History of St Paul Lutheran Church

History of St Paul Lutheran Congregation

Beginnings..........

In 1941 the first reference to worship services being held in the Prospect Town Hall (several km south of Blair Athol) were recorded in the Bethlehem Church minute books. These services were attended by 50 people who traveled some distance with no public transport on a Sunday morning. Some walked with small children, and one family arrived by motor bike and side car. As service attendance grew stronger it became clear that there was a real need for a more suitable place for worship then the Town Hall and the new congregation decided to move to Devon Park a more central location for the attenders.

1955......

It wasn’t until 1955 that the congregation would move to the Blair Athol area, at its former location on the corner of Brentnall Ave and Prospect Road. As the Congregation grew in number, plans to build a new church where everyone would fit in were well underway in 1963. This included a special building appeal called 'A Venture of Faith'. This project was abandoned in 1965 as a result of the union of the two Lutheran Synods and the property was sold so the church could relocate to a larger site.

Move to Blair Athol

On Saturday 24 April 1965 it was decided that plans and proposals would begin to establish a Church plant with day school in the Blair Athol area. And on the 8th May the Church Council agreed in principal to the purchase and relocation to the Audrey Ave site where our Congregation meets to this day.

Those initial 8 blocks of land were purchased from Miss O’Brien a devout Catholic nurse operating from the Northern Hospital on Main North Road and her family for the sum of 8,250 Pound($16,500). Miss O'Brien only agreed to the sale when she knew that a school would be built on the large sour sob filled paddock.
Building Work commenced in 1966 and was finished for the official opening in 1967.

Firm Foundations

The foundation Stone was laid on 4 December 1966, at 2:30 pm. It was a “momentous occasion” . The 2 synods were united , Blair Athol St Paul and Enfield Gardens Grace congregations had merged and this was the first church building to be constructed as a result of Lutheran Union and the forming of The LCA.
Behind the stone is a time capsule containing articles relating to the congregation, The Church, and the Country and Government which we enjoy.

On Sunday 18 June 1967 at 2.30 the official Opening Ceremony of the Church was held. The doors were officially opened by Mr Wally Liekefett.
The unveiling of the War Memorial Plaque in the foyer was performed by the Mayor of Enfield Mr Joe Chaplin.

Vision of School Realised.

It was not until February 1973 that the school would eventually open fulfilling the original mission to create a Lutheran Worship Centre and School on the Blair Athol site. On the opening day just 23 children and 2 teachers were in attendance.
Both the school and the congregation have continued on both loving and serving the Lord.
In 2017, we celebrated 50 years of worship here at the St Paul Lutheran Church.
I wonder what comes next……..

Additional Details about St Paul Church and Congregation

For a comprehensive timeline of St Paul Lutheran Congregation History including Principals and Pastors

Timeline

For details about the church building and design

Building

For information about our 50th Anniversary Parament Project.

Paraments