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Our Church Visitor
Is Published Monthly in the Interest
of the
St. Mark's Evangelical Church
of New Albany
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What Do You Know About Your Church ?
The first child baptised in our congregation was Louise Wilhelmine
Hully, born April 24th, 1837.
The first two persons to be united in matrimony were John Henry Boldt
and Barbara Keller, on December 31st, 1837.
The first class of children was confirmed on April 29th, 1838, and
consisted of Catherina Wilhelmine Dorothea Evers, Catherina Wild, Barbara
Naegeln [sic], Eva Margaretha Orth, and Elizabeth Catherina Schroeder.
The first funeral conducted was that of Henry Schollerer, infant child
of George Schollerer and his wife .
Among the first articles. purchased for use of the congregation in
1837 were a communion set consisting of one pewter tankard, one pewter cup,
and one small pewter plate; a china Baptismal Basin; a china water pitcher;
a white cotton table cloth for the Communion Table, and a large,
leather-bound Church Record Book.
The latter is still in existence.
A lot for erecting the first church building was purchased in 1842, on
the east side of State street, being the third sixty foot lot north of Oak
street. The lot was 60 by 130 in size and cost $250.00. See if you can
locate it sometime when you are going out State street.
The average attendance in Sunday School during 1869 was about 160, and
in the parochial schools it was about 130.
The pulpit in our present church building was originally high up in
the middle of the rear wall, and was reached by a flight of steps, one from
each side. Over the pulpit was placed a canopy. The choir and organ were in
the center of the balcony. From what is said about remodeling the church
after the fire in 1886, We conclude that originally there were balconies on
the west and east walls of the church also.
The fire, mentioned above, destroyed the roof and part of the side
walls of the church on June 6th, 1886, a Sunday morning, while the
congregation was assembled in worship.
The loss amounted to $10,000.00, over against which the congregation
carried insurance amounting to only $1,000.00.
While the church was being rebuilt, the Sunday School and the
congregation met in the Opera House, which was loaned for that purpose by
the Hon. W. C. DePauw, without charge.
On Sunday, November 7th, 1886, the rededication of the church took
place. The entire cost of repairs was $7,438.00, and was paid immediately,
leaving no debt.
The parochial school was discontinued in 1872.
On September 11th, 1892 it was decided to conduct the night services
in the English language.
In December, 1904 the Ladies' Aid Society published the famous "New
Albany Cook Book", which is still much sought after.
On September 9th and 10th, 1903 the first convention of the Young
People's Societies of the Indiana District was held in our church. Another
convention of the same body was held here in 1914.
Mid-week Lenten services and special nightly services during Holy Week
were inaugurated early in 1900.
The Brotherhood was organized October 18th, 1910.
In 1909 it was decided that the morning worship should hereafter be
conducted alternately in the German and in the English languages.
In 1918 the use of the German language was discontinued entirely in
our church services.
The new organ was dedicated on July 11th, 1915.
To our ladies goes the honor of having organized the First Red Cross
Sewing Unit in New Albany. (During the World War.)
On November 6th, 1921 our church adopted the name "St. Mark's
Evangelical Church."
Our church has had a choir since 1869, and perhaps earlier. But this
is the first record to be found.
Our Sunday School originated in the year 1863 or 1864 with two
classes, a class of boys and a class of girls, under twelve years old.
The first written notice concerning the .Ladies' Aid Society is found
in 1869, when it was called the "Women's Mission Society."
The Home Department of our Sunday School was organized On July 15th,
1915.
The Ladies' Auxiliary came into being on March 17th, 1908.
The congregation has entertained conferences at various times; the
records showing that such meetings of the synodical bodies were held were in
There is only one former pastor of our church now among the living, he
being the Rev. C. W. Locher, D. D.