The History of Ebenezer Lutheran Church

in Maxwell, Texas

Over 120 Years of Fellowship and Praise

Timeline of Church History

1845 - A league of land (4300 acres) was granted to Mr. Thomas Maxwell by Anson Jones, President of the Republic of Texas, and became Maxwell, Texas.

1854 - The first Lutherans (primarily German immigrants and their descendents) settled in Maxwell.

1885 - The Texas Synod sent the first pastor, Rev. G. Kruezenstein, to provide religious services to the area. 

1886 - The Reverend C. Aepler was ordained by the First Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Texas and was instructed to organize a church in Maxwell.  Theodore Schawe and Gustav Hofman donated the land for church buildings, a school, and a cemetery.  In July of 1886, the first congregation was composed of 20 church council members and their families.  Outdoor services were held in a tabernacle in P. Korbel's pasture.

1891 - The first small wooden church was dedicated, under the leadership of Rev. J.K. Poch.

1914 - During World War I, the congregation of German-speaking Americans was forced to discontinue German summer school and to limit services in German to one per month.  Pastor Ziehe was driven from Maxwell by threatening letters from the KKK.

1923 - A new brick church in the Gothic style was begun, and dedicated on December 14, 1924.

1929 - Ebenezer's original wooden church building was destroyed by fire.

1936 - Services in both English and German celebrated the Golden Jubilee.

1951 - The Glenvoir school building was purchased, moved and renovated as an educational building.

2006 - Ebenezer Lutheran Church celebrated its 120th Anniversary.

* Source:  History of Caldwell County, submitted by Velma Fogle Shurtleff