The History of St. John's Lutheran Church, Deanville, Texas
The St. John’s Lutheran Church, Deanville congregation was formally organized on June 26, 1910.
During the first seven years, the St. John’s congregation worshipped in the Deanville school building. In 1916 a building committee was established to make plans and raise funds for its first church building. A parcel of land along the old Deanville and Caldwell road was purchased on January 2, 1917.
Led by Rev. A. H. Falkenberg, the congregation was officially incorporated and chartered by the State of Texas on November 21, 1917 under the name “The Evangelic Lutheran St. John Church of Deanville, Texas.” The incorporators were church members: Fritz Miman, Otto Breitzkreutz, Otto Luedke, John B. Luedke, Sr., John Gerdes, Conrad Frey, Herman Brinkmann, Hugo Wiederhold, Frank Koehler, Eldie Tiemann, Christ Langengegger and William Benn.
At the dedication of the new church building in 1917, John B. Luedke, Sr., and his family donated a great bell, which was hung in the narthex of the church to call the people to worship. The bell also rung to announce the death of a congregation member or to call the congregation together to respond to a disaster or emergency. When the old church was torn down in 1966, the great bell was preserved and moved to the Bell Tower of the new church, where it still serves its original purposes today.
In 1949, the St. John’s council negotiated to add the property east of the church. By a deed of May 26, 1950, the title to the land was transferred to St. John’s, and the property of St. John’s Lutheran Church was consolidated into a single piece, including the entire cemetery area.
On October 18, 1964, the congregation voted to begin construction on a new church building on the land immediately to the west, at the intersection of FM 60 and the Deanville and Caldwell Road (FM 111). The contract was awarded on February 11, 1966, and ground was broken on February 20. By August, the building was ready, and the new church building was dedicated with a special worship on Sunday, August 7, 1966. The old church building was torn down to make room for a proposed parsonage.
On January 18, 1981, at a congregational meeting to appoint a call committee to seek a new pastor, the congregation voted by a large majority to become an independent congregation. Until this point, 70 years, St. John’s had been a two-point parish (sharing a pastor with another congregation).
During the first seven years, the St. John’s congregation worshipped in the Deanville school building. In 1916 a building committee was established to make plans and raise funds for its first church building. A parcel of land along the old Deanville and Caldwell road was purchased on January 2, 1917.
Led by Rev. A. H. Falkenberg, the congregation was officially incorporated and chartered by the State of Texas on November 21, 1917 under the name “The Evangelic Lutheran St. John Church of Deanville, Texas.” The incorporators were church members: Fritz Miman, Otto Breitzkreutz, Otto Luedke, John B. Luedke, Sr., John Gerdes, Conrad Frey, Herman Brinkmann, Hugo Wiederhold, Frank Koehler, Eldie Tiemann, Christ Langengegger and William Benn.
At the dedication of the new church building in 1917, John B. Luedke, Sr., and his family donated a great bell, which was hung in the narthex of the church to call the people to worship. The bell also rung to announce the death of a congregation member or to call the congregation together to respond to a disaster or emergency. When the old church was torn down in 1966, the great bell was preserved and moved to the Bell Tower of the new church, where it still serves its original purposes today.
In 1949, the St. John’s council negotiated to add the property east of the church. By a deed of May 26, 1950, the title to the land was transferred to St. John’s, and the property of St. John’s Lutheran Church was consolidated into a single piece, including the entire cemetery area.
On October 18, 1964, the congregation voted to begin construction on a new church building on the land immediately to the west, at the intersection of FM 60 and the Deanville and Caldwell Road (FM 111). The contract was awarded on February 11, 1966, and ground was broken on February 20. By August, the building was ready, and the new church building was dedicated with a special worship on Sunday, August 7, 1966. The old church building was torn down to make room for a proposed parsonage.
On January 18, 1981, at a congregational meeting to appoint a call committee to seek a new pastor, the congregation voted by a large majority to become an independent congregation. Until this point, 70 years, St. John’s had been a two-point parish (sharing a pastor with another congregation).
The years as an Independent Congregation (1981–present)
In a congregational meeting on May 17, 1981, the congregation called Rev. Harold Fehler to become the first pastor of the independent St. John’s Lutheran Church of Deanville.
The Fellowship Hall was constructed in the summer of 1986.
A historical marker was placed at the bell tower at St. John’s Deanville and dedicated on April 20, 1997. The marker was placed to recognize the congregation for its significant religious development role in the Deanville community.
In July 2008, Terry Moon accepted the position as lay minister, and he still serves as pastor of the congregation.
The 100th Anniversary celebration for St. John’s was held Sunday, June 27, 2010.
God has richly blessed the congregation of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Deanville for the last 100 years. We pray that he will continue to shower his astounding, amazing grace on our congregation, giving us many more years of faithful and loving service to His people, in His holy name!
The Fellowship Hall was constructed in the summer of 1986.
A historical marker was placed at the bell tower at St. John’s Deanville and dedicated on April 20, 1997. The marker was placed to recognize the congregation for its significant religious development role in the Deanville community.
In July 2008, Terry Moon accepted the position as lay minister, and he still serves as pastor of the congregation.
The 100th Anniversary celebration for St. John’s was held Sunday, June 27, 2010.
God has richly blessed the congregation of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Deanville for the last 100 years. We pray that he will continue to shower his astounding, amazing grace on our congregation, giving us many more years of faithful and loving service to His people, in His holy name!