Our History
History of Our Church
First German Evangelical Lutheran Church, U. A. C., of Knoxville, Tennesee, was organized on October 12, 1869. (U. A. C. stands for “Unaltered Augsburg Confession.”) Our name changed to First German-English Evangelical Lutheran Church, U. A. C., in 1903, and then to First Evangelical Lutheran Church, U. A. C., in 1919.
Peter Kern (former Knoxville mayor and businessman), seated middle above with some of the original men who helped established First Lutheran in 1869.
Beginning in 1813, Lutheran missionaries made regular trips through East Tennessee. First Lutheran Church was organized at a meeting of about 20 Lutherans in Peter Kern’s Hall at No. 7 Market Square on October 12, 1869, as the First German Evangelical Lutheran Church. The congregation, being of German heritage, conducted services in the German language into the 1890’s when it was decided to begin services in English also.
The church has resided at two previous locations since its organization: at the corner of Broad and Asylum Streets from 1870-1901 (see below, now Broadway and Western Avenue, on the old L&N Station site), and the corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway from 1901-1946 (see below). Then the Francis house at the corner of Broadway and Wells was purchased, and services were held in the house until the school building was completed in 1947. The current Gothic-style building (see below) was dedicated on May 15, 1955.
Original church building from 1870-1901 (above), located at the corner of Broad and Asylum (now Broadway and Western, where the old L&N Station is located).
Ladies’ Aid Society (above) from around 1890.
The second church building (above) located at the corner of Broadway and Fifth Avenue from 1901-1946.
Inside First Lutheran’s second sanctuary (above), 1901-1946.
The third and current church building (above), dedicated in 1955, is located on the corner of Broadway and Wells Street.
True to the historic principle of Lutheranism that there can be no real education without religion, a Christian day school was immediately started in 1869. It was closed for a few years but reopened in 1892. A major renovation project was completed in 1979 with the addition of another school wing housing not only classrooms but also a new gymnasium. Its program now covers preschool age 3 years through 8th grade and and includes before- and after-school care.
The congregation turned 150 years old on October 12, 2019. Since its establishment, First Lutheran has had 20 pastors. It has produced 4 daughter congregations: Grace Lutheran in 1959 in the Bearden area; Christus Victor in 1967 in the Norwood-Powell area; Holy Trinity (now Celebration!) in 1964 in Seymour; and Christ of the Cumberlands in 1986 (previously a preaching station since 1974) in Harrogate. In 2005 First Lutheran adopted the Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Tennessee and called an associate pastor, who faithfully served the congregation and the campus community until February 2012. Today, First Lutheran’s congregation stands at 440 souls and continues to be involved in the neighborhood surrounding the church both physically and spiritually.
DOCUMENT, PHOTO, AND TEXT HYPERLINKS:
Church Buildings & Dedications
Dedicatory Service [Bulletin] of the New Church Building, 1955 – pdf (1MB)
Dedication of the New School Building, January 28, 1979 – pdf (4MB)
Second First Lutheran Church Building, Fifth Avenue view, 1901-1946 – pdf (550KB)
Third First Lutheran Church Building, Broadway & Wells Street, 1955 – pdf (10MB)
Confirmation Photos
1890 Pastor Lauritzen – pdf (3MB)
1920’s Pastor Krueger – pdf (2MB)
1959-1962 Pastor Dautenhahn – pdf (13MB)
1963-1979 Pastor Smith – pdf (33MB)
1980 Interim Pastor Nerger – pdf (3MB)
1982-1998 Pastor Schulz – pdf (19MB)
1999-2017 Pastor Bushur – pdf (328KB)
2007-2011 Pastor Bushur & Associate Pastor Roberts – pdf (2MB)
2018 Associate Pastor Smithey – pdf (968KB)
2019 Vacancy Pastor Larry Rockemann – pdf (2MB)
Correspondence
Marge Hunze’s Membership Memoir – pdf (4MB)
Susan Catlett’s Memoir – pdf (717KB)
First Lutheran School (FLS)
School Buildings – pdf (1MB)
Christian Day School Leadership, 1869 to 2019 – pdf (486KB)
Classrooms, Library & Playground – pdf (854KB)
Faculty & Staff – pdf (225KB)
Christian Day School Class Pictures – pdf (5MB)
Graduating Classes – pdf (164KB)
Miscellaneous Photos – pdf (75MB)
Touching Lives Forever Brochure – pdf (866KB)
History
History of Church, School, Memorial Windows & Organ – pdf (3MB)
October 1919 Sketch of the History – pdf (4MB)
Pertinent Historical Events, 1939-1968 – pdf (452KB)
Ladies’ Aid Society/LWML
Group Photos – pdf (2MB)
Sketch of the LWML on FLC’s 100th Anniversary pdf – (381KB)
Milestone Anniversaries
50th Anniversary Manual (1919) – pdf (8MB)
65th Anniversary, Photo of Congregation – pdf (492KB)
75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Booklet (1944) – pdf (6MB)
75th Anniversary Morning Worship Bulletin, October 8, 1944 – pdf (3MB)
100th Anniversary Booklet (1969) – pdf (7MB)
100th Anniversary Photos (1969) – pdf (1MB)
100th Anniversary Service Bulletin, October 12, 1969 – pdf (2MB)
125th Anniversary Booklet, 1869 to 1994 – pdf (11MB)
100th Anniversary Covered Dish Supper, September 26, 1969 – pdf (1MB)
100th Anniversary Banquet, October 11, 1969 – pdf (1006KB)
100th Anniversary Membership Directory, 1969 – pdf (6MB)
150th Anniversary, October 12, 2019 – pdf (23MB) New!
