Perry County Missouri

What was that about "a picture is worth..." ???
We were at the Lutheran Center this morning, we met and visited with President Harrison and where was our camera?
We stopped by our hotel to pick it up before heading south for Perry County where many of the first German immigrants settled and established churches and schools.
Perry County was the final destination of a large group of Saxon Lutheran immigrants who fled Germany because of the religious oppresion.  This group, under the leadership of Martin Stephan, communally purchased several thousand acres of land.  It was extremely difficult going during the first few years as they did not have very much money nor did they have proper housing.  The humble beginnings of the LCMS was played out in a beautiful rural setting close to the Mississippi River.  The original churches of Perry County stand as testimony to the fierce faith of these early Saxon Lutherans.  Second only to their place of worship was the importance of the parish school.  So important that the first seminary was founded shortly after their arrival.  Unfortunately, Martin Stephan, the bishop of this group, was found to be guilty of sins against the church and was deposed.  His successor, C. F. W. Walther, not only became the first president of the LCMS but also president of Concordia Seminary.
For us it was quite an experience to travel through this "hallowed ground" through these towns and villages that predate the Civil War.  It was, in fact, from these humble beginnings came our beloved LCMS.

Immanuel Lutheran   1857

We went in search of Wittenburg, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, on the banks of the mighty Mississippi.  What we found was this barn and and monument with a brass placque marking the place of the former St. Paul's.  The entire town and its church had been reclaimed by the flood waters of the Mississippi.  Wittenburg was the birthplace of the sainted Reverend E. T. J. Birner, Pastor Paul Birner's grandfather.

Trinity Lutheran  1839
Notice the pulpit.  The pastor looked down on the floor level of the congregation but was eye-level with the congregation seated in the balcony.  The church has been beautifully restored.  It is truly, at least on the interior, a unique design.  We were also privileged to see the chalice that was brought over from Saxony and was used in the church until 1967.  It now resides in a safe in the church office which was opened for us by our new friend and guide, Gerard.  Gerard happens to be the uncle of Pastor Birner's coworker at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Conover, NC, Pastor Matt.

Salem Lutheran   1892

Concordia Lutheran   1839

It was hard for us to leave Perry County and all of its beautiful countryside, homes and churches, but we tarried too long at the Mississippi Mud Tavern with our new friend, Gerard, and darkness caught up with us.  And so we headed back to the holy city on headlights and a prayer.