History

First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Donnelsville (written by local history buff, Scott Suther, on the Donnelsville FB page in 2020 prior to the merger with New Carlisle).

There were three wise men that started the Lutheran Church in 1828 at the home of Jacob Snyder – George Croft, Jacob Snyder, and Dr. Paul Henkel. The first known families to meet and had church services were the Snyders, Crofts, Fross, Shumans, Wildasons, and Laytons. In 1828 the United Lutheran Church of America recognized the church as a Lutheran Church.

Around 1830, the church had outgrown the home of Jacob Snyder so a new church was built on George Croft’s property. In 1842, they built a brick church in the corner of a field known as the Croft Church. This church was equipped with a belfry in which the ringing of the bell became quite a novelty to the country folks. The early supporters made their income from their distilleries which money wasn’t considered tainted until the 1850s. (Note: Some of the founder’s women of the church had “Whiskey, Whiskey” embroidered in the crinoline of their skirts to show their support of the church!)  By 1847, the congregation had outgrown their small church.

Donnelsville was laid out in 1832 a few miles north and incorporated March 19, 1850. So the decision was made to move the church north to town and a new site be purchased. The Croft Church was torn down and all the usable lumber and brick was moved and used again in the building of the new church and a new 1000-pound bell was installed. On the cornerstone of the foundation of the church, you will find built 1849 and rebuilt and dedicated in 1870 and the church was renamed to Donnelsville Lutheran Church. And then sometime in the early to mid 1900’s, the name was changed again to First Evangelical Lutheran Church.

When the church was first built, members of the church would honor their loved ones with memorial gifts to the church. Some of these gifts included stained glass windows, piano, organ chimes, bibles, and other items that are often used. This practice is still common today. Other fundraisers were held. It was said that if there were food, there would be Lutherans present. The pulpit and chairs were voted for during October of 1890. They had a bazaar and a supper to raise the money needed. Behind the church, there was a shelter in the yard to keep the horses during bad weather.
During the early years of the church, up until 1894, Donnelsville, Brandt, and Osborn shared pastors. The pastor’s salary was $850 a year shared by the three churches. And then from up until 1902, only Osborn and Donnelsville shared pastors.

The following is a story that has been handed down through the generations. In 1899, a young farmer who attended the church took his own life. In Victorian times, this was a horrible shock and surely meant that he would go to hell. The day of the funeral came and the church was full of people. After the preacher’s eulogy, the congregation began to sing. Suddenly, there was a great thud and the casket slid and fell slightly on one end. The organist was told to keep playing. The strain of the weight of the people was too much for the church and the main girder supporting the floor broke causing the casket to slide. Panic ensued and many people were trampled. One lady was crying, “Oh my belly. Oh my new hat!” Another lady trying to escape out a window got her hoop caught and was dangling in the air. One man took a door off its hinge trying to get out. Meanwhile, the organ kept playing and a few parishioners kept singing. Needless to say, the graveside service was poorly attended.

In 1941, a parsonage was purchased on the Main Street corner of Harrison Street. It remained a parsonage until the 1970s. In 1992, a new bell tower was built…