Stawell, VIC - St Peter's Lutheran
Year Built: 1874
Denomination: Lutheran
Saint: Peter
Address: 32 Scallon Street, Stawell, Victoria, 3380
Previous Denomination: Congregational
Architect: Rev J.G. Wilson
Traditional Owners: Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali & Wergaia people
Last Updated: 10/07/2024
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History and Architecture:
This Church was built as the Congregational Church in 1874 to the design of the Reverend J.G. Wilson. Two groups of Congregational Church were in Stawell in the 1860's the English and the Welsh Independents. They came together a few years after, and on 13 September 1874 this substantial Church was opened.
It accommodated 250 people and cost 800.00. It was the first church in Stawell to have gas lighting.
The Church is a painted brick building incorporating fittings from two redundant Lutheran churches in the area, including a carved altar and pulpit from Murtoa, possibly that designed and made by Robert Prenzel, and a 17th century lectern obtained in England.
The newly formed Lutheran congregation of Stawell in August 1957 purchased the building. After extensive renovations the building was dedicated on 28 September 1958 as St Peter's Lutheran.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 - 1939 | Pastor Christian Jakob Siegle | UELCA | 1864 | 1950 |
| 1940 - 1946 | Pastor Johannes Mogens Larsen | UELCA | 1903 | 1967 |
| 1945 - 1954 | Pastor Otto Edwin Thiele | ELSA | 1901 | 1971 |
| 1947 - 1950 | Pastor Victor Georg Roennfeldt | UELCA | 1921 | 1984 |
| 1950 - 1954 | Pastor Arnold Herbert Schmidt | UELCA | 1925 | 1992 |
| 1954 - 1955 | Pastor Erich Otmar Riedel | UELCA | 1929 | 2018 |
| 1954 - 1957 | Pastor Norman Edward Jaensch | ELSA | 1919 | 1996 |
| 1956 - 1961 | Pastor Otto Heinrich Adler | UELCA | 1899 | 1967 |
| 1958 - 1963 | Pastor Gordon Wilfred Mibus | ELSA | 1930 | 2019 |
| 1964 - 1966 | Pastor Morris Vernon Jordan | ELSA | 1930 | 2022 |
| 1967 - 1973 | Pastor Cyril Alfred Bartel | LCA | 1923 | 2015 |
| 1973 - 1978 | Pastor Joseph Hermann Gerhard Kirchner | LCA | 1944 | 1999 |
| 1978 - 1984 | Pastor Geoffrey David Noller | LCA | 1929 | 2020 |
| 1985 - 1999 | Pastor Ronald Edwin Wilksch | LCA | 1938 | 2019 |
| 2000 - 2004 | Pastor Darryl J. Mattner | LCA | ||
| 2004 - 2008 | Pastor Neil McBride Guthrig | LCA | ||
| 2009 - | Pastor Chris S. Raatz | LCA |
Organ:
The Organ was Built in 1858 by Hill & Son of London for residence of Peter Davis, Prahran. It was installed in 1860 St Andrew's Church, Brighton. Installed in 1923 Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Stratford. I was then renovated and installed present location in 1968-69 by John Kriewaldt. Restored 2021 Australian Pipe Organs Pty Ltd. It has 2 manuals, 12 speaking stops, 2 couplers, mechanical action.
A full description and photos can be seen here.
Source:
1. Organ Historical Trust of Australia with permission.
2. Lutheran Archives with permission.