MARANANGA : GNADENFREI ST MICHAEL’S

LUTHERAN

PAUL SCOTT

HISTORY

 

Year Built: 1873

Address: Seppeltsfield Road, Marananga

Marananga is a locality in South Australia. It was known as Gnadenfrei before 1918 when names of ‘enemy origin’ were changed to sound less German . The Gnadenfrei Lutheran Church was established, then a German school was established in 1879. The school’s name was changed to Marananga in 1918, which is now also the name of the locality. Gnadenfrei means ‘grace’ and ‘freedom’. Marananga means ‘My hands’" in the Aboriginal language of the Overland Corner tribe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marananga,_South_Australia

 

During the period from 1845 to 1850, members of the Langmeil congregation (in Tanunda) settled in and around the area which soon became known as Gnadenfrey. Gnadenfrey Lutherans did not immediately form a new congregation, but were regarded as part and parcel of the Langmeil group.

At some stage between 1850 and 1853, a local place of worship was built. This was done under the guidance of Pastor A. Kavel and remained part of the Langmeil parish.

The first church building was erected on the present church grounds, the land being given to the congregation by Mr Carl Kriebel. The exact location and type of building is not known. These records were believed to have been lost with some of Pastor Kavel’s records.

The present spelling of Gnadenfrei was adopted in 1860. Also in 1860 the Gnadenfrei congregation severed its ties with the Langmeil congregation. They joined the Light Pass Immanuel Lutheran Parish, and remained with that parish until realignment saw Gnadenfrei join a revamped Greenock Lutheran Parish in 1966. To this day the parish comprises St Peter’s Greenock, St Michael’s Gnadenfrei, and Nain Lutheran Church.

Taken from a publication of the Gnadenfrei St Michael’s Church.