Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Antwerp, Ohio is celebrating 85 years in the community. The church was founded in 1939 under the leadership of Rev. W.H. Werling. The population of Antwerp then was 1000 and the community was an “old canal and river town” on the Maumee River.
Christmas Eve morning in 1939, the first service was held in the “chapel in the air” on the second floor of the Starr Theater in downtown Antwerp. (Where the More Than Boutique is currently located). Present that Christmas Eve: Mr. and Mrs. Merton Bell, Sr. and family, Mrs. Golda Peffley and family, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Schoenike and family, Mrs. A. Bruner and Abbie, and Minnie Smith. The congregation later met in a storefront now known as H20, also near Ray Friend’s Furniture, and the Lewis Smith home on South Main. When it rained, buckets had to be placed in strategic locations at some of these sites.
Property and a “Quonset” building were purchased on the corner of Madison and Woodcox Streets in 1951, where the current Antwerp Branch of the Pauling County Carnegie Library is located. The little chapel was prepared and dedicated as Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church.
Land was purchased in 1964 for a new church site west of Antwerp. The present building located at 3497 Co Rd 424 was dedicated on September 10, 1967.
Among the pastors that have guided the church: Rev. Otto W. Tolke, Rev. H.C. Meister, Rev. E.A.H. Jacobs, Rev. Christian Schmidt, Rev. Kenneth Mueller, Rev. Lanny Zup, first full-time pastor Rev. Harold Bode, Rev. Harvey Mozalak, Rev. John Chovan, Rev. Dale Young, Rev. Derek Evans and Rev. Tim Zechiel. Rev. Mark Peters was installed two years ago and now serves Mt. Calvary and Zion Lutheran, Bull Rapids as a joint ministry.
The congregation is celebrating with a service and Holy Communion on September 29, 2024 at 10:15 a.m. Following will be a catered lunch on the lawn.
The community is welcome to attend both with registration for the meal needed by calling 419.258.6505. Thanks to Thrivent Financial for underwriting costs for the event.
Members have been celebrating all year by performing acts of service in the church and the community; a small gesture of response to God’s grace and provision for 85 years.
