Evangelical Bethel Congregation, Concordia, Missouri, Records, 1872-1947 (C1292)

3 volumes and translations on 1 roll of microfilm

MICROFILM

INTRODUCTION

The records of the Evangelical Bethel Congregation consist of minutes of congregational meetings, church constitutions, membership lists, and other church records. Recorded primarily in German, an English translation of the records is included in the collection. These records are part of the German Heritage Archives.

DONOR INFORMATION

The Evangelical Bethel Congregation records were loaned to the University of Missouri for copying by the Bethel United Church of Christ on 31 October 2000 (Accession No. 5855). The records are part of the German Heritage Archives.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

The formation of an Evangelical church was agreed upon at a meeting in March 1872 in Concordia, Missouri, attended by Hermann Klingenberg, Peter Steinmann, F. Kurz, August Kurz, Peter Esselmann, Heinrich Detert, and Pastor H. Hoefer. At a meeting a month later, the name Evangelical Bethel Congregation was accepted, a constitution was read and agreed upon, and plans for a church building were finalized. On September 8, 1872, the building was dedicated. An early church report described that participation was, at times, small and growth insignificant, and that there were eleven members of the congregation. By 1885, when a new building was erected, there were forty-four members of the church.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Evangelical Bethel Congregation (also known as the German Evangelical Bethel Congregation) records consist of three volumes, dating from 1872 through 1947, containing primarily minutes of congregational meetings, and including constitutions, membership lists, Sunday school records, and miscellaneous records. Records from July 1926 through 1947 are recorded in English.

The translation of the records was done by Dr. Adolf E. Schroeder, Professor Emeritus of German at the University of Missouri-Columbia as part of his tenure as "Scholar in Residence" at Concordia, made possible by a grant from the Missouri Humanities Council to the Concordia Area Heritage Society for 1993/1994. The transcription is included on the microfilm and a hard copy is also available.

COLLECTION LIST

v. 1Minutes, 1872-1912
v. 2Minutes, 1912-1947
v. 3Sunday School board minutes, 1887-1918
f. 1Minutes, 1872-1912 (translation)
f. 2Minutes, 1912-1947 (translation)
f. 3Sunday School board minutes, 1887-1918 (translation)

INDEX TERMS

These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.

  • Churches--Missouri
  • Evangelical Bethel Congregation, Concordia, Missouri
  • German Americans--Missouri
  • German Heritage Archives
  • Missouri, Concordia--Churches
  • Missouri, Concordia--Churches
  • Missouri, Lafayette County--Churches
  • Missouri, Lafayette County--Churches