THE EARLY YEARS: BEGINNINGS
As near as can be learned from old records, the first German settlers attended other Lutheran churches in the surrounding area. Distance in travel caused them to desire a church near their homes, so after settling, these people began making plans for a place of worship. Pastor Christian Schwan of St. James in Moltke was contacted, and in spite of the difficult traveling conditions in those days, he was willing to serve them. Thus it was that on the afternoon of November 14, 1880, he went to the Grambau School in Metz and held our first service. For twenty-two years our congregation was served by pastors from St. James Church.
On April 25, 1883, the Metz congregation organized and adopted the name of St. Peter Lutheran Church, affiliating themselves with the Iowa Synod. The names of the charter members in Pastor Schwan's diary are as follows: William Schultz, Theodore Schultz, Rudolph Von Wiedersheim, Martin Piechan, August Schutt, Henry Hoffman, Jacob Breno, Herman Grambau, August Manz, Fredrick Kannenberg, John Zimmerman, Julius Gross, and Carl Luedtke.
During the early years, the congregation held services in the local schools and also in the home of Herman Grambau.
In 1897 Pastor Schultz retired and was followed by another consecrated missionary from Germany, Pastor Leonard Schmidt, who came to America in 1896 and began his pastorate on July 5, 1897. He served our congregation faithfully and also was the pastor of the Moltke congregations.
In 1902 our congregation was ready to share in the support of a pastor. St. Peter had 120 communicants. A call was extended to Pastor Ernest Thieme, and he accepted. The congregation purchased a house in South Rogers about 1 mile west of Metz to be the parsonage.
THE EARLY YEARS: BUILDING PLANS
The original plans by the congregation were to erect a church 1 mile east and 1-1/2 miles south of Metz, immediately north of the Ervin Schroeder property. The first cemetery was started at this location. Later this was changed and two acres of and in Metz were given by Henry Hoffman. The cornerstone for the first church was laid on the seventh Sunday after Trinity in 1888. Dedication services were held on the seventh Sunday after Trinity in 1889. Rev. George Hueter, Sr., and Rev. Paul Limke preached at these services. The contractor of the first church was Mr. Bammel of Alpena.
THE EARLY YEARS: THE 1908 METZ FIRE AND REBUILDING
On October 15, 1908, the first church building was destroyed by the Metz forest fire. The fire covered a wide area and claimed the lives of several members and destroyed a number of homes, causing a great hardship for the people. The only items salvaged from the fire were the organ, crucifix, and the Bible, which were carried from the burning church by three members, Julius Hein, August Hein, and Charlie Fleming, who deposited them in a ditch across from the church. Pastor Thieme was in Hagensville conducting confirmation instructions; he and his wife attempted to return to Metz but were told by fleeing neighbors that their home as well as his had gone up in flames. The next morning, despite thick smoke and burned out bridges, he made his way back to Metz, arriving there at noon. His gaze fell on a place of horror: the church building lay in ruins. As he drew closer he saw the crucifix in the ditch, standing upright and unharmed. He ran forward, grasped it, held it high toward those around him, and called, "He alone can help us!" The crucifix still remains in the church today, along with the Bible.
Relief was given to the people to rebuild, but some moved to other communities. Because the congregation was hard pressed, they received help from their sister congregations in the Iowa Synod (later, The American Lutheran Church). Enough financial aid was given to build a new church on the same site and also a parsonage. The new church was dedicated on the fifth Sunday after Trinity (July 14, 1909).
A CHANGE OF AFFILIATION
On June 26, 1994, the congregation affiliated with the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC) headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
MANY LIVES CHANGED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY OVER 133 YEARS
In the years the Lord has allowed this church to serve our community, there have been 325 baptisms, 289 confirmations, 86 marriages, and 160 burials (updated April 2014).
As near as can be learned from old records, the first German settlers attended other Lutheran churches in the surrounding area. Distance in travel caused them to desire a church near their homes, so after settling, these people began making plans for a place of worship. Pastor Christian Schwan of St. James in Moltke was contacted, and in spite of the difficult traveling conditions in those days, he was willing to serve them. Thus it was that on the afternoon of November 14, 1880, he went to the Grambau School in Metz and held our first service. For twenty-two years our congregation was served by pastors from St. James Church.
On April 25, 1883, the Metz congregation organized and adopted the name of St. Peter Lutheran Church, affiliating themselves with the Iowa Synod. The names of the charter members in Pastor Schwan's diary are as follows: William Schultz, Theodore Schultz, Rudolph Von Wiedersheim, Martin Piechan, August Schutt, Henry Hoffman, Jacob Breno, Herman Grambau, August Manz, Fredrick Kannenberg, John Zimmerman, Julius Gross, and Carl Luedtke.
During the early years, the congregation held services in the local schools and also in the home of Herman Grambau.
In 1897 Pastor Schultz retired and was followed by another consecrated missionary from Germany, Pastor Leonard Schmidt, who came to America in 1896 and began his pastorate on July 5, 1897. He served our congregation faithfully and also was the pastor of the Moltke congregations.
In 1902 our congregation was ready to share in the support of a pastor. St. Peter had 120 communicants. A call was extended to Pastor Ernest Thieme, and he accepted. The congregation purchased a house in South Rogers about 1 mile west of Metz to be the parsonage.
THE EARLY YEARS: BUILDING PLANS
The original plans by the congregation were to erect a church 1 mile east and 1-1/2 miles south of Metz, immediately north of the Ervin Schroeder property. The first cemetery was started at this location. Later this was changed and two acres of and in Metz were given by Henry Hoffman. The cornerstone for the first church was laid on the seventh Sunday after Trinity in 1888. Dedication services were held on the seventh Sunday after Trinity in 1889. Rev. George Hueter, Sr., and Rev. Paul Limke preached at these services. The contractor of the first church was Mr. Bammel of Alpena.
THE EARLY YEARS: THE 1908 METZ FIRE AND REBUILDING
On October 15, 1908, the first church building was destroyed by the Metz forest fire. The fire covered a wide area and claimed the lives of several members and destroyed a number of homes, causing a great hardship for the people. The only items salvaged from the fire were the organ, crucifix, and the Bible, which were carried from the burning church by three members, Julius Hein, August Hein, and Charlie Fleming, who deposited them in a ditch across from the church. Pastor Thieme was in Hagensville conducting confirmation instructions; he and his wife attempted to return to Metz but were told by fleeing neighbors that their home as well as his had gone up in flames. The next morning, despite thick smoke and burned out bridges, he made his way back to Metz, arriving there at noon. His gaze fell on a place of horror: the church building lay in ruins. As he drew closer he saw the crucifix in the ditch, standing upright and unharmed. He ran forward, grasped it, held it high toward those around him, and called, "He alone can help us!" The crucifix still remains in the church today, along with the Bible.
Relief was given to the people to rebuild, but some moved to other communities. Because the congregation was hard pressed, they received help from their sister congregations in the Iowa Synod (later, The American Lutheran Church). Enough financial aid was given to build a new church on the same site and also a parsonage. The new church was dedicated on the fifth Sunday after Trinity (July 14, 1909).
A CHANGE OF AFFILIATION
On June 26, 1994, the congregation affiliated with the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC) headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
MANY LIVES CHANGED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY OVER 133 YEARS
In the years the Lord has allowed this church to serve our community, there have been 325 baptisms, 289 confirmations, 86 marriages, and 160 burials (updated April 2014).
