St Michael's Lutheran Church - Hahndorf - SA - Australia - Bell Towers on Waymarking.com

State Heritage ID: 21249 - This outstanding Lutheran Church building was constructed by the followers of Pastor Fritzsche in 1857-8 on the site of Hahndorf's first church, and is the place of worship for Australia's oldest Lutheran congregation. (Mount Barker Heritage Survey 2004).

This church was opened in 1859 and named St. Michael as the foundation stone was laid on St. Michael’s Day, 29 September 1858. St Michael’s Lutheran Congregation was originally established in 1839 and is the oldest surviving Lutheran congregation in Australia. In 1840 a mud-walled church was built on the site of the present church and dedicated by Pastor Kavel. However, the congregation split in 1846 when doctrinal differences between Pastor Kavel and Pastor Fritzsche became official. Pastor Fritzsche and his followers retained the original church property while those of Pastor Kavel built a small brick church at the southern end of Hahndorf which became the home of St Paul’s United Evangelical Lutheran Congregation. In 1966 the rift between the two churches was healed when they both became members of the Lutheran Church of Australia.

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Few changes took place in the building until 1908 when the vestry was rebuilt, giving more space. The pulpit was removed from above the altar in 1928. The porch was completed in 1931 and the bell-tower in 1938. As a centenary gift, four members purchased a new church bell from St. Louis, USA. The old tradition of tolling the bell at noon, for each year of a recently deceased person's life on this earth, continues to the present day. The old bell was transferred to the school yard over the road. It is one of many cast in bronze from guns and war weapons in Germany at the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) by order of Prince Otto von Bismark, who presented them to the Lutheran Church in Europe.
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Address of Tower: Corner of Balhannah Road and Church Street, Hahndorf, SA 5245, Australia Still Operational: no Number of bells in tower?: 1 Relevant website?: [Web Link] Rate tower: Tours or visits allowed in tower?: No

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Date Logged Log   01/15/2024 blingg visited it 12/13/2017 CADS11 visited it

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