Our History

St. Paul Lutheran Church traces its origin to the work of the first Lutheran Mission pastor in Bracken County. Between the years 1875 and 1880, a minister known only through church records as Reverend Andes traveled to one-room schoolhouses in Augusta, Salem, Pleasant Valley, and Mount Zion in Bracken County, Kentucky. However, due to advancing age, Rev. Andes decided that he was no longer able to continue serving the communities in Bracken County along with his other charges in Arnheim, OH and Maysville, KY. It can be imagined that this was indeed a strain on Rev. Andes since travel at that time was either by horse and carriage or by train. Therefore he encouraged the people to secure the services of a full-time pastor.

The suggestion was taken and as a result Reverend William Roeper was called. During his six-year pastorate the congregation grew rapidly. Due to this progression a church near Locust Creek was built. The plot of land where this church once stood is located near where KY 9 and the Augusta-Berlin road intersect today. It was purchased from John J. and Margaret McCracken for $125.00. The trustees at that time were F. W. Meyer, Valentine Bush, Valentine Woegle, William Beckmen, and John Kalb. The building was dedicated in 1884 as the First German Protestant Church.

The records of that year show a large German heritage with the names of twenty-seven families who were members. They were: