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First Protestant Church
The church also has a website http://www.firstprotestant.com/ for additional info and contact info. Contact E. C. Mornhinweg gmornhinweg@firstprotestant.com , Historian for the church at (830) 609-7729 x22. Sent by
"Our History"
The history of First Protestant Church is simultaneous with
the settling of New Braunfels. Even before the arrival of the first settlers in 1844, the Reverend Louis C. Ervendberg was invited by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels, Germany to serve as Protestant Minister for the German immigrants who were expected to arrive a few months later. First services were held in December 1844; the church was incorporated October 1845, making it the first church in New Braunfels. The settlers who came to New Braunfels as early as 1845 worshipped originally in the German language. Singing of German chorales in either German or English on Heritage Sundays during Wurstfest is part of our ecumenical heritage. At first the people worshiped in a church made of logs rather than stone. To the left of the pulpit, on the wall, you will see a picture of the log church and the wood cross, which is actually made from the original cedar logs. The corner stone of this church was laid in 1875. Four years later the church was erected, but the tower was not added until 1889, the bells until 1894, the clock until 1905; the enlarged chancel and chapel, with some remodeling, were added in 1955. The Sanctuary is now connected by a two-story interior corridor to the Family Life Center. The New Family Life Center was dedicated on October 23, 1994. As you enter the church through the tower room you may see above the doors, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise! Give thanks to Him, bless His name! For the Lord is good." Passing into the Narthex you see above these doors, "The Lord is in His Holy Temple; let all who enter keep silence before Him." If one were to look down from the Choir Loft and obtain an overall impression of the church building, one could see that the church is laid out in the shape of a cross. The interior of this beautiful Gothic structure seems to say, "God is here. He is revealed to us in Jesus Christ, our Savior, Redeemer, and Lord." The Altar speaks silently of God's spiritual presence in the church; the Chancel Window, five and one half feet in diameter, above the Altar, focuses attention on the blessings of peace offered to believers in Him who revealed himself and God's love for the world on the cross. His whole life, the most significant ever lived on earth, from the annunciation to his ascension, plus keys to his great teachings, is pictured in 28 other beautiful stained glass windows. Some of the art glass windows were added in 1955 to coincide with the original ones in style and color fashioned by Marcine, a Franciscan Monk from Berlin. If one were to name a few items of great historical interest, one would surely mention the Chalice, presented by Prince Carl von Solms on Good Friday, 1845, the first service under the grove of elm trees. Another item would be the first bells, brought to this country from Germany under the direction of the German emigration Society. Carl Schaefer was charged with their safe delivery. During the earliest pioneer days the bells were used to call people to worship, men to work and children to school. Originally they were hung in the Onion Steeple Belfry of the log church and later in the Tower of the new church until 1894, when new bells were acquired. These items and some of the books, church records, and other memorabilia commemorating our Christian Heritage are displayed in the Heritage Rooms. Displays in one of the four heritage rooms are changed each year. The Sanctuary Organ has been completely restored. It is now one of the largest pipe organs between Austin and San Antonio. A new three manual console was added during the restoration, and the organ now contains over twenty-four speaking pipes. As you leave the Narthex, above the doors leading out into the tower room. are the words in the German language, "Der Herr behute deinen Ausgang und Eingang von non an bis in Ewigkeit!" Translated: "The Lord will bless your going out and your coming in this time and in eternity!" Enhancing the beauty of the entire church campus is the Walk of Faith. The walk contains four sections: the Pathway to Life which leads from Coll Street to the Good Shepherd Statue located at the entrance to the Family Life Center. The Pathway to Life begins with the biblical quotations of Genesis depicting the creation of the earth and moves through the Old Testament accounts of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments; Noah, the Ark, and the forty day flood. It then leads us through selected New Testament scriptures including the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. Also located on Coll Street is the Heritage Wall, containing scriptures in German, artifacts from the first service held on Good Friday, March 21, 1845, crosses made from cedar logs of the original church, and the names of all ministers who have served here. The second section of the Walk of Faith is the Good Shepherd Walk. This section begins with the Good Shepherd Statue and leads through the courtyard area to the Good Shepherd Window. Enhancing this section are the Trinitarian Fountains and the Reflecting Pool. Two memorial planters are also located in this area and contain various plants depicted in the Bible. The third section is located in front of the church and leads from the sidewalk along Seguin Street to the main front entrance of the Family Life Center. This section is known as The Living Cross. It contains selected New Testament scriptures depicting the life of Christ. The reddish Marble Falls granite stones that are located in the center of each cross section contain the actual words of Jesus Christ from selected verses in the four Gospels. A fourth section leads from both Seguin and Coll Streets to the front of the Sanctuary providing continuity and better access from our parking area. This section entitled the Parables contains the popular stories of Jesus as told in the Bible. " |