bethel

In the late 1800s it appeared there might never be a Bethel, but as the history will show God has indeed been gracious.

Attempts to organize a Bartonville Lutheran Sunday School were made in 1894-1895 by Pastor F.B. Bess of St. Paul, Peoria, Pastor Grueber of Zion, Peoria and Pastor G. Oepke of St. John, Limestone (Bartonville). But all of these attempts failed. One of the problems was not being able to use a public school building for Sunday School.

In May 1907, there was another attempt to try to organize a Lutheran Church in Bartonville. Fifty families were found whose children did not attend any Sunday School. On July 14, 1907, a Sunday School was held in Huxtable Hall with 15 children attending, even though the weather was very inclement. The following Sunday 40 children were present. Bethel’s first worship service was held July 21, 1907 using the German language. English services soon followed and in March 1909, the congregation organized with 13 members. Soon Rev. Decker solicited funds to build a church. The lot was purchased for $600 and the cost of the building totaled $2570.

Bethel continued to grow at a slow rate. When Rev. F. Alvin Park was called as Pastor the growth increased to where the small church building was outgrown. There were those who felt Bartonville was not the right place for Bethel but Pastor Park thought otherwise.

In 1937, the church purchased land and plans were drawn for a new church building. The parish house was constructed for $26,856. The committee was restricted to expenditures of $40,000. The two buildings (parish house and parsonage) were valued at $60,000, with Pastor Park and family owning the parsonage. On December 4, 1948, the Bethel congregation was greatly saddened with the sudden heart attack death of Pastor Park.

In 1954 Bethel decided to complete the third section at a cost of $197,425, with ground breaking in 1956. In October 1957 the third section was dedicated as a church.

By 1998 neighboring houses were purchased to make room for an enlarged parking lot. New doors, restrooms and an elevator to assist the handicapped have been installed, with many more changes planned in the near future.

In 2009, Bethel celebrates its 100 year anniversary. The words on our cornerstone read “Dei Gloria”, meaning to God’s Glory, symbolizing the conviction of the Bethel congregation to continue the great work begun by Pastor C. Decker continuing through Pastor Philip Lund.

As with many congregations, Bethel’s history revolves around several significant “brick and mortar” events, but the real story is the mission to proclaim Christ in the Bartonville area. Indeed, God continues to bless Bethel Lutheran Church.

Pastors

1909  -  1910    Rev. C. August Decker
1911  -  1922    Rev. Sebastian Altpeter
1922  -  1923    Rev. W. Grover Weber
1924  -  1929    Rev. O. A. Dieter
1929  -  1948    Rev. F. Alvin Park
1946  -  1948    Rev. Harold Knappe, Associate Pastor
1948  -  1949    Rev. J. W. Knappe, Pastor Emeritus
1949  -  1953    Rev. Karl Landgrebe
1954  -  1968    Rev. F. M. Bunge
1968  -  1971    Rev. Karl Kalkwarf
1971  -  1971    Rev. Eimo Hinrichs, Interim Pastor
1971  -  1975    Rev. Everett I. Hageman
1975  -  1975    Rev. Eimo Hinrichs, Interim Pastor
1975  -  1982    Rev. David Lerseth
1982  -  1983    Rev. Eimo Hinrichs, Interim Pastor
1983  -  1995    Rev. Harold E. Heidegger
1991  -  1994    Rev. Nathan C. P. Frambach, Associate Pastor
1995  -  1996    Rev. Paul Park, Interim Pastor
1995  -  1996    Rev. Paul Tolo, Interim Pastor
1995  -  1996    Rev. Eimo Hinrichs, Interim Pastor
1996  -  1998    Rev.Dr. Kenneth F. Tegtmeier
1997  -  1998    Rev. Marcie Weities
1998  -  2001    Rev. Richard Hanson, Interim Pastor
2001  -              Rev. Dr. Philip D. Lund
2008  -              Vicar Brenda Lovick