Our History

In the beginning… the history of St Peter's goes back to 1897 when the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Loxton was first organised by E.J.P. Kaesler before the town of Loxton was formally planned. It originally began as a 'House Church' meeting for worship in the houses of John Drabsch of Loxton and A Stanitzki of Bookpurnong. Pastor L Kuss from the Mannum congregation was sent up by the Synod four to six times a year to minister to the spiritual needs of the people.

The settlers never expected to see a flourishing settlement such as we have today, but as the country proved its fertility, numerous Lutherans, many of them from Sedan, Mannum and Dutton moved into the district. The two roomed house of John Drabsch was now so overcrowded for worship that they had no option but to build a house of Worship!

In 1904, the congregation resolved to build a stone church measuring 40ft x 20ft x 14ft (12.2m x 6.1m x 4.27m) at a cost of 180 pounds ($360), having a seating capacity of 150 and built on land given by J. H. F. Drabsch. The new church, a simple but dignified structure, was erected on a sandhill which was the highest part of the town near the banks of the Murray River. It faced the major road coming into and leaving the town and was visible for quite a distance. The church was dedicated in November 1904 by Pastor Kaibel, assisted by Pastors' P. Koschade and L. Kuss.

Over 200 people, dressed in their best clothes joined in the procession, led by the band, to the new St. Petri Church from J. Drabsch's where they had been worshiping for the last seven years. Pastor Kaibel opened the doors in the name of the Triune God and dedicated the altar and furnishings with the appropriate scripture. Pastor Kuss was the liturgist and Pastor Koschade preached on Psalm 122. The offering for the day was 5 pounds ($10.00). This went to the building fund.

The congregation kept growing and, joined by Bookpurnong, they felt that it was time to call a resident Pastor. In 1910, a call was sent to Rev. M. Kuss (son of L. Kuss). He accepted, and a manse was built that year at a cost of 800 pounds ($1600.00). By this time there were also congregations at Bookpurnong and Paringa: these three formed the Loxton Parish.

As early as 1911 the St Petri congregation had talked about the possibility of erecting a more spacious church. It was allowed to lapse until 1920, when the discussions were re-opened but without any decision being made.

At the AGM held on 28th January 1923, with a congregation now numbering over 300, the need for another Church building arose again. It was decided to convene a special meeting after District Synod (February) to consider enlarging the present church or building a new one. At the half yearly meeting, 22nd July, it was resolved to begin building a new church. The size and scale of this new Church was certainly remarkable and showed the vision of the people at that time.

On November 24th, work began on the new Church at a cost of 5,705 pounds ($ 11,410.00). The Foundation Stone was laid in January 1925. Various official records, newspapers, items of interest and coins were placed in a bottle under the Foundation Stone. A large crowd congregated to witness the Foundation Stone laying of the new church by Pastor L. Kuss of Lowbank, the pioneer Pastor of the district, assisted by Pastors J. Doehler & J. Meier. A silver trowel, suitably engraved, was presented to Pastor Kuss by the architects, Cowell & Cowell. The offering that day towards the building fund was 100 pounds ($200.00). Pastor J. Doehler is quoted as saying, "The building which was to cost 6,000 pounds ($12,000) would no doubt be the finest Church building on the Murray, at least in South Australia Travellers coming by train or car will, on approaching Loxton, see first of all this Church with its tower of Gothic design".

On Sunday, March 7th, 1926, fifteen and a half months after the building was first started, some 2000 people came from near and far for the opening of the new church.

Three services were held on this day.

Morning Service: Punctually at 10.00am the Loxton Band (under Bandmaster W.E. Baker) playing the hymn: 'So walt es Gott', led the procession from the old church to the entrance of the new one. They were followed by the Sunday School children, officiating ministers, candlestick bearers, communicants, and others. The architect Mr Cowell, handed Pastor C.F. Braun a silver mounted key. Pastor Braun unlocked the door and the procession entered the building to the sound of a triumphal march played by the specially recruited orchestra, led and conducted by Mr J.C. Irving. The church vessels were received by Pastor Braun with an appropriate scripture verse and placed in their respective places. The Sunday school children gave an item, 'I know of a lovely Chapel' (trained by Pastor Meier). The bell was tolled for the first time. Pastor T. Hebart conducted the liturgical part of the service. The entire service was conducted in German. It is estimated that between 600-700 people took part in this service, while hundreds more were unable to gain admission.

Afternoon Service: This Service was given in English. A very large congregation again assembled. Three Sermons were given by Pastors Zwar, Matchoss and Simpfendorfer.

Evening Service: The celebrations were concluded in the evening with a Mission Service at 7.30pm. Pastor Simpfendorfer spoke to another filled Church on the progress of mission work in New Guinea. Offerings for the building fund amounted to 162 pounds ($324.00) and for missions 64 pounds ($128.00).

The old Church was converted into a Sunday School and hall.

To mark the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the original Church, the Thorwalderson marble figure of Christ was added to the altar at a cost of $136, in 1928.

Contrary to expectations, the task of paying for the construction of the new Church proved to be a long and arduous due to bad seasons, poor returns, the depression and the war. But on August 7th 1949, a Special Service of Thanksgiving was held in conjunction with a Youth Anniversary Service to celebrate the freeing of all debt on the Church.

A major alteration to St Peter's Church took place in 1953 with the addition of a gallery to house a pipe organ. Two 13.5 metre X 56cm X 19cm I beams supporting the gallery were placed in position by a large gathering of volunteers on the 1st July. In view of the many members of the congregation involved in Word War II, the whole organ-gallery project was dedicated to the glory of the Prince of Peace and as a memorial to the men and women of the district who gave their lives and served in the cause of peace.

The growth of the Sunday School and other ministries pointed to the need of an adequate hall. As a first step, a nine roomed basement, designed as part of a future hall, was opened and dedicated on March 24th 1963. The hall eventually became a Parish project and was finally opened in 1978, dedicated as the Loxton Lutheran Peace Hall.

On July 27th, 1964 the floodlights at the front of St Peter's were turned on for the first time. Pastor Boehm is reported as saying, "We have a very fine Church here, and in this way we want again to witness to the importance the Church has in the life of the community. As we see it lit by night, let it be a reminder to us of the fact that in this way our lives also need to be lit by the light of Jesus' love which shines into our hearts from Calvary, making us also 'lights set on a hill, which cannot be hid'."

We pray that we may continue to be lights on top of the hill as we endeavour to be a community of God's people who are 'Living and sharing Jesus' gift of love and hope with all people.'