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Village Lutheran Church was formally organized on April 9, 1946.
A
small group of Lutherans took a religious census of the more than 1,000
families in Ladue and found many eager for a neighborhood Lutheran
church. The first worship service was held on March 24, 1946 at
Community School, a little east of the present site. 112 people
attended.
The committee charged with early plans and arrangements
consisted of Rex Becker, Edward Huseman, Frederick Litschel, William
Rebbe, and Albert Wenthe. The first pastor was the Rev. Karl Meyer, who
came directly from the seminary.
Community School served as the
worship site for two years. The young congregation then worshiped at
Wright School, two miles west of the present site.
In 1949
Village Lutheran Church purchased the property at 9237 Clayton Road for
$22,000 and erected a church of its own. Dedication Sunday was November
20, 1949. While the church was under construction, Pastor Meyer moved to
Kansas, and the Rev. Paul Boecler came from Dearborn, Michigan as the
new pastor. He served from December 1949 to August 1967.
God
continued to bless the young congregation. In 1950, it built a parsonage
on the east end of the property. In 1954, to provide additional room
for Sunday School, this home was made the Youth House. The congregation
bought an older residence (the present parsonage) and property adjoining
to the west for $36,500, expanding to four and one-half acres. Two
morning services began in June 1953. A still larger facility was needed
for the growing congregation.
The congregation again engaged the architectural
firm of Froese, Maack and Becker. On February 25, 1968, the new
sanctuary and expanded facilities were dedicated to the glory of God, at
a cost of about $250,000. A choir began.
The Rev. Arden Mead
became the new pastor, serving from July 1968 to May 1976. The
congregation continued to grow. A two-story structure to the north was
added, with dedication in February of 1973. Then came a time of testing
for the congregation. The Missouri Synod, of which VillageChurch is a
part, had internal problems during the early and mid 1970's. Village
congregation became embroiled in the controversy, with the result that
Pastor Mead and about one-fourth of the members left and formed a new
congregation.
The Rev. Richard Warneck became the new pastor in
May 1977. He served through June 1981. During his pastorate, the
Preschool began in September 1979. Village Preschool continues at
present, with Penny Robinson as the director since 1984.
When
Pastor Warneck accepted a call elsewhere, the Rev. W. F. Hischke came
from Hamel, Illinois as the new pastor in December 1982. The older
residence to the west was renovated to serve as the parsonage for his
family. Rev. Dr. Hischke retired in December 1997. Rev. John Temple was
installed in January 1999 and served until 2008, when he retired for
health reasons.
The congregation welcomed back Rev. Dr. Richard
Warneck, distinguished Seminary professor, as the vacancy pastor.
Village Lutheran Church
was delighted to call and welcome a new pastor, Rev. Kevin Golden, on
July 12, 2009.
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- By Rick and Diane Smith