Prepared by the Interim Ministry Task Force
August 2009 – Updated July 2011
INTERIM MINISTRY TASK FORCE –
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH, OTTAWA, KANSAS
Footprints Leading to Faith
“In the 1870’s Prussia, now known as Germany, was involved in a war with France. Serfs were compelled to serve in the Prussia Army. Albert Dehn served in the Prussia-Franco war. He quickly lost interest in fighting for a rich land owner and made his way to America along with his family.
In 1881, Albert Dehn brought his family to Franklin County and purchased a 220-acre farm located 5 miles north and 2 miles west of Williamsburg, Kansas. Three of his children were born in Kansas. The family traveled back to Wisconsin for the baptism of these three children when they were old enough to travel. The trip was made because of the staunch belief that they must be baptized Lutheran.
Henry Dehn, one of Albert’s sons, married Alvina Hinz after a short courtship by mail. At Alvina’s insistence they joined Faith and were Charter members. Henry and Alvina had two sons, Alvin and Henry Jr. Alvin married Charlotte in 1953. They were the first couple married at the 12th and Cedar facility. (This information was shared with Don Miller by Charlotte and Alvin Dehn. For more details see the historical records and the 45th anniversary booklet.)
Roots of Faith
Franklin County has been home to five Lutheran churches. The early Lutheran churches are recorded here to show the diverse strains of Lutheranism which served as the root of Faith.
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
Little is known about St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. In 1870, a listing of churches shows that St. Matthew’s was in Pomona. It is believed that it was not in existence long because no further record is found.
First Swedish Lutheran Church
First Swedish American Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ottawa was organized on April 5th, 1879. Pastor C. A. Berggren of Bucklin, Missouri, assisted in the organization. Little is known about the First Swedish Church. It built its church building in the spring of 1879 on the southeast corner of 3rd & Cedar streets inOttawa. The building is still standing and is used as a residence. In 1933 the church was sharing its facility with the Church of Christ. First Swedish Lutheran Churchcontinued to be listed in the Ottawa city directories until 1938 when it last appeared.
First Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Second Swedish Lutheran Society was also organized in 1879. They erected the stone church at 5th and Cedar streets that same year. At some point in time it adopted the name First Evangelical Lutheran Church. First Evangelical
Lutheran Church continued in existence until the late 1930’s when one by one its charter members began to pass away. The church appeared in the 1938 Ottawa city directory for the last time. In 1939 the church building was secured for use by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Regular Services began there in 1941.
St. Paul’s German American Evangelical Lutheran Church
Rev. S. Henry began work in the Ottawa mission field in October 1884, with the St. Paul’s English and German Lutheran Church. It was organized on December 7, 1884, under the auspices of the Board of Home Missions of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the U. S. Prior to erecting their own facility in 1885 the group used the 1st Swedish Lutheran Church as its place of worship. The church had 32 members at the time of organization.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church would continue to be listed in the Ottawa City Directory into the early 1930’s when the congregation was dissolved and their church records turned over to the First Lutheran Church of Lawrence, Kansas. (Additional historical detail is available in earlier accounts of Faith’s history.)
Faith Lutheran
Faith Lutheran grew out of the 1930’s depression and post-war upheaval in America. Pastors and lay leaders played key roles in the growth of the church. During World War II, young men went to war. Women left behind suffered through rationing and short supplies. Upon their return, the soldiers, many of whom were teenagers when they left for war, were anxious to make up for lost time. After years of sacrifice, these post-war years were filled with exuberance. Domestic consumption was on the rise, new homes were built and soon they were filled with young children. (See page 4 in 45th anniversary booklet.)
After two floods that tested the survival of the congregation, the people were challenged in 1951 to rebuild or relocate to higher ground. It was in this crisis that Faith Lutheran moved from the small church on 5th and Cedar to the new facility at 12th and Cedar in 1953. Faith was entering the Baby Boom.