Pastor F.A. Kiess and family

     ​Roscoe Lutherans were first served occasionally by pastors of the Iowa Synod in the late 1880’s.  In 1893, Missouri Synod Pastor F.A. Kiess, from Mansfield, was called to serve the group one time per month.  By September of 1893, the group officially organized under the name of “St. James Lutheran Church.”  Kiess was later assisted by Student Assistant Henry Luebke and Pastor William Meyer.

     By 1900 it was decided to “re-district” the congregations in the area.  St. James in Roscoe would be served from St. John’s Lutheran in Bowdle, a congregation of the Minnesota Synod. From 1900-1904, Pastors Richard Fehlau and J.C.A. Gehm served Roscoe while living in Bowdle.

The Julius Schipke farm where some of the first church services were held.

St. Paul's 1st church (1906) and 1st parsonage (1907)

Pastor Keller

     During Pastor Otto Keller’s time (1904-1907), the congregation was re-organized as St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church—UAC.  Under Keller’s leadership and carpentry skills, the congregation’s first church building was constructed in 1906 and the first parsonage in 1907.

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Cicilia Jeschke was the first baptism in the new church.

​     St. Paul’s first resident pastor, A.C. Bartz, arrived in 1907 and St. Paul’s officially joined the Minnesota Synod.  With his arrival, Roscoe’s pastors also began serving St. Jacobus Lutheran in nearby Cloyd Valley and St. Jacobi in Sherman Township.  Rev. Bartz served until 1911 and was followed by a Rev. Kerber who served the congregation for less than a year.

Pastor Bartz

Pastor Birkholz

     During Pastor Ernst Birkholz’s pastorate (1912-1917), the St. Paul’s Ladies Aid was organized and the Minnesota Synod merged with the Wisconsin Synod.  In 1917, Pastor Manteufel arrived in Roscoe and served the next four years.  Along with Cloyd Valley, he began serving a group of Lutherans in nearby Ipswich.  During this time, the Ladies’ Aid had to disband and St. Paul’s had to receive a special dispensation to hold a German confirmation because of government suspicion after the outbreak of the Great War.

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Confirmation in 1914. This is the oldest known confirmation photo in the archives.

A photo of the congregation in 1917 standing in front of St. Paul's original church building.

     Pastor J.P. Scherf served St. Paul’s beginning in 1921 and the parsonage was enlarged by adding a second story.  By this time, St. Paul’s had grown to become the second largest congregation in the newly formed Dakota-Montana District.  A Sunday School was organized and the Ladies’ Aid reconvened by meeting in private homes.  By the mid-1920’s, membership and attendance at St. Paul’s necessitated the construction of a new church building.  The cornerstone was laid on July 3, 1928 and the structure was dedicated on December 16 with three festival services.

Pastor Scherf

The 1928 Confirmation Class. It was the final confirmation in the original St. Paul's Church.

The 1906 church and enlarged 1907 parsonage (2nd story added).

Digging the basement for the new church. The 1906 church is in the background.

The new church being built.

A postcard recently found on eBay. On the back was written: "This is a picture of our new Lutheran church here. It sure is a swell one."

Dedication Day of the New Church December 16, 1928

Pastor Lau

     ​With Pastor Scherf’s retirement, Pastor Herbert Lau arrived in 1939 and served until 1951.  At the 50th anniversary of the congregation in 1943, a ceremonial “burning of the mortgage” was held in the church basement.  By 1947, the congregation had saved enough to have an eight-rank Wicks pipe organ installed.  There was a dedicatory organ recital by Mrs. H.A. Scherf upon completion of the project.

The console of St. Paul's Wicks Pipe Organ Opus #2807.

Forms for the foundation of the parsonage basement.

     Pastor George Boldt served St. Paul’s from 1951-1955.  In 1953, the 25th anniversary of the church building was celebrated by re-decorating the interior. A new parsonage was also built in 1953.  During construction, the Boldt family lived in the church basement.

Pastor Boldt

Newspaper clipping after the dedication of the new parsonage.

     Pastor Waldemar Schuetze served St. Paul’s for about 3 years (1955-1958).  In addition to continuing the proclamation of God’s Word and teaching Bible classes, Pastor Schuetze completed much of the landscaping around the new parsonage.

The "Merciful Jesus" window on the west end of church. Click on the picture for more pictures of St. Paul's stained glass windows.

     Pastor Martin Janke served St. Paul’s from 1958 until 1965.  In 1958, an English constitution was adopted for the first time and our stained glass windows were installed.  With 130 students attending Sunday School in various parts of the building, the congregation moved forward with the education wing expansion in 1962.  Pastor Janke was also a faithful, steadying hand for St. Paul’s as the controversies arose regarding fellowship with the Missouri Synod.

Pastor Janke

Pastor Geiger

     Pastor Louis Pingel served St. Paul’s for a period of 3 years (1965-1968).  Pastor Gerhard Geiger arrived in 1968 and the congregation observed 75 years of God’s grace shortly thereafter.  During Pastor Geiger’s ministry in Roscoe, the Young People’s Society was established and the congregation moved exclusively to English worship services.  Pastor Geiger was called home to heaven in 1982 while still in service to the congregation.

Pastor Pingel

Pastor Winkel

     Pastor Timothy Winkel arrived from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1982 and served until 1987.  During his pastorate our first carillon system and the elevator were installed.  Pastor Gerald Blobaum was installed in early 1988.  The congregation celebrated its centennial with special services in 1993.  By 1994, meetings were held in the district regarding parish arrangements.  Looking ahead, St. Paul’s joined with St. John’s in Bowdle to form a dual parish in 1995.  Pastor Blobaum accepted a Call later that year.

Pastor Blobaum

     Pastor Winfried Schroeder began serving St. Paul’s and St. John’s in 1995.  A new sound system was installed in 1996 that included the ability to broadcast services to Westwood Assisted Living in town.  Westwood has since closed but members that live within 1000 feet of church are able to listen to services when they can’t make it to church.  Pastor Schroeder retired in 2013.

Pastor Schroeder

Pastor Dauck's installation at St. Paul's in 2013

     During the vacancy, the parsonage was extensively remodeled.  Pastor Justin Dauck arrived in 2013 and served the dual parish until end of 2020 when he moved to serve in Nebraska. 
      In 2018, members and friends of St. Paul’s rejoiced in 125 years of God’s grace on the congregation.  Pastor Glen Hieb, a son of the congregation, preached for the festival service.  Later that year, the congregation also observed 90 years of receiving the Means of Grace in our current church building.

125th Anniversary September 9, 2018

     During the vacancy that opened when Pastor Dauck accepted the Call to serve in Plymouth, NE, several pastors and vicars from the area came to ensure regular Sunday services.  In the middle of the vacancy, Pastor Larry Schlomer (ret.) served as vacancy pastor from July of 2021 to April of 2022.  
     In December of 2021, Pastor Tony Hansen, who was serving as Dean of Students at Great Plains Lutheran High School, accepted the Call to serve the dual parish of St. Paul's and St. John's.  Following the completion of the 2021-2022 school year, Pastor Hansen was installed on July 10th.
     We thank the Lord for granting another faithful servant to serve.  May the Lord bless our congregations and continue to feed us with the Gospel in Word and Sacrament. To God be the glory.