History of the St. Marks Lutheran Church in Batesville Indiana
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church was organized and a church was begun in the same year, 1897. On
February 9, 1897 an organizational meeting was held at the Town Hall. The first officers
were; George H Beck - President, J. H. Schafer - vice president, Frank Walsman - secretary,
Charles Meyer - financial secretary, treasurer - John Lehmkuehler, and stewards - John
Bonner, H. F. E. Schrader.
The first services were held at the old town hall on January 31, 1897 by the Reverend
Lederer. Thereafter, until the new church was built services were held in the Town Hall.
Morning services in German, English in the evenings. The pastor also organized a Sunday
School and Ladies Aid Society.
The cornerstone of the church was laid on August 15, 1897. The church was completed by
March 20, 1898 and dedicated on that day with six ministers officiating. The cost of the
building was seven thousand dollars and it had a seating capacity of 700 people. The first
pastor was the Reverend Bruno Lederer. Reverend John David Severinghausen delivered the
dedicatory address.
St. Marks Cemetery, called Fairview was laid out in January of 1898 north of Batesville.
The bell for the church was dedicated on December 10, 1899 with the Reverends Flautz,
Binder, Tompsen, and Beyer officiating.
The parsonage was constructed in 1902.
The Junior Luther League was organized in 1907.
Efforts of the minister to conduct more English services caused a split in the church in
1907 with some members forming the Bethany Lutheran Church. By 1927 most services were in
English and in the 1960’s the Bethany Lutheran Church disbanded, selling the building to
the Batesville Baptist Church.
IN 1911 the Luther League raised half the money and the remainder donated by the Carnegie
Foundation to install a new pipe organ in the church. The organ was dedicated on June 11,
1911. The organ was built at Pekin, Illinois by the Huiners Organ Company. It was installed
in the church by local workmen. It was necessary to remodel the north end of the church to
accommodate the organ behind the pulpit.
The Baptismal Font was presented by the Luther League in 1913.
In 1950 excavation under the building was accomplished to make a basement for a kitchen,
dining room, and restrooms.
New stained windows installed from 1972 to 1974. The new educational unit was dedicated
in November 20, 1966. A new pipe organ was installed in 1973.
