Elim Lutheran Church (Berkeley, Missouri) Records

Elim Lutheran Church was started in 1926 as a Sunday School in the basement of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Simmons, who were members of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. They resided in Ramona Park and felt that there should be a church in their neighborhood. Services were first held in their home during 1926 and 1927. After this, services were held in the Ramona Park Recreation Hall. The orginal Elim Mission Project was sponsored by Mt. Calvary, Union and Wells, St. Louis under the direction of Pastor Richard Jesse Sr.

In July of 1928 the congregation was organized and a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church offered a small portable building to the group if a new site was found. The Mt. Calvary Sunday School made the first down payment on Elim's building site. The name Elim was chosen for the congregation because of the presence of springs on and near the building site, so the name "Elim" was chosen in reference to the oasis where the children of Israel first rested after leaving Egypt during the Exodus. The new chapel was dedicated on July 15, 1928.

In August of 1928 Werner Weich was installed as the first Pastor. He opened a parochial school that continued until 1952. It was not until 1948 that the congregation became self-supporting, but still at times found it difficult to support a pastor, and so was served by theology students from Concordia Seminary. The small building was added to many times, but still became unsatisfactory. In 1955 under Pastor Erwin Prange, a new facility was erected and dedicated and completed in 1961.

Elim had a history of slow growth and many set backs. However, it provided for the spiritual nourishment of several hundred people. In 1957 Elim had a membership of 300, and during the 1970's reached a high of 265 communicant members. In 1978 the fiftieth anniversary was celebrated. From that point on there was a decline in membership. which was due to many factors, two of which were a changing neighborhood and many of the members leaving the area. In May of 1983 it was finally decided, with great reluctance, to close. The final Service of praise and thanksgiving was held on September 11, 1983.

Pastors who served Elim were; Werner Weich (1928-32); E. H. Schroeder (1932-40); A. C. Burgdorf (1940-48); Norman Streufert (1948-52); Erwin Prange (1952-56); Harold Scheibert (1956-59); Sylvester Toerne (1959-65); Gary D. Logan (1966-68); Walter Grotrian (1968-80); Walter Snyder (vacancy) (1980-82); and John Kristen (1982-83).