The Chronicle of Zion Lutheran Church

Bridgeport, Connecticut

The original Church Register included sections for, Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, Deaths and for a Chronicle of the Church. The Pastors of the church would write about the events that occurred during their times there. The chronicle was written in German. The following is a translation made in the early 1970s by Mrs. Margaret Connock.

Zion Lutheran Church Register page 385 – Start of the Chronicle

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This is a short essay about the beginnings of the Lutheran Mission in Bridgeport, Conn.

Twice the beginning was made to establish and erect a Lutheran Church in Bridgeport but it was always in vain and left undone.

Twenty years after, Pastor H. Steup of New York did bring it to pass on February 28, 1892 – the first Lutheran Church service was held. A certain Mr. Carl Kühn who took this, matter in hand states; Several Families wanted to establish a Lutheran Mission, and with the help of God, I wrote to Pastor H. Steup and got his help and advice. His church was St. John’s N.Y. – He advised me to keep in touch with these families who so wanted Lutheran Church services. On Feb 21 – Pastor H. Steup informed me he would come and hold  Church service at 7:30 but I wrote him to come the following week instead, as I could find a better place for him to stay while he was in Bridgeport. If possible we wished the Church services to begin in the morning on the 24th, Pastor (unreadable) of Danbury wrote me that he heard about our desire at a Pastoral meeting but that he could not leave his own Church in the morning but he would get someone to come to Bridgeport and take over. And so Prof. Feth came to Bridgeport and on Feb 28th, in the morning preached to about 30 to 40 persons who came to worship. After the service, Prof. Feth called a special meeting together. He was asked “If there would be a Church service again” Prof Feth said “Yes, even if I am to be the preacher” – “Next Sunday?” he was asked, “Shall we hold a conference?” – He said “No, What’s to be done one person can do as well as six” – On the 6th of March Pastor Steup preached, After service he was asked if he could come every Sunday, He said “yes!” – The 13th of March – Pastor George König was the preacher, after the service, we held a meeting in which there was decided to get one Bible, one choral book and three dozen(thirty-six) hymn books – Every Sunday there was now Church service. The Pastors came from New York City and from other towns and places close by. In fact they took over – as yet we had no Church just a mission.