History of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

       In 1827 or 1828 the Lutherans in and near Bucyrus met from time to time in private homes for worship prior to the organization of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in 1829. The congregation met in a brick school house near Galen & Walnut St. and the Rev. David Schuh, from a German Lutheran church in Pennsylvania, was the pastor. At this time in Bucyrus there were no church buildings and all public meetings as well as court sessions were held in the school house.

      By January, 1833 the first council had been elected and English services were held regularly. Services were held in the school house and later in the court house until the first church building was erected in 1836. This church was on the SW corner of Mansfield and Walnut Streets, directly across from the court house. This congregation was composed of both German speaking and English speaking members. The English portion of the congregation bought out the German portion in 1842 and both used the church until 1856.

     In 1838 the first Sunday School in Crawford County was established with enrollment reaching five hundred and fifty members.

      August 11, 1856, the English speaking members passed a resolution to erect a new church edifice. Subscriptions were solicited and in a few months the sum of six thousand dollars was secured. The location of the new church was the north east corner of Walnut and Rensselaer Sts. The corner stone was laid July 2, 1857. It was a substantial two-story brick building with the Sunday School room on the first floor and the seating capacity of 350-400 with an auditorium on the second floor with a like seating capacity.

      Again, due to the rapidly growing membership, plans were underway for the third St. Paul’s church. A Ladies’ Aid Society was organized for the purpose of helping raise funds and through diligent and dedicated efforts, provided $2,500. and also gave a memorial window. On August 3, 1902, the corner stone was laid for the church and the dedication was September 6, 1903. This church cost almost $30,000.

      On October 25, 1906 the Ladies Organ Guild was established to raise funds for a new pipe organ. In 1908, Salutha C. Converse bequeathed $2,000 to the church. February 28th 1909, this legacy and additional funds, raised by the Ladies Organ Guild, the new pipe organ became a reality. The total cost was $3,200 and the old organ, valued at $650.

      September 10, 1939, Rededicatory Services were held. Pastor David Mumford remarks, “In this dedication we will have achieved that which our souls desire. For we will have erected a sacrifice to Him which shall be pleasing in His sight. The knowledge of this brings to all of us the greater, deeper meaning of the beauty of this, our Church, as we worship together in the Service of Rededication.” “The walls, and ceilings, floors and woodwork have been treated with the very finest material that we could purchase. Improvements have been made in our heating fixtures. The lighting of the church has been improved. The carpets have been cleaned and the padding added where it was needed. The chancel and its furnishings has been cleaned, refinished and repaired. Extensive work has been done to eliminate the dampness in the basement. The organ has been tuned and repaired. It is with great joy that we consecrate these improvements to the glorious work of Salvation through our Savior, Jesus, the Christ.”

     On All Saints’ Sunday, November 2, 1941, a beautiful reredos was dedicated in memory of and in honor of all women of St. Paul’s. The reredos is that section of the altar which stands behind and above that part commonly called the table. Its purpose is to provide the proper background and protection of the cross which is the central focus of the properly appointed chance

     During the troubling times in 1941 with our nation involved in war, Eighty-five members (two were women) of St. Paul’s served in various armed services. Two men lost their lives.

     Continued progress in the life of St. Paul’s congregation was evidenced in the building of the Shunk Memorial Parish House. Construction began in March. 1949 on the lot to the north of the church. On November 27, 1949 the corner stone was laid and the dedicatory services were held on February 4, 5,6 and 7, 1951.

     A contract was signed on January 4, 1971 with The Holtkamp Organ Company of Cleveland, OH to purchase a new organ. The price of this organ was significantly more that the one purchased in 1909. This organ cost $46,850 as compared to $3,200 (and the old organ). This new organ was installed in the existing oak casework, which was reworked to utilize the new organ. The design, construction and installation of the organ took from 12 to 18 months. The Holtkamp Organ Company is still in business today and did some work on our organ in 1998.

On September 24, 2000, Pastor Don L. Neumann led the Rededication Service to rejoice in the completion of the redecorating of the church. We are getting ready for our I 00th anniversary in this church in 2002 and the redecorating of the church proper was just the first step in preparing the way for this joyous celebration.