St. Ignace's Zion Lutheran Church Congregation Celebrates Centennial Year
By Ryan Schlehuber

The newly built Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (left) sits beside the former church in this 1959 photograph. The new building was completed in 1957. The church is celebrating its 100th anniversary Saturday, September 8. (Photographs courtesy of Philemon Anderson)

The Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Ignace will be celebrating its 100th year in service at a banquet at Little Bear East Community Center Saturday, September 8.

Former pastors who once served at the St. Ignace church and the Reverend Thomas Skrenes, the bishop of the Northern Great Lakes Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, are expected to attend.

The banquet will begin at 3 p.m., with dinner to be served at 4 p.m. Bishop Skrenes and other pastors will be speakers at the gathering, beginning at 5 p.m. A video of photographs from the early days of the Lutheran Church will be presented. Photographs were provided by Philemon Anderson, former pastor of the Lutheran Church in the 1950s.

Bishop Skrenes will be a guest at the church's regular service at 11 a.m. Sunday, September 9.

Lutheran Church's 1961 confirmation class: (front row, from left) Buneva Sayles, Julie Nelson, Everita Robbins, Susan Cope; (back) Pastor Philemon Anderson, Neil Hill, Terry Anderson, James McGregor, and Jerome Kleinschmidt.

Tari Stage-Harvey, who has been the Lutheran Church's pastor for the past eight years and is still finding new and interesting information on the church, said she has been enjoying the buzz the upcoming event has stirred this year.

"It's fun for me," she said, "listening to how the church used to be like. I'm looking forward to seeing everybody."

Pastor Stage-Harvey said Allenville's congregation already celebrated its 100th anniversary, as have Rudyard's and Cedarville's. The congregation at the Lutheran Church in Brevort will celebrate its 100th year in 2010.

The first services of the St. Ignace church were held by the Reverend Wyman in 1904. Dr. P.O. Bersell also conducted services that year. It was not until March 30, 1907, however, that the congregation was organized, with the Reverend Karl J. Peel as minister.

The first membership included 25 adults and 12 children. Today, the Lutheran Church in St. Ignace has 280 members.

In the early 1900s, services were held in the Swedish language. It was gradually changed to the English language. The last Swedish confirmation class was held in 1921.

From 1909 to 1915, the congregation was served by the Reverend Rehner and Reverend Lind, and, from 1915 to 1932, by student pastors.

In 1932, the Reverend Reuben Anderson became the pastor, serving three congregations, and from 1936 to 1950, the Reverend LeRoy Broberg served the congregation and three others.

From 1951 to 1953, the Reverend Glen Anderson was pastor, serving this church as well as churches in Brevort and Allenville. During his stay, a new parsonage was built.

In 1957, a new church on South State Street was built near the shore of Lake Huron.

Last year, an addition was completed and dedicated during Easter. The Family Life Addition area includes gathering space for meetings, new offices, and handicapped accessible bathrooms.

History Timeline

1880s - Services held in private homes, the first ward school, and in a room above the Martel Furnace Company store.

- Ladies Aid Society forms.

1905 - P.O. Bersell conducts services.

- Church purchases an old company home from Martel Furnace Company for $100.

- Purchase of a lot for the building from the Mulcrone family with the stipulation it be used for a church.

- Reverend Karl Peel arrives to organize a congregation. Serves St. Ignace, Brevort, Cedarville, and Cheboygan.

1907 - The Swedish Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church is formally organized and the first class is confirmed in March.

- First baptism - Teckla Wessberg

1912 - First weddings: Yarda Sorenson and Julius Nordstrom, and Elizabeth Johnson and Gustaf Nelson.

1921 - Last Swedish language confirmation class.

1932 - Called first full-time pastor Reuben Anderson, who serves from 1932 to 1936. His salary is set at $550 a year.

- All services conducted in English, previously in Swedish and English. Members include sixtynine adults and 23 children.

- First choir organizes with 13 members.

1950 - St. Ignace, Brevort, and Allenville congregations align, however, women are not allowed to be board members.

1951 - Glenn Anderson installed as pastor.

1952 - Work begins on the new parsonage. Many human remains found during excavation.

1953 - Parsonage dedicated.

1954 - Philemon Anderson installed as pastor.

1957 - Groundbreaking commences for the new church. Cost is $72,000.

1958 - First service is held in the new church in December.

1959 - Old church demolished.

1964 - Leonard Johnson installed as pastor.

1969 - Steven Fossum installed as pastor.

1973 - Jon Magnuson installed as pastor.

1976 - Bell tower is dedicated in December. Designed by Stanley Cope with the bell from the old church.

1978 - John Thompson installed as pastor.

1983 - Ted Johnson installed as pastor.

1994 - Herb Kitzman installed as pastor.

1999 - Tari Stage-Harvey installed as pastor.

2005 - Ground-breaking for new Family Life addition to church.

2007 - Twenty-member Tanzanian choir performs for the community at the church in May.