First Lutheran Church (Springfield, Ohio)

First Lutheran Church

First Lutheran Church (Springfield, Ohio)
Basic information
Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Website First Lutheran Church (Springfield, Ohio) Website

First Lutheran Church is a Lutheran church, located in Springfield, Ohio, within the Southern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Early history

First Evangelical Lutheran Church[1] is the oldest congregation of Lutherans[2] in Springfield, Ohio. Reverend John Lehman, a missionary from Pennsylvania, in 1841, gathered the scattered Lutheran in the area to form a congregation. When Rev. Ezra Keller[3] came to establish Wittenberg College,[4] he became the pastor and formally organized the congregation. Keller was influenced by Americanists among Lutherans who sought to adapt the German church to the United States and to Americanize the German immigrants. They supported reform efforts such as anti-slavery, temperance, world peace, the Sunday school and social services. The congregation will soon begin its eighteenth decade of service to its members and to the Springfield community. Thousands have worshipped at the northeast corner of west High Street and Wittenberg Avenue and served area needs. Baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals, worship services, communion services, Sunday school class, youth gatherings, church suppers, church council meetings and women’s circles have taken place there. The members live out their Christian commitment in worship, praise, mutual support and community and social service.

FLC Organized in 1841

Relationship with Wittenberg University

Wittenberg University[5] began at First Lutheran and all the preparatory, college and seminary classes were held there from 1845 to 1851. The congregation served as the college’s church. Presidents Keller,[6] Sprecher, Helwig and Ort were members and pastors. Nearly the entire early faculty were members and many current Wittenberg University faculty, staff, administrators and students are members. Reverend Michael W. Hamma,[7] after whom Hamma School of Theology was named, (now part of the Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus) was once the pastor. Many seminarians have served as assistant pastors, youth leaders, and church musicians. The college paid pew rent to the church for many students who were members. Many, upon graduation, moved west to establish congregations in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Iowa, Kansas, from here to California. The present building, built in 1869, encompasses parts of the north and west walls of the original building. The ground floor assembly room is called Wittenberg Hall to commemorate the school’s beginning in that space.

Lutheran Presence in Springfield, Ohio

In the 1880s, as the town grew, colonies of members from the church left to start new congregations in town. The English Evangelical Lutheran Church became First Lutheran when a group established the Second Lutheran Church at Selma Road and Clifton Avenue. The process was called “swarming.” Subsequently other members “swarmed” to establish Third, Fourth, Fifth and Calvary. First also provided leadership and assistance in the establishment of Trinity, St. Mark, Grace and Auburn congregations. It operated Sunday schools and missions in the east, west and south ends of town which developed into congregations of other Christian denominations. This growth occurred as Springfield grew to 80,000 people and became a major industrial city. Thus, First was the “mother” church for Lutheran growth in the American west and in Springfield as well.

Renovations and Updates

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Springfield’s population peaked, people moved to the suburbs and industry declined; downtown businesses moved to the malls. The congregation remained where it was and in 1955 constructed a three story, modern Christian education facility. In 1961 and again in 2005 the sanctuary was renovated. The entire facility, with the exception of the balcony, is now handicap accessible. The center city is now involved in a major makeover and First Lutheran Church is in the thick of construction. The Springfield Regional Medical Center will make the center city a hub for patients, their families, and medical professionals. First Lutheran Church will begin a special ministry to many of these individuals. They already maintain a support program for patients at the Springfield Cancer Center. Other downtown and near downtown developments include the Clark County Public Library, the Clark County Heritage Center, the Kuss Auditorium of Clark State Community College, the Springfield Museum of Art, the Westcott House and the Pennsylvania House. Soon to be added are the Center City Park, the ice rink, and the Buck Creek Corridor recreation park. All this provides a new kind of parish in which to do ministry.

References

  1. ↑ The First Evangelical Lutheran church of Springfield: A Centennial History
  2. ↑ Springfield Calls Lakewood Pastor
  3. ↑ Biography of Rev. Ezra Keller: founder and first president of Wittenberg College
  4. ↑ Wittenberg University History and Tradition
  5. ↑ Wittenberg History Timeline
  6. ↑ Springfield News Sun Wittenberg History
  7. ↑ Papers of the American Society of Church History
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