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1878 - After several years of regular preaching services and instruction classes conducted by Pastor C.R. Otto Mueller
of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Waltz, MI, a congregation was formally organized in New Boston at a meeting held
in the New Boston Public School on April 28, 1878. Twelve men signed the first constitution of the new
congregation, named “The German Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul’s Congregation of New Boston, Huron Township,
Wayne County, Michigan.”
Pastor Mueller continued to serve the Congregation until the end of June, 1879, when he accepted a call elsewhere.
Unable to secure a new Pastor immediately, the two Congregations were served by a student, Carl Keller, for the
next year.
In the summer of 1880, St. John's, Waltz, and St. Paul's, New Boston, jointly called Candidate John L. Kamin,
who was installed July 18, 1880. He served both Congregations until March, 1883, when he resigned because of illness.
During the latter part of his brief ministry he was assisted by Candidate F. W. Tuegel, who continued to serve the
Congregations after Pastor Kamin resigned. On August 28, 1883 Pastor Kamin was called to Glory and was buried in the
Kamin's private cemetery, two miles East of New Boston. In July, 1883, the two Congregations called Pastor H. A.
Meyer of Taylorville, Illinois.
In June, 1887, the St. Paul's Congregation realized that it could no longer conduct its Services and meetings in
the public school, therefore, they purchased the property at the northeast corner of Ellis and Craig Streets for the
sum of $75. The erection of its
first house of worship, a frame structure measuring 28’ x 46’ x 18’ (with a tower),
cost $1,370. This
new church was dedicated on the Sunday before Christmas in 1887. Reverend Meyer accepted
a call to Lyons, Iowa in October 1889.
The two Congregations then called Pastor John Harsch of Traverse City, who served St. Paul's until June, 1894. The
Congregation opened a Parochial School in 1893 and student A. Brasch was engaged as teacher. In the summer of 1894 the
New Boston Congregation decided to call a Pastor who would also teach in the Parochial School. Their choice was
candidate George Dirksen of Concordia Seminary, Springfield, Illinois.
In November of 1894 an organ was purchased and dedicated. In 1895 the Congregation constructed a parsonage on its
property at a cost of $650. Pastor Dirksen continued to serve the members of St. Paul's until April, 1899. The following
month the Pastor A. Krafft of Fisherville, Ontario, Canada began his ministry here and served until June, 1901, when he
resigned. It was during Pastor Krafft's brief pastorate that St. Paul's congregation became a member of "The German
Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States", which had been organized in 1847.
On November 10, 1901 the Congregation called Pastor Henry G. Schuessler of Sandusky, MI, who was installed on
December 15, 1901. His salary was $300 a year, with free rent and heating fuel. One of Pastor Schuessler's first acts was
the formation of St. Pauls' first auxiliary organization. On April 20, 1902, twenty-five young people of St. Paul
banded together to form "The Young People's Society of St. Paul", which continued without interruption until Pastor
Schuessler's untimely death in 1940.
Up to 1915 all Services were held in the German language, but from then on until 1921, the saving Gospel was
preached in the English language once a month. After 1921, two services in English were held monthly.
1949 -The present house of worship was built on the southeast corner of Craig and Ellis Streets. Ground-breaking
ceremonies were held on May 15, 1949. The cornerstone laying service was held on July 24, 1949. The building
was completed the following year, with new furniture and a new organ, at the cost of $170,000. The new house
of worship was dedicated to the worship and service of the Lord on September 24, 1950. An addition to the
church, a parish building containing Sunday School rooms and other rooms, was later built, and was dedicated on
Sunday, December 18, 1966.
| The Rev. C.R. Otto Mueller | 1878 - 1879 |
|---|---|
| The Rev. John L. Kamin | 1880 - 1883 |
| The Rev. H.A. Meyer | 1883 - 1889 |
| The Rev. John Harsch | 1889 - 1894 |
| The Rev. George Dirkson | 1894 - 1899 |
| The Rev. A. Krafft | 1899 - 1901 |
| The Rev. Henry Schuessler | 1901 - 1940 |
| The Rev. Harold Bernthal | 1941 - 1946 |
| The Rev. Walter L. Gienapp | 1946 - 1958 |
| The Rev. Daniel H.F. Richert | 1959 - 1977 |
| The Rev. Carl F. Trosien | 1978 - 1987 |
| The Rev. Robert Allmann | 1989 - 1998 |
| The Rev. D. Lee Cullen, Jr. | 2000 - Present |
| We would also like to thank and remember the
following Pastors for all of their help to our congregation
over the years: |
|
| The Rev. Stanley R. Au Buchon | (Vacancy Pastor '77 - '78) |
| The Rev. Paul O. Richert | Emeritus (Vacancy Pastor '77 - '78) |
| The Rev. Herbert Geisler | Emeritus (Vacancy Pastor '87 - '89) |
| The Rev. Marvin G. Anderson | (Vacancy Pastor '98 - 2000) Called to Glory: June 24, 2001 |
| The Rev. Roger Aumann | Emeritus |