I did a search on the website of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod using the terms “Ft. Wayne, Indiana” on their church locator. That site lists 31 different congregations in that location. I am sure that this qualifies the city of Ft. Wayne as being one which has a very large presence of Lutherans. Yesterday morning, there was a special worship service for the people attending the National Lutheran Basketball Tournament which was held in that city this weekend. My wife and I attended that service which was held at the so-called “mother church” because it was the first congregation established in Ft. Wayne. That congregation, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, was begun in 1837, two years before the German immigration that brought a lot of Lutherans to Perry County in 1839.

I decided to use today’s post to give our readers a sense of what that historic congregation looks like. Their church sanctuary is certainly a beautiful and massive structure. I am not sure when it was built, but I know it was a long time ago. I am placing a gallery of photos here for your viewing pleasure.

I also took a short video prior to the beginning of the service. I wanted you to be able to also hear the organ playing the prelude. This church sanctuary has amazing acoustics.

My wife and I were planning on getting back to Altenburg yesterday, but we were fearful of the violent weather that was forecast for East Perry County, so we will be on the road to head home today. However, this morning I received the tragic news that our neighboring historic site in Frohna, Saxon Lutheran Memorial, had a fire last night that destroyed their Visitor Center. I do not have any details about that fire at this point in time, but I will says that Brian and Jennie Williamson, the couple that lives at that site were not injured and are safe. Please keep the Saxon Lutheran Memorial and its leadership in your prayers. I swiped this photo from SLM’s Facebook page.