The History of St. Paul Church

Rev. John Jacob Riess

On March 17, 1839 the Germans in Belleville asked Rev. J. J. Reiss to be their spiritual leader. His service to the Germans in Belleville was short-lived as he became seriously ill in the summer of 1839. Rev. Riess had asked at the first congregational meeting that a name should be chosen for the new church. The first president of the congregation, Mr. Adolph Hildebrandt, spoke in reply: "Rev. Riess and Abraham, remembering that we all, like Abraham, had to leave our home country, and our kindred, and our father's house, and come to a strange land; and remembering that we came to America as fugitives to seek liberty and freedom of thought here and true democracy and a government least oppressive; remembering that our troubled exodus really had its beginning in that political meeting at St. Paul's Church of Frankfurt on the Main; remembering all that, I say there can be only one name given to our new church, in memory of those who fought with us, and suffered and died for freedoms cause. And that one and only name, proper for our church, is "St. Paul's Church," and as St. Paul's Church be it known forever."

This group formed the "Freie Protestantische Gemeinde" in Belleville, or the Free Protestant Congregation. The construction of a church/school building was begun on September 7, 1839. The building was built at a cost of $413 on a site on a little hill where the Franklin School now stands on North Second Street. The building was dedicated before winter although the hymnals from Philadelphia did not arrive until months later. Church services were held every Sunday and school during the week.

Turmoil plagued the church from the beginning. The parishioners, a group of highly educated people, were often at theological odds with their pastors and the Germans refused to pay their spiritual leaders a living wage. The short terms of the pastors is a testimony to this reluctance.

The Second St. Paul Church building

In 1868 the first church school building and parsonage was built on the site. By 1871 Belleville had ten thousand residents and St. Paul's had two hundred members. In 1872 the congregation sold its first pipe organ and bought a larger one, costing $1,250.

In 1888 Rev. William Weber, who had studied at universities in Bonn and Strassburg and had earned a PhD at Yale was called to serve St. Paul. The secular entertainment given by the congregation during the twelve years of Rev. Weber's ministry brought in a lot of money, but caused the members to give less in voluntary Christian sacrifice and offerings. In October of 1900 he threatened to resign, refusing a salary raised by the sale of beer at a picnic. On November 10 he did resign because of differences in opinion on the methods of raising money for church expenses.

The third St. Paul Church Building

The Rev. Otto Pessel 1905 to 1935

The Rev. Benjamin Koehler 1935 to 1958

The Rev. Benjamin J. Koehler was called to carry on the work of St. Paul's. He arrived in Belleville on August 5, 1935 and began another great period of growth in the life and activities of St. Paul's and the community. During this time St. Paul's was recognized as the leading church in the area, thanks to the leadership of Rev. Koehler and a faithful congregation. As under Rev. Pessel, St. Paul's continued to be the church home to non-members as well as members. Thanks to the vision of Rev. Pessel and Rev. Koehler, St. Paul's gave birth to Memorial Hospital at a time when Belleville had great need of a second hospital.

In 1951 Rev. Koehler was stricken with a stroke while in the pulpit at a Lenten service. Even during his illness and years of recovery Rev. Koehler continued to inspire and lead the congregation. In 1954 Eden Seminary awarded him a Doctor of Divinity degree. In 1958 he became Pastor Emeritus. He died in 1962 and is buried in Lake View Memorial Gardens.

The fourth church, dedicated in 1959

Rev. Lorenz L. Eichenlaub

Rev. Ann Asper Wilson