ST. PAULUS HISTORY

Saint Paulus Church has a history of being a fore runner in its mission and work on the West Coast. On May 15, 1867 a group of German-speaking Lutherans under the leadership of Rev. Jacob M. Buehler formed the congregation, having split from the earlier St. Mark's Lutheran congregation. St. Paulus was originally associated with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and formed the first Sunday School of that Church body in 1868. A building was purchased on Mission Street between 5th and 6th Streets in 1869 and by 1872 the St. Paulus German-American School was formed, the first Lutheran Parochial school on the West Coast. By 1890 the congregation had outgrown its facilities and purchased property at Gough and Eddy Streets on the edge of the new expanding Western Addition. Ground was broken on September 7, 1892 and the current Church building was dedicated on February 11, 1894. By the turn of the century the membership had increased to 1,500, as Rev. G. A. Bernthal became pastor in 1901. Within the first 50 years, St. Paulus sent many missionaries throughout California and the Northwest, establishing many of Lutheran Churches on the West Coast.

St. Paulus has an ongoing history of human services. On April 18, 1906 as much of the city was going up in flames following the earthquake, St. Paulus was spared from earthquake damage and the fire, and became an emergency shelter, and hospital for over 3,000 people for the next two months. St. Paulus continues to offer shelter for homeless men and women, as well as weekly banquets for HIV affected people. St. Paulus closed its parochial school in 1990 as it began to re-direct its ministry to the city at large. St. Paulus continues its history of being a fore runner in new ways of thinking about spiritual communities witnessing within a multi-cultural city at the brink of a new century.

   TIME-LINE
   1867      St. Paulus Lutheran Church founded
   1872      St. Paulus parochial school founded
   1890      Property purchased at Gough and Eddy
   1892      Ground breaking and Cornerstone laid
   1894      Church building dedicated
   1900s     Missionary growth of congregation
   1901      Rev. Bernthal replaces Rev. Buehler
   1906      Building used as emergency Shelter/Hospital
   1920      Worship services offered in English
   1940      Fire destroys part of tower and roof
   1950s     Extensive growth of School through 8th grade
   1971      Current tracker-action Pipe Organ installed
   1990      Parochial school closed, new ministries begun
   1991      Friendship Banquets begun
   1992      Space provided for Winter Homeless Shelter for men
   1993      Space provided for Women's Homeless Shelter
   1994      Participation in San Francisco Organizing Project