Immanuel Lutheran History

(Credit: material taken from an Immanuel Lutheran Church pamplet)

Modest Beginnings

Immanuel Lutheran Church had its beginning on June 28, 1908 with a dedicated pastor and a small but persistent congregation.

The first service which eventually lead to the organization of Immanuel congregation was presided over by Reverend C. Hafner, field secretary for the Kansas District, in the horticultural room of the Sedgwick County Court House.

Nine people attended this service: F. H. Bock family, Daniel Pehde family, Herman Karlowski, R. D. Meyer, Elizabeth Miller, and the collection was $1.01. By the second service, 19 persons were present, and the offering was $1.76.

But the numbers did not increase steadily. Although services were held regularly, sometimes only four or five were present, and the largest attendance during this period was 35.

One day Pastor Hafner and Mr. Henry Tiemeyer of Lincolnville, Kansas, were waiting for people to come to church. This was always an experience, which put the missionary’s nerves on edge. Turning to Mr. Tiemeyer, Pastor Hafner said, “How would you like to be doing the work of a missionary, not even knowing whether you will have an audience or not?” 

“I couldn’t do it,” said Mr. Tiemeyer.

Nevertheless, Pastor Hafner labored diligently as a true missionary would. One day he walked 122 blocks and traveled 163 blocks by streetcar. He also visited Lutherans and others in the country and conducted one service in a schoolhouse south of the city. But headquarters for this mission were in that basement room of the county court house. It was trying work at times.  

That court house room had to be dusted every Sunday morning. Chairs and a plain table were the only furniture. The fact that it was below level of the sidewalk where many passers by would stop and gaze and listen, and children would roller-skate and dogs would stare into the open windows and door, caused frequent disturbance and interruption.

Though the place was not adapted to church purposes, it was there the congregation met for divine services, there the Lord’s Supper was celebrated and children were baptized, there they heard the preaching of God’s Word and Luther’s doctrine, there they planned and prayed for a Lutheran congregation and a pastor of their own, and there the Lord’s word was fulfilled: “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Other pastors, or those Lutherans of the Missouri Synod, who preached were Rev. M. Senne, Lincolnville, Kansas, and Prof. A. W. Meyer, Prof. H. Stoeppelwerth and Prof. Charles Scaer of Winfield.

These services were bilingual. One lady came primarily for the German service; when it was over she left, but she regularly placed her contribution on the chair for the usher to pick up during the English part of the service.  

A Congregation Becomes Official
With a Building of Their Own

Immanuel EvangelicaI Lutheran Congregation of Wichita was organized in the evening of Oct. 7, 1909, in the parsonage at 1002 Ohio Avenue, where seven men including the Pastor held a meeting for the purpose of organizing a Lutheran congregation of the unaltered Augsburg Confession. A constitution and by-laws were adopted. The name Immanuel, meaning “God with us,” was unanimously chosen. Officers were elected, subscriptions for the Pastor’s salary were made, and the meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer. The founders of the congregation were D. B. Meyer, A. H. Neas, F. H. Bock, Fred Bockelmann, A. F. Beye and A. A. Cramer. 

At the convention of the Kansas District, in Topeka in October 1910, one year after the organization of Immanuel congregation, it was resolved to build a church and parsonage in Wichita. The committee appointed for this purpose consisted of H. J. Tiemeyer of Lincolnville, D. Meyer of Haven, Henry Scheele of Haven, and Pastor C. Hafner of Haven. The house at Ninth and Ohio was sold by this committee for $1,500. 

The church and congregation moved to the market Street location in 1924, and the building was completed and dedicated in 1936. Immanuel has chosen to remain in the same neighborhood since its inception. 

The Bells are Added

Immanuel’s now widely heard and appreciated carillon was the gift of Mrs. A. C. Kreitzer (Mother of Mrs. Deffner) upon the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the congregation. The 12-bell chime, complete with all the mechanism, was dedicated “To the Glory of God,” on Oct. 8, 1939. In fact, “To the Glory of God, October 8, 1939” is inscribed on the large bell.

The weight of the bells is 6,591 pounds. Together with the steel frame and the equipment, the combined weight of the chimes and mechanism is 12,600 pounds. These 12 bells give sufficient range for the playing of many hymns and melodies in a number of keys and for change ringing.

The makers of these bells are Gillett & Johnston, Ltd., who have been casting bells at Croydon, England since 1844. Their bells are found in many of the noteworthy towers of the world. 

Several years ago the rope attached to the large bell broke after many minor repairs to it eventually failed. The bell company was found to be still in business and was contacted. The company was able to furnish a new rope identical to the original one.