The early beginnings (Taken from records in the Synod's archive)
The Hespeler-Schantz-Breslau Parish
1. St. James‘ congregation in Hespeler – The first Lutheran service in Hespeler was held by Pastor Hoelscher of Preston in 1854, however, the congregation was not officially established until 1860 by Pastor J. Wurster. On July 15th., 1867 the congregation decided to build a church out of hewn stone and dedicated it on November 1st., 1868. The church bells were purchased in 1876. From 1881 to 1886 C. Schroeder was pastor during whose ministry the church tower was completed. Up to that time the congregation had been served from Preston. The congregation now sought to sever these ties (to Preston) and sent a call to Pastor E. Littwien in December 1886 to be their first very own minister. He was followed by Pastor E. Meinhold in 1888. In 1892 the parsonage (rectory) was built. On March 28th., 1895 Pastor A. Eggers took charge. Since then the congregation has steadily continued to grow. In August 1910 St. James‘ congregation celebrated its golden anniversary in a completely renovated church.
2. The Lutheran congregation in Schantz was founded on March 25th., 1860 by Pastor Wurster.The church was built in 1862. Pastor Kaessmann took his call in 1869, soon followed by Pastor Sagehorn, both from Berlin (Kitchener ?). Due to arising dissension the latter laid down his office in 1872 and left the Synod, whereupon Pastor Wurster was called again. After Pastor Wurster’s resignation in 1885 the congregation broke away from the Synod and sent a call to the Missouri Pastor, R. Andres, in Berlin (Kitchener). Under his successor, Pastor Buehler, conflict arose which once more led to joining the Canada Synod as well as to extending a call to Pastor E. Meinhold from Hespeler in 1891.A small group started a splitter congregation , however, Pastor Eggers, who was called in 1895 managed to win all the former members back to his fold. The congregation celebrated their 50th. anniversary on Juli 10th.,1910 in their totally redecorated church.
3. The Peace Lutheran congregation in Breslau - At first the Lutherans in and around Breslau attended the church in Schantz. On May 12th.,1885 they founded Peace Lutheran Church, Pastor Arendt from the Augsburg Synod having accepted the call. The cornerstone for a new church was laid on June 14th.with the dedication following on September 20th.,that same year. Pastor Arendt resigned in 1886. After that the congregation was ministered to by neighbouring clergy until joining our Synod in 1887 and called Pastor Badke from Bridgeport. Rev. Goos was pastor from 1889 to 1892. From 1892 to 1895 the congregation was tended to from Berlin (Kitchener). Pastor Eggers was called in 1895. Since then the congregation has done well and celebrated its silver anniversary in the restored church.
The Sullivan-Williamsford Parish
1. St. Peter’s in Sullivan - The church’s founding dates back to the year 1862. German Lutherans from West Prussia and Mecklenburg had settled in Sullivan Township . Their first minister was Pastor Behrens from Normandy who drew them together into one fold. Pastor Mackensen followed for five years. At first the services were held in members‘ homes until a modest log church was built in 1865. Pastor Schambach during whose ministry the parsonage was built in 1878 was the first minister to reside in Sullivan. A larger stone church was built next to the rectory in 1881. Sheds were also constructed to shelter the waggons. Under Pastor Muenzinger the congregation bought land for a cemetary and under Pastor Arendt two bells.The interior of the church was painted under Pastor Klaehn. During Pastor Arendt’s ministry a double manual organ , a statue of Christ and a new baptismal font were purchased in 1906. The congregation is enjoying a slow but steady growth. In chronological order the following pastors ministered to this congregation: Behrens, Mackensen, Ehinger until 1873, Schambach until 1875, Baumbach until 1877, Graepp until 1882, Muenzinger until 1891, Arendt until 1893, Rembe until 1900, Klaehn until 1905 and Arendt from 1905 to the present (1910?).
2. St. James‘ in Holland Township (Williamsford) -Twenty members of the St. Peter’s congregation who lived close to Williamsford and found the distance to St. Peter’s had become too much for them joined together in 1885 under Pastor Muenzinger to buy land for a church and burial ground and built a little church in Williamsford which was dedicated on October 14th., 1885. Services were at first held every four weeks, later every fortnight and eventually every Sunday, the pastor coming from St. Peter’s in Sullivan. During Pastor Arendt’s ministry the church was enlarged in 1907.