TANUNDA : ST JOHN’S

LUTHERAN

PAUL SCOTT

HISTORY

 

Year Built: 1868

Address: 6 Jane Street, Tanunda, SA 5352

St John’s Lutheran Church dates back to 19 September 1860. Services were first held in a private home, and later in a disused wheatstore situated on the eastern boundary of the present church allotment. The wheatstore building was dedicated for use on 14 June 1863, and was used for worship until 1868 when it was renovated and enlarged for use as the church manse. It was used as a seminary for the training of ministers in the Lutheran Church in 1921 and 1922. It was demolished in 1974.

The present church was built in 1868. Anecdotal reports tell us that the church was built larger than originally intended. One of the members is said to have visited the building site at night and shifted the position of the pegs. Fortunately for later generations, the builders didn’t notice anything amiss with the plans until the walls reached window height. The erection of the church building proceeded without further incident and it was dedicated on 3 August 1868.

Originally the church was a simple structure without ornamentation. However, as time went on various improvements were made to the building. In 1887 a porch and tower were added, and two bells made by F. Otto in Hemelingen bei Bremen, were hung. The larger of the two bells is 750 mm in diameter and weighs 243 kg, while the smaller is 622 mm and weighs 137 kg. The bells ring the tones B and D.

The larger of the two bells is rung on Saturday evening at sunset to remind the community of the approach of the Lord’s day. The same bell rings as a reminder to the congregation half an hour before Sunday service. At the beginning of the service both bells are sounded. Before the speaking of the Lord’s prayer a single bell rings three times, thrice in succession, as an invitation to the sick and shut-ins to join in the prayer. On high festival days (Easter, Pentecost and Christmas) the bell is rung at sunrise. The death-knell of the old here is tolled out just before midnight – at the stroke of 12, the bells of St John’s join those of neighbouring churches to ring in the New Year.

In 1968 the original spire was replaced with a copper spire topped with a stainless steel cross.

A unique feature of St John’s Lutheran Church is the carved wooden statuary representing our Lord as the Good Shepherd, the law-giver Moses and prophet Jeremiah, and the apostles Paul and Peter. These statues were carved in Europe, and presented by a member, Mr G. E. Schutz, to mark the 25th anniversary of the church.

In 1922 the pipe organ was installed to replace the reed organ that was the replacement for the original pipe organ. This present organ was built by Mr J. E. Dodd, and was installed at the cost of £623. It is a two-manual instrument, equipped with more than 500 pipes, pedal keyboard, and an electrically operated blower.

Th Sunday School Hall at the rear of the church was erected in 1896. To provide better facilities for teaching, a private house adjoining the church block was purchased in 1962 and converted into classrooms.

The Pastor’s manse next door on the western side was built and dedicated in 1899.

The congregation of St John’s has had its own cemetery since 1865. This is located in a picturesque setting on the southern approaches to Tanunda.

Taken from a Church notice board.

 

Merger
Grace Lutheran Church Tanunda has officially become a new congregation, following a successful vote to merge two Tanunda-based churches, St John’s and St Paul’s. The history of both congregations dates back well over a century, with St John’s originally formed in 1860 and St Paul’s in 1904. “For more than ten years both congregations have been involved in discussions to work more closely together, not only with each other, but involving the other Tanunda congregations as well,” says Grace Chairperson David Saegenschnitter. It was in 2016 that St Paul’s responded to an invitation from St John’s to join with them in the formation of a new congregation and since the beginning of 2017 the group has been worshipping together under the spiritual guidance of Pastor Guntars Baikovs. “During the past two and half years the congregations have formed a close relationship with pastoral assistants working together and a leadership group established to guide each congregation toward the amalgamation,” Saegenschnitter said. August (2019) saw the culmination of the years of planning with a series of special general meetings, including the inaugural general meeting of Grace, where Pastor Guntars Baikovs was called to serve as the pastor of the new congregation. Grace will continue on an arrangement of shared ministry with Bethlehem Schoenborn congregation, located on the outskirts of Tanunda, offering divine services and pastoral assistance to its members.

https://www.sant.lca.org.au/2019/09/29/tanunda-churches-complete-merger/

My understanding (2020) is that a final decision on the use of the Church buildings is yet to be made.