Hanover Lutheran Church
Encyclopedia
Hanover Lutheran Church is a Lutheran congregation located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
which is a member of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
. The congregation's original organization came about in 1846 as a result of the heavy German immigration
to Missouri
in the 19th century. The church's name, "Hanover," was chosen to reflect the place of origin of the majority of its members, since many of the Germans
who had settled northwest of the town of Cape Girardeau had immigrated from Hanover, Germany
.
Hanover's original log-cabin
church building served the congregation from 1846 until 1887, when the second church building was constructed on land donated by church member Henry Krueger. This second church building was in active use from the time of its construction in 1887 until the current building was constructed in 1969. The building is still standing today in its original location, alongside the schoolhouse building
which was constructed in 1923. On September 14, 1987, both buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places
as Historic Hanover Lutheran Church and School.
The 579-member congregation, currently pastored by Rev. Anthony Kobak, is often considered to be the Mother Church of numerous Lutheran congregations in Cape Girardeau County
, which include Eisleben Lutheran Church in Scott City, Missouri
; Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Trinity Lutheran Church in Egypt Mills, Missouri; and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, Missouri
. The church is currently located on the northern limits of the city on gently sloping ground on Perryville Road.
and Mississippi
Rivers. While St. Louis
evolved as the state's principal German city, smaller river towns and counties such as Hermann
and Washington
on the Missouri River, and Cape Girardeau, located about 100 miles south of St. Louis on the Mississippi, also became well-known for their distinct German character.
Before 1846, there were several Lutheran families who had migrated from a 50-mile radius which included the German cities of Hanover
and Braunschweig
to a new settlement in America
, north of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. These families gathered together for worship in the homes of individuals until the arrival of Daniel Bertling, a carpenter
who allowed worship services to be held in the carpentry shop located on his farm.
, Hannover, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri." This title which the church chose acknowledged and reflected both their European place of origin of many of its members as well as the dispersed rural community northwest of the town of Cape Girardeau where the seeds of a "New Hannover" were being sown. Land for the very first log-cabin church building was given to the congregation by the carpenter Daniel Bertling, located near the present intersection between Melrose and Delwin streets. The land was cleared of trees by congregation members and the logs were prepared for the building. Fortunately for the congregation, many of the German settlers were very skilled and had the tools needed to construct a church building from logs, due to the fact that logs were used often in Germany for home and barn building.
The finished church building measured 25 x 40 feet in size. Inside the building were a pump organ
in the front left corner, an altar
in the center, a high pulpit
to the right of the altar, a box stove with a pipe, and two rows of benches without backs. Whitewashed logs could be seen and the floor was made of split logs with the faces smoothed. A row of pegs on the rear wall served as hangers for hats and coats. The men sat on the right side of the church, and the women sat on the left. This building was also used as the first location of Hanover's day school, begun shortly after the construction of the church building. Classes were held during the day in the church building, and taught originally by Christian August Lehmann, the first pastor of the congregation.
In 1848, a modest parsonage
was constructed about 30 feet from the northwest corner of the church. This building measured 20 x 25 feet in size and was also constructed with logs. In 1850, the first burial was recorded in the cemetery
, located adjacent to the church building on the west side. By the mid-1870s, plans were under discussion for relocating the church in order to better serve the growing congregation, many of whom lived several miles north of the log building. In 1875, the congregation approved a site two miles north along Perryville Road, a narrow dirt lane leading to Cape Girardeau. The land was purchased from the Christian Niemeier family. The next year, a modest 4-room parsonage and a frame school were completed.
construction.
The solidly built walls, three bricks thick, display attention to construction and detail, which German church-expert Osmund Overby referred to as "a measure of the culture of the German settlers in Missouri," expressing a "German sense of craftsmanship and permanence," suggesting the immigrants were "consciously creating a legacy for their descendents." The plain, simple design of the church is typical of rural immigrant churches which are almost devoid of architectural style except for round- or pointed-arch windows associated with Romanesque
and Gothic
sources. Pierced with round-arched openings, Hanover's second church building is given further definition by off-set buttress
es capped with sandstone from a local quarry
. Following German custom, a stone inscribed with the church's name and date of construction is located over the front doorway. The slender bell tower
, of frame construction, is sheathed with galvanized tin
. The interior is very simply articulated with a vaulted ceiling covered with ornamental pressed tin. Double stairs lead to a balcony at the west end of the building.
