Imagine Brisbane in 1857. The first Lutheran service echoes here setting the stage for what Bethesda Lutheran Church would become.
In 1858, a congregation formed thanks to Reverend Charles Francis Schirmeister. He gathered twelve men at the European Hotel. Its exact location remains a mystery.
Reverend Schirmeister was Queensland’s first registered Lutheran minister. He preached in both German and English.
In 1859, the congregation secured a Crown Grant of land from New South Wales. This was before Queensland separated later that year. This grant paved the way for churches to be erected.
Bethesda Lutheran Church has deep roots. Churches rose here in 1861 and 1882. In 1872, a Scandinavian language service marked a unique moment. Christoffer Gaustad a Norwegian pastor held it in Danish Old Norse.
Bishop Mathew Blagden Hale an Anglican laid the foundation stone for the second church on November 30 1881. This day was the Feast Day of St Andrew.
Turbot Street’s extension dramatically altered the landscape. In 1969, the road claimed much of the church’s land. By 1975, the 1882 church was demolished after serving the community for 93 years.
A seal connects Bethesda Lutheran Church to its past. Created by David Kitzelmann, it mirrors the original Bethlehem Lutheran Church seal from 1861. George Spilhaus of Hanover an engraver in Brisbane crafted it. It bears the Latin inscription SIGIL ECCLES AUGSB CONF BETHLEHEM 1861 QUEENSLAND. This translates to Seal of the Church of the Augsburg Confession. The seal was created when the first chapel opened on Christmas Day 1861. It was then named Bethlehem Church.
The story of Bethesda Lutheran Church is entwined with community spirit. It also reflects the changing face of Brisbane. From its humble beginnings to its modern presence it stands as a testament to faith and resilience.