Christ's Lutheran Church of Churchtown
41st Ave SW
Churchtown, Oliver County, North Dakota
41st Ave SW
Churchtown, Oliver County, North Dakota
The church officially closed its doors in 1988.
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Christ's Lutheran Church of Churchtown
On March 12, 1888, Pastor A. Dietrich conducted a worship service for a group of Lutherans at the farm home of Henry Windhorst, north of New Salem.
After the service a meeting was called for the purpose of organizing the group into a congregation, which consisted of 34 families.
A constitution was adopted and signed by nine men: William Klein, H. Windhorst, Fritz Meihoff, H. Scherer, H. Cordes, Conrad Zinn, H. Evers, H. Holtze and Dietrich Meyhoff. The congregation functioned for about a year without any services from a pastor. During that time the group met in the homes of the members, where some of the men conducted "Reading services".
The original church council consisted of one elder, Henry Ganten; three deacons, Robert Rusch Sr., Henry Scherer and Henry Cordes.
On May 5, 1889, Pastor Otto Nitardy from Kren, North Dakota, located east and north of Hazen, North Dakota, came to conduct a preaching service at the home of H. Scherer.
In a meeting held after the service, arrangements were made with Pastor Nitardy to conduct services once a month. At the same meeting it was decided to build a sod church on a tract of land donated by Henry Scherer in Section 32-141-84.
To show their enthusiasm, the group voted to go self-supporting in September of the same year, but before the year was ended they learned that the financial burden was to great for such a small group and they again applied for mission support from the Iowa Synod.
Then years later, in 1899, the present frame church was built three miles west and eight miles south of Center. In 1913 the tower was built on and a bell was installed. Several years later a parsonage was built next to the church.
For many years a schoolhouse was on the church grounds where school was taught by the Pastor for about four or five months each winter. Instruction included catechism and Bible study and was commonly known as "German School".
The families living near the church took their children back and forth to school each day, while those who lived farther away boarded them with someone who lived near the church, frequently at the parsonage.
When public schools were built in the community only the older children attended confirmation school taught by the Pastor in a building located on the church property. This became a community center, although there was never a store or a post office, and that is how it acquired the name "Churchtown".
The new parsonage was built in 1920, and after the pastor no longer lived in Churchtown (the congregation is presently served by the Pastor living in Center) the parsonage was sold and is presently located on the farmland owned by Mrs. William (Viola) Ganske.
In 1946 the congregation dug and poured a full cement basement for the church and installed a new furnace.
Rev. CO. Engler was the first resident pastor, after him the following served the congregation: Rev. William Klein, 1900-1921- Rev Otto Wonn, 1921-1922; Rev. William Burrack, 1922-1927- Rev August Affeld, 1928-1939; Rev. Alfred Krause, 1939-1942; Rev. Clarence Muske, 1942-1949; Rev. Eugene Ketterling, 1950-1960; Rev. Leonard Schulz, 1960-1964- Rev. George Amundson, 1965-1967; Rev. Milbert Kurtz 1968-1974; Rev. Daniel Christ, 1974-1980; Rev. Linda Hammenn accepted the call to service in 1980 and is presently serving the congregation.
The first organ was donated to the church by Fred Kuether when the church was built. Mrs. Rev. Klein was the first organist and taught Elizabeth Rusch (Mrs. John Klusmann), who became the second organist Mrs. Lisetta (Mueller) Ollermann, was organist from 1907 to 1937 and presently the organist is Mrs. Alma (Schmeling) Kuch, who has served faithfully from 1937 to the present time. The congregation, being 95 years old in 1983 has had only four organists — this has to be a record!
Fred Kuch served as treasurer of the congregation for 24 years (1940-1964). Robert Rusch Sr. served as a Sunday School teacher for 25 years and received a gold watch from the congregation in appreciation for his services.
Henry Scherer's funeral was the first funeral service held in the sod church in 1899. Mr. & Mrs. Louis Lehmkuhl were the first couple married in the church, by Rev. William Klein, on January 24, 1906.
Elizabeth Klusmann "nee Rusch, was the first child to be baptized in the congregation, in the Henry Scherer home, by Pastor Nitardy in 1889. Mrs. Ella Rud 'nee Kalweit, was the first person to be baptized in the present church building in 1900, by Rev. William Klein.
The Last Supper picture above the altar was donated by Fredericka Wagner Schmeling, mother of Frank Schmeling, and recently restored by La Verne Porsborg.
Oldest living confirmed people as of this date (1984) that were at one time members of the congregation are: Mrs. Charles (Ella Schmeling) Tellmann and Henry Singer.
