Eudunda, SA - St John's Lutheran

Year Built: 1979

Denomination: Lutheran

Saint: John

Address: Corner Hanna & Kapunda Streets, Eudunda, South Australia, 5374

Architect: Drogemuller, Pudney & Associates

Traditional Owners: Peramangk people

Last Updated: 27/04/2024

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History and Architecture:

A congregation was formed at Emmaus in 1870 by Pastor E.D. Appelt of the Nain-Gnadenberg Parish. The first service was held in the home of Mr. C. Ziersch. A church was built in 1872 at Emmaus during the ministry of Pastor R. Ey and an adjoining school was also built.

Eudunda, which had originated with a wine store on busy cross roads in 1870, had grown to an expanding township. As many of the members of the "Emmaus" Congregation lived in or near Eudunda, it was decided to build a new church in Hannan Street. The church was built in 1884 at a cost of $2,200. The bell was donated by Pastor Georg's wife, Maria.

In 1900 the "St. Paul's" Lutheran Parish was established consisting of "St. Paul's" Eudunda, "St. John's" Sutherlands, "Redeemer" Friedrichswalde, and Steinthal congregations. The Ebenezer congregation was also served. The "Emmaus" congregation was affiliated with the former Evangelical Lutheran Church in Australia and the "St. Paul's" congregation was affiliated with the former United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Australia. Following the amalgamation of these two synods to form the Lutheran Church of Australia the two congregations combined to form "St. John's" Lutheran Congregation from the beginning of 1967. The combined congregation decided to worship in the larger "Emmaus" church which was re-named "St. John's" Lutheran Church. This building was not large enough to hold the full congregation and had problems with salt damp and soil movement. At the half-yearly meeting of the new congregation in July 1967 it was resolved that a new church should be built as soon as possible.

Building plans were approved for a brick and steel constructed new church in 1979, and Drogemuller, Pudney & Associates were appointed as architects. The builder was C O Juncken Pty Ltd. The new church was built on the site occupied by "St. John's" Church building and the weatherboard manse.

The closing service for the old church was was held on 18th November 1979. The furniture and fittings were removed and the building was subsequently demolished at a cost of $900.

The new church was dedicated on 21 December 1980.

Clergy:

This list may not contain every serving cleric, past or present, for this church.
Further submissions welcomed.

Years Name Annotation D.o.B D.o.D
1868 - 1872 Pastor E. D. Appelt ELSA
1872 - 1875 Pastor J. M.R. Ey ELSA
1876 - 1887 Pastor D. W. Georg ELSA
1890 - 1895 Pastor J. F.W. Linke ELSA
1895 - 1900 Pastor R. E.J. Hanow ELSA
1900 - 1917 Pastor T. A.F. Nickel ELSA
1916 - 1917 Pastor T. C.F.W.G. Nickel ELSA
1917 - 1952 Pastor Francis H.S. Hassold ELSA
1953 - 1959 Pastor L. P. Altus ELSA
1959 - 1962 Pastor E W.M. Wiebusch ELSA
1966 - 1973 Pastor A. E. Schirmer ELSA & LCA
1966 - 1969 Pastor D. R. Tscharke ELSA & LCA
1969 - 1977 Pastor W. P. Borgas LCA
1973 - 1978 Pastor H. B. Hage LCA
1978 - 1982 Pastor E. C. Kernich LCA
1979 - 1983 Pastor F. Veerhuis LCA
1982 - 1996 Pastor E. Harms LCA
1984 - 1990 Pastor D. Borgas LCA
1990 - 1996 Pastor Terry R. Natt LCA
1996 - 2000 Pastor Avito S.J. Da Costa LCA
2001 - 2006 Pastor James Haak LCA
2007 - 2012 Pastor Brian Keller LCA
2014 - 2022 Pastor J. F. Mueller LCA
2016 - 2017 Pastor P. E. Pfitzner LCA

Organ:

The organ has two manuals of 58 notes, and a pedal board of 30 notes. The pipework consists of 494 second-hand pipes from the Norwood Wesley Methodist organ, and 125 new pipes imported from Holland. The console and organ facade, were also from the old Norwood Wesley organ.

Source:

1. Lutheran Archives with permission.