A History: St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church Watertown, WI

Abstract

Don Wichmann’s A History: St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Watertown, Wisconsin (1980) traces the congregation’s development from its founding in 1854 to the late 20th century. Initially organized under Rev. Christian Sans, a unionist with limited Lutheran training, the congregation adopted a Lutheran Confessional foundation after calling Johannes Bading in 1860. Bading’s leadership aligned St. Mark’s with the Wisconsin Synod and influenced the establishment of Northwestern College and Seminary in Watertown. Subsequent pastors, including Adolph Hoenecke and Reinholdt Adelberg, strengthened ties with the Missouri Synod and advanced Lutheran education. The congregation weathered doctrinal controversies, notably the Election by Grace debate, and expanded its facilities, erecting a Gothic-style church in 1888 and later modernizing its school and sanctuary. Language transitioned from German to English by 1921, and membership grew to over 2,000 by its centennial in 1954. St. Mark’s history reflects a commitment to confessional Lutheranism, education, and mission work, producing numerous pastors and teachers for the Synod. Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT‑4).