In 1923, a new one-room school building was completed adjacent to the church. It offered elementary education
through eighth grade, entitling graduates admission to any public high school
in Missouri. During the years of operation (1924–1955), enrollment reached a high of 42 students. The 22' x 50' building was built by Will Savers, a local contractor
, after members of the congregation dug the basement with picks, shovels, and horse-powered slip scrapers. The red brick school with 12-inch-thick walls exhibits the same high quality of workmanship found in the church. The school's rectangular plan and symmetrical front with a single, centered door facing the road on the short side of the building are basic vernacular design elements found nationwide. The round-arched doorway with date stone above echoes the church building's entrance. Segmentally-arched windows on the side elevations conserve a 19th-century form favored by German builders long after straight lintel-headed openings were commonplace in non-German structures. The low-hipped roof with dormer
and overhanging eave
, however, indicate stylistic influence of the bungalow
, as seen nationally in 1920s rural school architecture. An addition of 20 feet to the east end of the school in 1935 provided stage space for the Hanover Dramatic Club. The imperceptible joining of the addition to the school is testimony to the skilled hands of local masons as is the well-proportioned arch which houses a cistern
on the south side of the building.
Over the years, Hanover Lutheran gained additional stature as the Mother Church of numerous county congregations which were organized and served by Hanover pastors. They include Eisleben Lutheran (1851), Scott City, Missouri; Trinity Lutheran (1854), Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Egypt Mills Lutheran (1867), Cape Girardeau, Missouri; and St. Paul Lutheran (1893), Jackson, Missouri. All of the historic church buildings constructed by these congregations have been demolished, leaving Hanover Lutheran the sole property associated with the German Lutheran heritage in the city of Cape Girardeau and one of the few remaining in the county. With great respect and appreciation of the significance of the brick church and school, the congregation decided to preserve the buildings after completion in 1969 of a spacious new church across the road.
an community. A planning committee was appointed, and most of the initial planning was done over a two-year period while the congregation was without a resident pastor and was being served by Pastor Robert Olson of Gordonville, Missouri
. In the summer of 1968, the plan for a modern-type church building was presented to the congregation, and it met with unanimous approval. In order to execute the plans for the new church building, the existing parsonage needed to be torn down and the croquet
court needed to be removed. On October 14, 1968, a motion to approve the cost of $162,290 was approved at Hanover's regular congregational meeting.
The new church building was completed in 1969, and was dedicated on November 30 of that year. Between 1700 and 1800 people attended the dedication services that day. Special speakers included Rev. E. H. Koerber, at that time the assistant pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau; Rev. Walter H. Schwaub, at that time the assistant pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Concordia, Missouri
; and Rev. Herman C. Scherer, at that time the president of the Missouri District
of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. These events all took place under the pastorate of Rev. Ellis Rottman.
Since then, other buildings projects have been completed, which have added to the worship life of the congregation and have helped to accommodate the congregation's growth over the years. In 1991, an addition to the church building was constructed, which provided space for a meeting room, offices, and classrooms. Later, Hanover's Men's Club constructed a building in which they continue to prepare for their semi-annual Sausage Supper. The church's Dartball team
also uses the Men's Club building for its competitions. A pavilion
was erected just beyond that building which includes picnic tables and a scenic place to have outdoor events. Finally, in 2008, Hanover completed construction on its newest building, the Activity Center, which houses a full-size gym
nasium, a state-of-the-art kitchen facility, as well as extra classrooms for Hanover's youth ministry.
of Hanover Lutheran Church since July 5, 2009, is Anthony Kobak, who earned a Master of Divinity
degree from Concordia Seminary
in St. Louis, Missouri
. Prior to his call as the 25th pastor of Hanover Lutheran Church, Rev. Kobak served as the church's 10th vicar from 2007-2008.
Hanover Lutheran Church's staff of six includes a secretary
, a housekeeper
, music director, and youth director. The congregation is a member of the Cape Girardeau circuit (Circuit 003) of the Missouri District. In addition to Sunday morning worship services, the 579 member congregation offers Sunday school
classes, various adult Bible study classes, and youth activities. The music program includes an adult choir
, as well as handbell
ringers.
