MOCULTA : HOLY CROSS GRUENBERG

LUTHERAN

PAUL SCOTT

HISTORY

 

Year Built: Old church 1859 ; present church 1864.

Address: Corner Gruenberg Road and Lindsay Park Road

 

Moculta
Moculta is a locality in the Australian state of South Australia located about 69 kilometres (43 mi) northeast of the state capital of Adelaide and about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) northeast of the municipal seat of Angaston. At the 2016 census, Moculta shared a population of 227 with part of Truro. The earliest settlers in the area were English, Scottish and Irish migrants. German migrants also came to the area from 1853. They built both the Gruenberg (1859) and Gnadenberg Lutheran churches. The township of Moculta itself was surveyed in 1865 and occupied soon after. The locality of Gruenberg was renamed to Karalta as a consequence of the move to rename ‘names of enemy origin’ during World War I, but has been named back to the anglicised Gruenberg since then. It is now included in Moculta and Penrice. Gnadenberg is also now included in Moculta.

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

 

The Church
Two Lutheran churches serve Moculta being Gruenberg, German for Green Hill, and Gnadenberg, German for Hill of Grace. The Gruenberg ‘Holy Cross’ Lutheran Church is built on top of a hill and known for the locally handcrafted timber organ, and displays elaborate painting and German verses. Today both churches proudly present their typical Lutheran bell towers.

http://www.hartzbarnwines.com.au/moculta/

 

The foundation stone reads 9 Mar 1864. The church was consecrated on 16 Oct 1864 as ‘zum Kreuze Christi’ (Holy Cross). A new altar was installed in 1901. The bell tower foundation stone was laid on 12 Feb 1914 for the 50th Jubilee. Land purchased 5 Mar 1859 & first church built soon after, later used as Sunday school & teacher’s house.

‘The new Evangelical Lutheran Chapel at Grunberg, near Angaston, was opened on Sunday last by the Rev. Mr. Rechner, assisted by several rev. gentlemen. The building is a commodious and substantial edifice, and reflects great praise upon our worthy German fellow-colonists.’ [Register 22 Oct 1864]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/31967465@N04/15401039844