Fiftieth Anniversary Manual, transcribed by Rose-Anne Cunningham – html
Miscellaneous
About the Lutheran Christian Faith – pdf (948KB)
Certificates of Baptism (1889) and Confirmation (1869) – pdf (4MB)
Constitution and By-Laws of First Lutheran Congregation 1965 – pdf (3MB)
Echtheits Sertifikat, 2012 – pdf (423KB)
FLC Passover Seder Meal, April 1, 2010- pdf (5MB)
Knoxville Lutheran Laymen’s League Over the Years – pdf (2MB)
Monthly Newsletters, September 1921 & March 1954 – pdf (3MB)
Sanctuary Banners – pdf (1MB)
The Two Trees of Christmas – pdf (1MB)
Music
2018 Handbell and Choir Concert Program – pdf (185KB)
2019 Handbell Choir Photo – pdf (500KB)
Mr. Ed Niedens, Organist/Choir Director, 1989-2011 – pdf (392KB)
Mr. Ron Royuk, Organist/Choir Director, 1969-1989 – pdf (145 KB)
Mr. Wilbur Krause, Organist/Choir Director – pdf (816KB)
Organ History – pdf (789KB)
News Articles
1900-1950 – pdf (40MB)
1950’s – pdf (22MB)
1961 – pdf (7MB)
1963 – pdf (1MB)
1965 – pdf (42MB)
1966 – pdf (43MB)
1967 – pdf (15MB)
1968 – pdf (1MB)
1969 – pdf (21MB)
1970 – pdf (41MB)
1971 – pdf (10MB)
1972 – pdf (49MB)
1973 – pdf (19MB)
1974 – pdf (40MB)
1979 – pdf (5MB)
1984 – pdf (554KB)
1994 – pdf (29MB)
Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings – pdf (37MB)
Our Pastors
Ministry Milestones, Sesquicentennial (150th) Anniversary – pdf (1MB) Updated!
The Rev. Paul J. Bushur, 25th Anniversary of Ordination – pdf (2MB)
The Rev. Daniel D. Dautenhahn, Photos & Installation Service Bulletin – pdf (2MB)
The Rev. Julius A. Friedrichs, Aug 6, 1957 Letter & 1897 Confirmation Reunion Invitation – pdf (5MB)
The Rev. Derek Roberts, Rite of Ordination and Installation Service, 2006 – 2012 – pdf (4MB)
The Rev. John Schaidt, Biographical Sketch – pdf (787KB)
The Rev. Edward Schmidt, Installation Service, November 12, 2017 – pdf (3MB)
The Rev. John Paul Schulz – Installation Photo with Circuit Pastors – pdf (249KB)
The Rev. Harry Smith, Installation Service, May 5, 1963, and (2) Sermons – pdf (3MB)
Stewardship
Letter to Dr. Mundt on Stewardship, 1969 – pdf (623KB)
Stewardship Letter 1977 – pdf (1MB)
Christian Giving – pdf (994KB)
Worship Bulletins
Reformation Bulletin, October 31, 2010 – pdf (2MB)
Service Bulletin, January 14, 1944 – pdf (1MB)
Service Bulletin, June 15, 1969 – pdf (950KB)
Walther League
Constitution and By-Laws of the Walther League – pdf (4MB)
Dixie District Walther League Photos, 1920’s to 1969 – pdf (1MB)
Rally Service, May 11, 1947 – pdf (1MB)
Scrapbook – pdf (43MB)
Updated 02/01/2020
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