St. Paul's United Church of Christ Bell Tower - Hermann, MO
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 38° 42.406 W 091° 26.366
15S E 635691 N 4285392
Church built in 1907, and the western portion built in 1919
Waymark Code: WM12VJH
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 07/20/2020
Views: 2
County of church: Gasconade County
Location of church: W. 1st St. & Mozart St., Hermann
Date Built: 1907 and 1919
Phone: (573) 486-5525
Architectural Style: Romanesque Revival
This bell tower rises over 70 feet from the ground, and taken the height of the hill and bluffs, it rises over 300 feet above the mighty Missouri River.
The steel roof, and distinct patterns of the Romanesque brick work make this bell tower a thing of beauty. Do not forget the proud rooster mounted on top of this tower, he signifies a German Protestant Church.
"Just as they have more more than 150 years, the greeters for the weekly church service climb up the stairs to the bell tower to ring the church bells announcing to the surrounding community that church begins in an hour." ~ St Paul's Church
"136 West 1st Street, St. Paul's Evangelical Church, 1907, Contributing
The façade of this Romanesque Revival Church is dominated by a multistory tower topped
by a steeply pyramidal roof. The brick in the tower has a diamond pattern in buff brick and
fenestration is narrow with round arch tops. The belfry has arcaded openings with stone
columns. Above this is a projecting dentiled cornice. The gabled front has a corbelled
cornice and round topped Palladian windows. The top of the center window is a Rose
window. Attached to the east is a three story school building with side gable roof and flat
arched fenestration." ~ NRHP Nomination Form
"St. Paul was officially formed on Nov. 24, 1844 by two churches, "Die Evangelische Kirche" group from Philadelphia (part of the original group of Hermann settlers) and the "Allegemeinde Deutsche Kirche" (Universal German Church) which had been formed in Hermann. The church was called St. Paul's Evangelical Church. Members of the two congregations came from Lutheran, German Reformed and rationalistic ("free-thinker") backgrounds. Most of the earliest German settlers were from the German Reformed Church who were seeking freedom from the oppression of the English population around Philadelphia following the Revolutionary War.
After 57 years, the independent congregation formally united with the German Evangelical Synod of North America in 1901. This denomination later merged with the German Reformed Church to create the Evangelical and Reformed Church. In another merger with the Congregational & Christian Church, the United Church of Christ was formed.
"Until 1910, services were conducted in German. Starting that year, one English service per month was held on a Sunday evening. As of 1947, no more German services were held except for special cases such as Maifest.
"A unique feature of the church is the rooster on top of the bell tower. The historic significance stems from some parts of Germany where a rooster was placed on top of the steeples to symbolize a Protestant Church, whereas the cross was used to signify a Roman Catholic Church." ~ Historic Hermann