Info from – Oliver County 1885-1985 (Pages 378 & 379)
On March 12, 1888, Pastor A. Dietrich conducted a worship service for a group of Lutherans at the farm home of Henry Windhorst, north of New Salem.
After the service a meeting was called for the purpose of organizing the group into a congregation, which consisted of 34 families.
A constitution was adopted and signed by nine men: William Klein, H. Windhorst, Fritz Meihoff, H. Scherer, H. Cordes, Conrad Zinn, H. Evers, H. Holtze and Dietrich Meyhoff. The congregation functioned for about a year without any services from a pastor. During that time the group met in the homes of the members, where some of the men conducted "Reading services".
The original church council consisted of one elder, Henry Ganten; three deacons, Robert Rusch Sr., Henry Scherer and Henry Cordes.
On May 5, 1889, Pastor Otto Nitardy from Kren, North Dakota, located east and north of Hazen, North Dakota, came to conduct a preaching service at the home of H. Scherer.
In a meeting held after the service, arrangements were made with Pastor Nitardy to conduct services once a month. At the same meeting it was decided to build a sod church on a tract of land donated by Henry Scherer in Section 32-141-84.
To show their enthusiasm, the group voted to go self-supporting in September of the same year, but before the year was ended they learned that the financial burden was to great for such a small group and they again applied for mission support from the Iowa Synod.
Then years later, in 1899, the present frame church was built three miles west and eight miles south of Center. In 1913 the tower was built on and a bell was installed. Several years later a parsonage was built next to the church.
For many years a schoolhouse was on the church grounds where school was taught by the Pastor for about four or five months each winter. Instruction included catechism and Bible study and was commonly known as "German School".
The families living near the church took their children back and forth to school each day, while those who lived farther away boarded them with someone who lived near the church, frequently at the parsonage.
When public schools were built in the community only the older children attended confirmation school taught by the Pastor in a building located on the church property. This became a community center, although there was never a store or a post office, and that is how it acquired the name "Churchtown".
The new parsonage was built in 1920, and after the pastor no longer lived in Churchtown (the congregation is presently served by the Pastor living in Center) the parsonage was sold and is presently located on the farmland owned by Mrs. William (Viola) Ganske.
In 1946 the congregation dug and poured a full cement basement for the church and installed a new furnace.
Rev. CO. Engler was the first resident pastor, after him the following served the congregation: Rev. William Klein, 1900-1921- Rev Otto Wonn, 1921-1922; Rev. William Burrack, 1922-1927- Rev August Affeld, 1928-1939; Rev. Alfred Krause, 1939-1942; Rev. Clarence Muske, 1942-1949; Rev. Eugene Ketterling, 1950-1960; Rev. Leonard Schulz, 1960-1964- Rev. George Amundson, 1965-1967; Rev. Milbert Kurtz 1968-1974; Rev. Daniel Christ, 1974-1980; Rev. Linda Hammenn accepted the call to service in 1980 and is presently serving the congregation.
The first organ was donated to the church by Fred Kuether when the church was built. Mrs. Rev. Klein was the first organist and taught Elizabeth Rusch (Mrs. John Klusmann), who became the second organist Mrs. Lisetta (Mueller) Ollermann, was organist from 1907 to 1937 and presently the organist is Mrs. Alma (Schmeling) Kuch, who has served faithfully from 1937 to the present time. The congregation, being 95 years old in 1983 has had only four organists — this has to be a record!
Fred Kuch served as treasurer of the congregation for 24 years (1940-1964). Robert Rusch Sr. served as a Sunday School teacher for 25 years and received a gold watch from the congregation in appreciation for his services.
Henry Scherer's funeral was the first funeral service held in the sod church in 1899. Mr. & Mrs. Louis Lehmkuhl were the first couple married in the church, by Rev. William Klein, on January 24, 1906.
Elizabeth Klusmann "nee Rusch, was the first child to be baptized in the congregation, in the Henry Scherer home, by Pastor Nitardy in 1889. Mrs. Ella Rud 'nee Kalweit, was the first person to be baptized in the present church building in 1900, by Rev. William Klein.
The Last Supper picture above the altar was donated by Fredericka Wagner Schmeling, mother of Frank Schmeling, and recently restored by La Verne Porsborg.
Oldest living confirmed people as of this date (1984) that were at one time members of the congregation are: Mrs. Charles (Ella Schmeling) Tellmann and Henry Singer.
Info from – Oliver County 1885-1985 (Pages 378 & 379)
Churchtown Lutheran Cemetery