The History of Trinity Lutheran Church
— The Early Years
Trinity’s first quarter-century was a trying period. Rev. Beyer was called away after three years. The next pastor, Dr. G M A Gotsch, let the church through the Civil War years and the 1873 yellow fever epidemic. It was in 1873 that a young seminary candidate, Henry Sieck, came to help Dr. Gotsch with the English work of the congregation. It is not known exactly what this entailed. Worship services and school classes continued to be in German. It would be another forty years before the primary worship service changed to English. It is likely that because a majority of the members of Trinity at this time had been born in Germany, a person fluent in English would be a real asset to the congregation. Rev. Sieck arrived in September but was not installed until November when frost killed the mosquitoes that spread the dread disease.
Two thousand Memphians died. Pastor Gotsch and his children, as well as Trinity's teacher Mr. Karan contracted the disease but managed to survive. Rev. Sieck, as well as Dr. Gotsch’s wife worked tirelessly throughout the epidemic, and received much praise for their work among the stricken, the bereaved, the orphaned and the widowed. Rev. Sieck succeeded Dr. Gotsch as pastor in 1876 and remained three years, during which time he saw Memphis overtaken again by yellow fever. (See an excerpt from Pastor Sieck's diary during the second Epidemic)
Rev. Theodore Benson served as Trinity's pastor from 1879 until his death in early 1881
The scourge that came in the late summer of 1878 was even more devastating than the previous one. About 20,00 (half the population) fled the city. Deaths numbered more than 5,000. A stark notation in the church records, no particulars given, lists 99 names as victims. The fever returned once more the following year, though with less force, and again half the population left in haste. Because of the epidemics, many Germans resettled in St. Louis. Trinity’s membership dwindled from 600 to 140. Yellow fever, the lingering effects of the Civil War, and the reckless policies of the local government brought about the bankruptcy of Memphis. Despite the misery and reverses of those years, it pleased God to have His gospel preached at Trinity, and by His grace the church began to grow once more.
Rev. Theodore Benson, who was called in 1879, died of tuberculosis in 1881. He was followed by Rev. J G Pflantz, who served four years. Then, for six years, Trinity was shepherded by Dr. W H T Dau, who later taught at the St. Louis seminary and became The first Lutheran president of Valparaiso University. It was during Dr. Dau’s term that the sanctuary was finished. The dedication was on October 22, 1888.
The first 33 years marked the beginnings of Trinity. The German Church, with its Gothic structure with the rugged German Cross atop its steeple had become a familiar landmark to Memphis.
Go Back to The Beginnings Continue To Trinity at the Close of the Century