The History of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethpage, NY

On March 5, 1923, a meeting of Lutherans from Central Park (later to be named Bethpage) was held in the Theodore Roosevelt Republican Hall.  Thirty-five people attended and $8 was collected.  Pastor William Rusch of Hicksville offered to conduct services on Sunday afternoons at the firehouse on Stewart Avenue (across from the present site of St. Paul's).  The first worship service was held on March 11, 1923, 75 attended, and an offering was received in the sum of $17.18.

The name of St. Paul's was chosen and the first officers were:  Henry Schaaf, Chairman; Theodore Damm, Secretary; and Edward Sengstacken, Treasurer and Superintendent of Sunday School, positions which he held for many years.

The present property was purchased and in November, 1923, work was started on the church building.  On November 25, 1923, the cornerstone was laid.  The church building is unique in that the members gathered from nearby areas, all the large stones that comprise the outside walls of the church.  In a few months, services were held even though there was no heat except for a wood-burning stove. The church was dedicated on September 28, 1924.  The building, lots and water came to a total of $16,522.14. 

The Dorcas Aid Society was started on May 31, 1923.  A choir was also started shortly thereafter. The parsonage was on Lafayette Avenue (Ludwig home).  The Walther League (young people's group) was started.

In June, 1998 under the guidance of Pastor James W. Berry, research began regarding the possible launch of a Christian preschool at St. Paul's.  In November, 1998 the congregation voted to approve the proposed preschool, and in September, 1999 "Little Gospel Lights Preschool" opened its doors in the basement of St. Paul Lutheran Church with a beginning enrollment of 42 students.  St. Paul Lutheran Church members Deborah Cavacchioli and Kathleen von Thaden served as the preschool's first directors.  The staff of twelve educators also included St. Paul Lutheran Church members Celia Bernhardt, Joanne Foley, Jeanine Martin, and George Stark.  Little Gospel Lights Preschool offered Christian education classes for two, three, and four-year old students. 

On June 26, 2002 at just after 6:00 p.m. lightning stuck our beautiful St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church.  We give thanks to the Lord that no one was in the building, when the fire broke out, however, our church sustained quite a bit of interior damage.  Our organ pipe room, chancel and parish hall were destroyed. In addition to the fire damage there was additional damage due to smoke and water in our basement. An aggressive building project was begun and the congregation under the leadership of Pastor Ancira, with assistance from the community of Bethpage, banded together to see our beloved church re-built.

In August, 2004, we re-entered the newly re-built St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Pastors who served at St. Paul are as follows:

• Pastor Rusch, our first Pastor, served until 1928 when Pastor August Brunn was called.

• Pastor Brunn started a Lutheran Church in Amityville and accepted a call there. 

• Pastor Alfred Faulstick served as next Pastor until 1935

• Pastor Edmund Bohm served until 1943 when he accepted a call to Amityville. 

• Pastor James Taylor served St. Paul's from 1943 until his retirement in 1981.  

• Rev. Edwin Marohn served during the vacancy until Vicar William Flammann arrived in 1982. 

• In 1983, Vicar William Flammann was ordained as Pastor and served until 1986 when he accepted a call as Chaplain in the U.S. Navy.

• Rev. Stephen Brighton and Rev. Albert Neibacher served as vacancy pastors until 1987 when Rev. Bruce Hanson was called as Pastor. 

• Pastor Hanson served until 1992. 

• Rev. Herbert Kern served as vacancy pastor until 1993.

• Rev. James W. Berry, was installed on May 16, 1993 and left to accept a call to Keane, NH in 1999.

• Rev. Ernst served as vacancy pastor until January, 2001  

• In January 2001, Pastor Mario E. Ancira was installed here at St. Paul. In September 2005, Pastor Ancira left to accept a call to Milton, WA.

• We are currently experiencing a vacancy.

Four young men who grew up in St. Paul's became Lutheran pastors and are either now serving churches or are retired; they are Walter Koller, Louis Jasper, Robert Mordhorst and Robert Mitchell.  A number of St. Paul's young men and women went on to become teachers in Lutheran schools.

 
St. Paul's has been blessed over the years and continues to be blessed with people devoted to doing the Lord's work.  This Missouri Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed with the intent to spread the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ to our neighbors, and this mission still holds true today.

Rear of Church before Choir loft was erected.

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