Saint Matthew Lutheran Church (Newark, New Jersey) Records

Mr. and Mrs. F. Hienemeyer had a child, and both being LCMS Lutherans, desired baptism for that child. At that time, there wasn't any church in Newark, so Rev. Otto Sieker of Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, New York performed the baptism. Rev. Sieker saw possibilities for the city of Newark. The first service of Saint Matthew, Newark, was held at the Hienemeyer home on April 22, 1900. Rev. W. F. Junke answered the call to become Saint Matthew Newark's first pastor. He was installed in January 1901. The congregation also became part of the LCMS in 1901. The congregation then rented a store that would become both their worship area and the pastor's home. The congregation later worshiped in a hall, and the church was established at a cornerstone-laying in 1908. Pastor Theodore S. Keyl came in 1915. Pastor Keyl was the shepherd for thirty years. In 1935, Pastor Boll who was serving the deaf, was asked by his friend, Rev. Theodore Keyl, pastor of Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Newark, New Jersey, to preach a mission sermon. Among those listening was Mr. Oscar Rehling, a member of Saint Matthew for the Deaf in New York. Mr. Rehling had been asking for services in Newark, but Pastor Boll's schedule was too full. Pastor Keyl was so impressed by Mr. Rehling's plea that he urged Pastor Boll to add another preaching station to his list. Pastor Boll then began service for the deaf in New Jersey at Saint Matthew, Newark. Saint Matthew, Newark had been founded by Saint Matthew, New York City around the turn of the 20th century. The Newark Deaf Mission then also chose the name Saint Matthew. Pastor Boll died on December 14, 1941. Rev. Keyl was very interested in Pastor Boll's work with the Deaf. Pastor Keyl would then preach for the Deaf by using an interpreter. Another Pastor for the Deaf, Rev. Floyd Possehl, arrived in March 1942. This pastor also did much work for the Deaf. In 1949, Pastor Possehl was given a year's leave of absence to promote the Mill Neck Manor Lutheran School for the Deaf. Rev. George Kraus was called to serve the New York-New Jersey Field in summer 1949. Pastor Keyl died in 1949. In 1950, the Mission Board separated the New York from the New Jersey Field and Pastor Possehl became the first resident pastor of the New Jersey Field. Eventually, Pastor Possehl took a call to Calvary Lutheran Church for the Deaf in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Rev. C. Roland Gerhold then accepted the call to the New Jersey Mission. A building was purchased in late 1952. Once renovated into a chapel on the first floor and living quarters for the pastor on the second floor, this building was dedicated on September 19, 1954.