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and north of Memphis. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 37,941. A college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri...
which is a member of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...
. The congregation's original organization came about in 1846 as a result of the heavy German immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in the 19th century. The church's name, "Hanover," was chosen to reflect the place of origin of the majority of its members, since many of the Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
who had settled northwest of the town of Cape Girardeau had immigrated from Hanover, Germany
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
.
Hanover's original log-cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
church building served the congregation from 1846 until 1887, when the second church building was constructed on land donated by church member Henry Krueger. This second church building was in active use from the time of its construction in 1887 until the current building was constructed in 1969. The building is still standing today in its original location, alongside the schoolhouse building
One-room school
One-room schools were commonplace throughout rural portions of various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In most rural and small town schools, all of the students met in a single room...
which was constructed in 1923. On September 14, 1987, both buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as Historic Hanover Lutheran Church and School.
The 579-member congregation, currently pastored by Rev. Anthony Kobak, is often considered to be the Mother Church of numerous Lutheran congregations in Cape Girardeau County
Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
Cape Girardeau County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 75,764. While the largest city in the county is Cape Girardeau, the county seat is actually Jackson, which was the first city named in honor of President...
, which include Eisleben Lutheran Church in Scott City, Missouri
Scott City, Missouri
Scott City is a city in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 4,591 at the 2000 census.The Scott County portion of Scott City is part of the Sikeston Micropolitan Statistical Area, while the Cape Girardeau County portion is part of the Cape...
; Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Trinity Lutheran Church in Egypt Mills, Missouri; and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, Missouri
Jackson, Missouri
Jackson is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,758 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cape Girardeau County. Jackson is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson. It is a principal city of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan...
. The church is currently located on the northern limits of the city on gently sloping ground on Perryville Road.
German Immigration to Missouri
The heavy German immigration to Missouri in the 19th century produced a network of German settlements concentrated in counties along the MissouriMissouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
and Mississippi
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
Rivers. While St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
evolved as the state's principal German city, smaller river towns and counties such as Hermann
Hermann, Missouri
Hermann is a city designated in 1842 as the county seat of Gasconade County, Missouri, United States. It is near the center of the Missouri Rhineland and south of the Missouri River. The population was 2,674 at the 2000 census....
and Washington
Washington, Missouri
Washington is a city on the Missouri River in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,243 at the 2000 census. It is the corn cob pipe capital of the world, with Missouri Meerschaum located in Washington.-Geography:...
on the Missouri River, and Cape Girardeau, located about 100 miles south of St. Louis on the Mississippi, also became well-known for their distinct German character.
Before 1846, there were several Lutheran families who had migrated from a 50-mile radius which included the German cities of Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
and Braunschweig
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
to a new settlement in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, north of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. These families gathered together for worship in the homes of individuals until the arrival of Daniel Bertling, a carpenter
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
who allowed worship services to be held in the carpentry shop located on his farm.
The Early Years; 1846-1887
In 1846, the first Lutheran congregation was formally organized and officially named the "Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg ConfessionAugsburg Confession
The Augsburg Confession, also known as the "Augustana" from its Latin name, Confessio Augustana, is the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran Church and one of the most important documents of the Lutheran reformation...
, Hannover, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri." This title which the church chose acknowledged and reflected both their European place of origin of many of its members as well as the dispersed rural community northwest of the town of Cape Girardeau where the seeds of a "New Hannover" were being sown. Land for the very first log-cabin church building was given to the congregation by the carpenter Daniel Bertling, located near the present intersection between Melrose and Delwin streets. The land was cleared of trees by congregation members and the logs were prepared for the building. Fortunately for the congregation, many of the German settlers were very skilled and had the tools needed to construct a church building from logs, due to the fact that logs were used often in Germany for home and barn building.
The finished church building measured 25 x 40 feet in size. Inside the building were a pump organ
Reed organ
A reed organ, also called a parlor organ, pump organ, cabinet organ, cottage organ, is an organ that generates its sounds using free metal reeds...
in the front left corner, an altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
in the center, a high pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
to the right of the altar, a box stove with a pipe, and two rows of benches without backs. Whitewashed logs could be seen and the floor was made of split logs with the faces smoothed. A row of pegs on the rear wall served as hangers for hats and coats. The men sat on the right side of the church, and the women sat on the left. This building was also used as the first location of Hanover's day school, begun shortly after the construction of the church building. Classes were held during the day in the church building, and taught originally by Christian August Lehmann, the first pastor of the congregation.
