ST. MARK’S ENGLISH LUTHERAN.
The history of English Lutheranism in Atchison is interesting. The work of establishing St. Mark’s was fraught with hardship and discouragement. Several of the early efforts failed. But the battle was renewed and success at last achieved. Early in 1867 J. H. Talbott, through the Lutheran Observer, called attention to Atchison as a point for a Lutheran mission. By correspondence he secured the interest of Rev. Morris Officer, then secretary of the general synod’s home mission board. At the convention of the general synod at Harrisburg, Pa., in 1868, the Rev. Officer persuaded the Rev. M. G. Boyer, then pastor at Marklesburg, Pa., to become a missionary to Atchison. Rev. Boyer and his young wife arrived here June 30, that year. Price’s Hall, South Fourth street, between Main and Commercial, was rented and fitted up as a meeting place. Services were begun and a Sunday school organized. On September 20, 1868, the congregation was organized with twenty-five members. The first church council consisted of C. Weber and H. Gehrett, elders; J. H. Talbott, J. Beamer, H. Snyder and F. Brendt, deacons.
In the spring of 1869 the board of church extension granted the congregation a loan of $500, which amount was invested in the purchase of an excellent lot on Kansas avenue. There were bright hopes of having a chapel soon, but these hopes were scattered when an aged minister advised delay on account of the financial stringency of the times, and the numerical weakness of the church. Among the members at this time was the Rev. A. W. Wagnalls, afterward one of the founders of the publishing house of Funk & Wagnalls, New York City. While here he was in the real estate business. At his suggestion the congregation purchased a fifteen acre tract adjoining the city of Atchison on the northwest, which section was platted and offered for sale with the hope of making enough profit to erect a church building. “In this the Lutherans were disappointed,” says the historian, “for they sold only enough lots to pay for the land.”
After that venture the congregation used the Congregational church building. About that time many English Lutherans left the city. Rev. Boyer resigned at the end of the year 1869, and for ten years the church was without a pastor. The Rev. Wagnalls supplied the pulpit now and then until his removal in 1876, but finally the congregation disbanded. The lots belonging to the church were sold for taxes, but were redeemed at the eleventh hour through Mr. Talbott’s efforts, and deeded to the board of church extension.
In 1880 the Rev. W. I. Cutter, a returned missionary to India, with the assistance of Rev. David Earhart and his daughter, Mrs. H. E. Monroe, gathered the English Lutherans together again. Mrs. Monroe was then conducting a private school known as the “Atchison Institute,” and she offered her school room as a place of worship. On the eighth of August the congregation was reorganized and the following officers elected: Elders, J. H. Berlin, W. H. Kuhns and N. D. Kistler; deacons, J. L. Heisey, E. D. Kistler, and John Fusselman; trustees, J. H. Talbott, W. H. Smith and S. J. Clark. Rev. Cutter served as pastor two years. During part of this time aid was received from the Home Mission Board. In 1882 this aid was withdrawn and Rev. Cutter resigned.
Not until 1884 did the second organization flourish. In November of that year the Rev. George S. Diven was commissioned to come to Atchison and revive the mission. New interest was taken and the rejuvenated congregation held its first service in the home of Henry Snell at 921 South Seventh street. The Odd Fellows’ hall was then secured as a place of worship and a Sunday school was organized. Under the leadership of Pastor Diven this school is said to have quickly become the largest in the city. That year the pastor reported sixty members.
Atchison’s boom season occurred during Rev. Diven’s pastorate, and everything was rushed along at a tremendous pace. The movement for a Lutheran college for Atchison started at this time. The location of Midland College here was largely due to the efforts of Rev. Diven and his congregation, supported by the public spirited citizens of the city. In February, 1885, the church was incorporated as St. Mark’s English Lutheran Church. Rev. Diven resigned in 1887 and was succeeded by the Rev. W. F. Rentz, in April, 1888. Rev. Rentz set to work at once to secure a lot and erect a church building. The present location, corner of Sixth and Park streets, was purchased for $5,000. The southern end of the lot with the dwelling on it (now the Keith home), was sold to the pastor for $1,750. The chapel (now the Sunday school room) was erected in 1888, the cornerstone being laid August 19, and the church dedicated December 16. The building and equipment cost $4,010. Pastor Rentz served nine years, resigning in May, 1897.
The Rev. L. S. Keyser, now professor of dogmatics in Hamma Divinity School, Wittenberg College, became pastor November 7, 1897, and served most acceptably until April 7, 1903. During his pastorate the church became self-supporting, after receiving aid for fifteen years from the Home Mission Board. The Rev. R. W. Hufford, D. D., served as pastor from January 9, 1904, to November 27, 1904. After a vacancy of nine months the Rev. A. E. Renn became pastor August 18, 1905.
The outstanding achievement of Rev. Renn’s pastorate was the erection of the present church building. The movement began October 21, 1907. Plans were adopted March 17, 1908, and the building committee ordered to proceed. The cornerstone was laid during the summer following. The building was erected under the supervision of A. B. Zimmerman, contractor, and cost, including organ and furnishings, about $14,000, a marvel of church financing. The opening service was held May 23, 1909, and marked an epoch in Kansas Lutheranism. During this pastorate the congregation adopted the historic Lutheran vestments for pastor and choir, and advanced in churchly worship. Rev. Renn resigned September 1, 1911.
The Rev. Howard C. Garvic was installed pastor the first Sunday in March, 1912. No pastor of St. Marks surpassed him in zeal and energy for the upbuilding of the Lord’s kingdom. Day and night he labored in personal appeal and in teaching classes of adults and children. In a little more than two years 175 names were added to the church roll, constituting the largest growth of any pastorate. The death of the pastor in the prime of manhood in March, 1915, produced a profound impression upon St. Mark’s and the city of Atchison. The Rev. Robert L. Patterson. D. D., became pastor October 17, 1915.