As far as known, Reverend Seacrist was the first Lutheran minister who
preached the gospel to the scattered Lutherans in Richland county, Illinois.
He was succeeded by Rev. Daniel Scherer, who labored faithfully among the
people, preaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments. His field,
however, being so large he called his son, Jacob, from Gettysburg to his
assistance, who preached at Olney and various other places in the county.
Services in this neighborhood were first held in David Phillip's
barn. In 1842 St. James congregation was organized, and in 1844 a hewn log
church was erected in the northeast corner of Olney township, about one and
one-fourth miles from the present house of worship. This log church is still
in a fair state of preservation.
Rev. Gottlieb Lauener became
minister in 1852, and Rev. Conrad Kuhl in 1856, Rev. William Hunderdose and
Rev. G. Berwick supplied the congregation. In 1858 Reverend Abele became
pastor and labored a few years for them, until 1859,
In 1860 Rev. D.
D. Schwartz and in 1861 Rev. Killiam Earth preacher for them. In 1862
Reverend Schnur took charge and continued as pastor until 1867, when a
serious difficulty having arisen in the congregation in regard to the
propriety of holding protracted meetings and some other things he, with
thirty-five members, withdrew from the congregation and formed another
church more in accord to their views. They built a church only a mile from
the St. James. They continued to hold services for several years. But from
some cause or other the congregation has become extinct and the church
edifice has been sold and is in Claremont used as a warehouse by a grain
dealer.
It was during the time that Reverend Schnur was pastor that
the St. James church and the one near Olney united by general agreement and
consent, determined to build a new house of worship, as the log church was
too small. After some delay on account of a disagreement about the site, a
new frame structure was erected on the present site in 1863. This was made
possible through the zeal of the members who donated timber and labor. The
timbers were hewn poles and the plastering laths were split out by hand. The
finishing lumber was brought from Mt. Carmel, Illinois, a distance of thirty
miles. It was also during Reverend Schnur's pastorate that the congregation
secured an acre of ground near the church and erected a two-story house for
a parsonage. After Reverend Schnur resigned. Reverend Harkey was called as
pastor in 1867. and continued to serve them until his death in 1875. It was
while he was pastor that the congregation made application to the Indiana
Synod, now Chicago Synod, and were received as members-of that body in 1874.
Reverend Harkey was also received. He with the congregation had formerly
belonged to the Lutheran Synod of Illinois. While Reverend Harkey was
pastor, Trinity church, near Lancaster, and St. James, formed one pastorate.
But after his death, the Lancaster church withdrew and joined the central
synod of Illinois. The congregation was vacant now until March, 1876, when
Reverend Laner became pastor and served until December 29, 1878, when he
resigned and they were without pastoral care until Reverend Hursh,
Versailles. Ohio, was called and became pastor in 1880. He continued to
serve them until 1894, when he became disabled on account of old age and
disease. During his service the congregation continued to prosper
spiritually. The preaching was held in both German and English language, but
the German was discontinued at the end of his pastorate. In 1882, on account
of crop failure, the congregation was excused from the payment of their
apportionment, and were also granted one hundred dollars this year as a
supplement to their pastor's salary. This was petitioned for by the
congregation. Reverend Hursh continued to live in the parsonage until his
death in 1897. In 1896, Rev. J. M. G. Sappenfield began to supply the St.
James church in connection with Union, Gila, Illinois. He continued as
supply until he was called and became regular pastor in 1901, being
installed that same year by the president of the synod Rev. M. L. Wagner.
The congregation at its annual meeting on New Year's day, 1904,
decided to erect a new church. A building committee was chosen, consisting
of G. Hanes, W. Hanes, J. P. Xanders, Frederick Scherer and Caleb Buss. The
pastor was made chairman of the committee. A soliciting committee,
consisting of the trustees, J. Mosser, Levi Phillips and Charles Stangel,
were chosen to secure the necessary funds and H. Burgener and Edward Buss, a
committee to get donations. The plan was drawn up by the pastor for a
building, the audienceroom thirty by fifty and Sunday school room sixteen by
thirty feet, the windows to be Gothic, and ceiling to be arched in the
audience room: a pulpit recess in the north end, the main entrance to be in
the tower. But before the building was begun the pastor was taken away by
death and also G. Hanes, one of the building committee. The congregation now
set about to secure another pastor. A call was extended to Rev. J. V.
Sappenfield, residing at Corydon, Indiana, a son of their late lamented
pastor, in March, 1904. He accepted the call and entered upon the work in
May, 1904.
The congregation now determined to begin the erection of
the church. Specifications were made according to the plans of the former
pastor, and the contract for the erection of the building was let to John
Beck, a member of the church. On September 12. 1904, the old church was torn
down and the erection of the new church began on the same site. The corner
stone was laid by the president of synod, Rev. H. Peters, of Decatur,
Illinois, assisted by Rev. J. Knauer and the pastor, on October 23, 1904. On
Christmas morning, 1904, the first services were held and it has been used
ever since. The church was finished in May, 1905, and dedicated October 22,
1905. The furniture consists of lecturn, pulpit, pews, organ and chairs for
Sunday school.
The pastor, Rev. J. V. Sappenfield, resigned and left
the field in December, 1906, leaving the congregation vacant until March,
1908, when Rev. John Knauer was called, who is now in charge of the field,
and also serves Gila and Wheeler, Illinois.
Extracted 21 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 465-467.
| Jasper | Crawford | |
| Clay |
 |
Lawrence |
| Wayne | Edwards | Wabash |
