983- Free standing gymnasium constructed, properties leveled to clear area for athletic field.

1985- Properties razed at 9th and Cincinnati for lower parking lot.

1987- West Entryway of St. James redesigned.

1988-1992- John Herfurth, 12th Pastor of St. James.

1989-1990- Pastor Burns 13th Pastor of St. James.

1990- Steps widened in Sanctuary to chancel area and communion rail increased in size to accommodate more people.

1992- Three properties razed along 8th Street for parking lot on the west side of the street.

1992-present- David French, 14th Pastor of St. James.

1993- Beth Lange hired as first Director of Christian Education at St. James.

1995- May, ground was broken for the new Fellowship Hall/Church Office complex.

1995-Present- Thomas M. Lange, 15th Pastor of St. James.

1995- Beth Lange returns as Director of Christian Education.

1996-June- Newest building of St. James Lutheran Church completed.   7000 feet of Fellowship Hall and offices, plus a balcony expansion which increased seating capacity by 60 in the sanctuary.

1997- St. James begins intentional Small Group Ministry.

1997- Average attendance 800.  Communicant membership 1600+. School enrollment stood at 260+.

We Celebrate the Love of Christ-

Yesterday, Today and Forever!