In 1848, a modest parsonage
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
was constructed about 30 feet from the northwest corner of the church. This building measured 20 x 25 feet in size and was also constructed with logs. In 1850, the first burial was recorded in the cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
, located adjacent to the church building on the west side. By the mid-1870s, plans were under discussion for relocating the church in order to better serve the growing congregation, many of whom lived several miles north of the log building. In 1875, the congregation approved a site two miles north along Perryville Road, a narrow dirt lane leading to Cape Girardeau. The land was purchased from the Christian Niemeier family. The next year, a modest 4-room parsonage and a frame school were completed.
The Second Church; 1887-1969
In 1887, land for a new church directly across the road from the new parsonage and frame school was donated by congregation member Henry Krueger, a native of Braunschweig, Germany. Typical of rural Missouri German churches, which rarely were built in a valley bottom, the new church was picturesquely sited in a wooded area at the crest of gently sloping ground. The materials, styling, and meticulous craftsmanship of the church also were characteristic of rural German traditions in the state. The church was built during the pastorate of Otto R. Hueschen, and was completed in 1887 by William Regenhardt, a local builder. It was constructed of red brick, the preferred German building material. Studies of Missouri church buildings revealed that 84 percent of churches in German areas were of masonryMasonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
construction.
The solidly built walls, three bricks thick, display attention to construction and detail, which German church-expert Osmund Overby referred to as "a measure of the culture of the German settlers in Missouri," expressing a "German sense of craftsmanship and permanence," suggesting the immigrants were "consciously creating a legacy for their descendents." The plain, simple design of the church is typical of rural immigrant churches which are almost devoid of architectural style except for round- or pointed-arch windows associated with Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
and Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
sources. Pierced with round-arched openings, Hanover's second church building is given further definition by off-set buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es capped with sandstone from a local quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
. Following German custom, a stone inscribed with the church's name and date of construction is located over the front doorway. The slender bell tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
, of frame construction, is sheathed with galvanized tin
Galvanization
Galvanization is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, in order to prevent rusting. The term is derived from the name of Italian scientist Luigi Galvani....
. The interior is very simply articulated with a vaulted ceiling covered with ornamental pressed tin. Double stairs lead to a balcony at the west end of the building.
In 1923, a new one-room school building was completed adjacent to the church. It offered elementary education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
through eighth grade, entitling graduates admission to any public high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Missouri. During the years of operation (1924–1955), enrollment reached a high of 42 students. The 22' x 50' building was built by Will Savers, a local contractor
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
, after members of the congregation dug the basement with picks, shovels, and horse-powered slip scrapers. The red brick school with 12-inch-thick walls exhibits the same high quality of workmanship found in the church. The school's rectangular plan and symmetrical front with a single, centered door facing the road on the short side of the building are basic vernacular design elements found nationwide. The round-arched doorway with date stone above echoes the church building's entrance. Segmentally-arched windows on the side elevations conserve a 19th-century form favored by German builders long after straight lintel-headed openings were commonplace in non-German structures. The low-hipped roof with dormer
Dormer
A dormer is a structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof surface. Dormers are used, either in original construction or as later additions, to create usable space in the roof of a building by adding headroom and usually also by enabling addition of windows.Often...
and overhanging eave
Eaves
The eaves of a roof are its lower edges. They usually project beyond the walls of the building to carry rain water away.-Etymology:"Eaves" is derived from Old English and is both the singular and plural form of the word.- Function :...
, however, indicate stylistic influence of the bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
, as seen nationally in 1920s rural school architecture. An addition of 20 feet to the east end of the school in 1935 provided stage space for the Hanover Dramatic Club. The imperceptible joining of the addition to the school is testimony to the skilled hands of local masons as is the well-proportioned arch which houses a cistern
Cistern
A cistern is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings...
on the south side of the building.
