Saint Peter Lutheran Church (Fair Haven, Michigan) Records

List of Pastors

• Rev. Adam Rehn 1880 - 1881
• Rev. Samuel Kuesthardt 1881 - 1887
• Rev. Heinrich Scheffelman 1887 - 1891
• Rev. C. Albert Harrer 1891 - 1903
• Rev. Gustav Dpbratz 1903 - 1922
• Rev. C.J. Krenke 1912 - 1918
• Rev. Alfred Lussky 1918 - 1919
• Rev. Carl F. Eissfeldt 1919 - 1923
• Rev. Frederick W. Bublitz 1923 - 1939
• Rev. Edward W. Schade 1939 - 1945
• Rev. Karl Schultz 1945 - 1950
• Rev. Harold Molzan 1950 - 1954
• Rev. Robert R. Moehring 1954 - 1975
• Rev. Frederick Stein 1975 - 1977
• Rev. James Blain 1977 - 1984
• Rev. Robert V. Wagner 1984 - ?

By 1880, Saint Paul Lutheran Church congregation had about two hundred families. Dirt roads in those days could often be nearly impassable due to mud and snow, so the children from the southern part of the parish were sometimes unable to attend school because of this. On February 19, 1880, some of the members of Saint Paul who lived in Ira Township met for the purpose of forming a branch of the school. This was approved, and the school was built where the present church stands. There also was the possibility of establishing a church in the future. That building was dedicated on November 14, 1880 for use as both a school and a church. The school closed in 1912 when the congregation could no longer support a resident pastor who also served as the teacher. The church building was opened in 1897, so the school building was used for social functions. VBS was held there and a kitchen was added in the rear of the building. It was used until 1961 when the fellowship hall was added. It was subsequently sold and moved and was turned into a private residence that was destroyed by fire in the 1980s. In the mid 1940s plans were made to relocate the church to the population center, but the plan was dropped and considered unfeasible. In 1947 blueprints were prepared for an ambitious remodeling project which included adding a basement to the church building. Another option was to move the building. Due to dissension in the congregation, the renovation plans were downscaled to redecorating the church and adding a furnace. In January 1970, an arsonist had been terrorizing this community. Saint Peter was set on fire, but the damage to the church was minimal. In 1975, major renovations were necessary due to paint chipping after being reapplied after the 1970 fire. The 60th anniversary of the congregation was celebrated on October 6, 1940, the 100th in February 1980, and the 125th in 2005. The Ladies Aid also celebrated their 85th anniversary in 2005.