Over the years, Hanover Lutheran gained additional stature as the Mother Church of numerous county congregations which were organized and served by Hanover pastors. They include Eisleben Lutheran (1851), Scott City, Missouri; Trinity Lutheran (1854), Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Egypt Mills Lutheran (1867), Cape Girardeau, Missouri; and St. Paul Lutheran (1893), Jackson, Missouri. All of the historic church buildings constructed by these congregations have been demolished, leaving Hanover Lutheran the sole property associated with the German Lutheran heritage in the city of Cape Girardeau and one of the few remaining in the county. With great respect and appreciation of the significance of the brick church and school, the congregation decided to preserve the buildings after completion in 1969 of a spacious new church across the road.
The Third Church; 1969-present
Again it was becoming apparent that Hanover Lutheran Church was approaching the end of another era. The second church, built in 1887, and which had served so well in its time, was no longer able to meet the needs of the congregation. Cape Girardeau was rapidly expanding northwestward and Hanover was in transition from a rural to a suburbSuburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an community. A planning committee was appointed, and most of the initial planning was done over a two-year period while the congregation was without a resident pastor and was being served by Pastor Robert Olson of Gordonville, Missouri
Gordonville, Missouri
Gordonville is a village in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 425 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. In the summer of 1968, the plan for a modern-type church building was presented to the congregation, and it met with unanimous approval. In order to execute the plans for the new church building, the existing parsonage needed to be torn down and the croquet
Croquet
Croquet is a lawn game, played both as a recreational pastime and as a competitive sport. It involves hitting plastic or wooden balls with a mallet through hoops embedded into the grass playing court.-History:...
court needed to be removed. On October 14, 1968, a motion to approve the cost of $162,290 was approved at Hanover's regular congregational meeting.
The new church building was completed in 1969, and was dedicated on November 30 of that year. Between 1700 and 1800 people attended the dedication services that day. Special speakers included Rev. E. H. Koerber, at that time the assistant pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau; Rev. Walter H. Schwaub, at that time the assistant pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Concordia, Missouri
Concordia, Missouri
Concordia is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,360 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Concordia is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,360...
; and Rev. Herman C. Scherer, at that time the president of the Missouri District
Missouri District (LCMS)
The Missouri District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , and comprises the state of Missouri. Six Missouri congregations are in the non-geographic English District, and one congregation in St. Louis is in the SELC District...
of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. These events all took place under the pastorate of Rev. Ellis Rottman.
Since then, other buildings projects have been completed, which have added to the worship life of the congregation and have helped to accommodate the congregation's growth over the years. In 1991, an addition to the church building was constructed, which provided space for a meeting room, offices, and classrooms. Later, Hanover's Men's Club constructed a building in which they continue to prepare for their semi-annual Sausage Supper. The church's Dartball team
Dartball
Dartball is a game in which darts are thrown at a large wooden or homasote board that resembles a baseball field with colored areas which denote bases. Dartball uses baseball-like rules and scoring....
also uses the Men's Club building for its competitions. A pavilion
Pavilion
In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
was erected just beyond that building which includes picnic tables and a scenic place to have outdoor events. Finally, in 2008, Hanover completed construction on its newest building, the Activity Center, which houses a full-size gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium, a state-of-the-art kitchen facility, as well as extra classrooms for Hanover's youth ministry.
Ministry
The present pastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Hanover Lutheran Church since July 5, 2009, is Anthony Kobak, who earned a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree from Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary is located in Clayton, Missouri, an inner-ring suburb on the western border of St. Louis, Missouri. The institution's primary mission is to train pastors, deaconesses, missionaries, chaplains, and church leaders for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod . The current president of...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. Prior to his call as the 25th pastor of Hanover Lutheran Church, Rev. Kobak served as the church's 10th vicar from 2007-2008.
Hanover Lutheran Church's staff of six includes a secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
, a housekeeper
Janitor
A janitor or custodian is a professional who takes care of buildings, such as hospitals and schools. Janitors are responsible primarily for cleaning, and often some maintenance and security...
, music director, and youth director. The congregation is a member of the Cape Girardeau circuit (Circuit 003) of the Missouri District. In addition to Sunday morning worship services, the 579 member congregation offers Sunday school
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
classes, various adult Bible study classes, and youth activities. The music program includes an adult choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, as well as handbell
Handbell
A handbell is a bell designed to be rung by hand. To ring a handbell, a ringer grasps the bell by its slightly flexible handle — traditionally made of leather, but often now made of plastic — and moves the wrist to make the hinged clapper inside the bell strike...
ringers.