Early in 1870, several poor German families from Altenburg, Missouri, moved to land owned by Emanuel Estel near Fountain Bluff. The land was eventually donated to these families from Hanover, Germany, for the purpose of building a Lutheran church, as well as other necessary buildings. While retaining membership at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg, the men worked hard to purchase farmland and begin clearing the wooded areas. After years of hard labor, Die Deutsche Evangelical Lutheran Christus Gemeinde U.A.C. zu Fountain Bluff, Jackson County, Ill. was founded. The original church was a 22′ by 32′ log cabin adjacent to the site of the present-day Christ Lutheran Cemetery. The church was also used as a school during this time.
Through the years, more German settlers came to the area, and the congregation grew. In 1878, the congregation became self-supporting and called its first pastor, the Rev. H. W. Heumann. Upon his arrival, a small parsonage measuring 20′ by 18′ was erected. Rev. Heumann accepted a call to another congregation and was peacefully released. In 1882, the Rev. Phil S. Estel accepted a call to the church and was installed on October 22, 1882. As the years passed, the congregation continued to grow, even in the midst of great poverty and sickness. Diphtheria was particularly deadly to many of the children, with Rev. Estel witnessing four of his children die within 14 days of one another.
In 1885, Mr. Johann Brunkhorst donated two more acres of land adjoining the church’s property. During Rev. Estel’s tenure, more land was purchased, and a school was built. In 1904, Rev. Estel accepted a call to serve in Nokomis, Illinois. Rev. Hartling received and accepted a call that same year. He was installed on October 14, 1904.
In 1905, a large parsonage was built in the unincorporated community of Neunert, Illinois. The present church was built next to the parsonage in 1906 and was dedicated to the glory and service of the Lord on February 3, 1907. In the years that followed, a teacherage was built, the congregation purchased its first pipe organ, and the old log cabin church was dismantled. Rev. Hartling led the congregation through the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, but his health began to deteriorate. After the congregation granted him a lengthy sick leave, Rev. Hartling submitted his resignation in September 1924 after nearly two decades of faithful service. The Rev. William Strothman accepted a call and was installed in November of that same year.
In 1936, major renovations were required. Doors and windows were repaired, the large steeple was removed, and a full basement was installed beneath the building. The exterior was covered with brick veneer. Over the years, Christ Lutheran was served by many pastors (Rev. Strothman from 1924 to 1935, Rev. Henry Luedke from 1937 to 1941, Rev. Waldemar Gnuse from 1941 to 1942, Rev. Albert Dundek from 1942 to 1944, and Rev. Herbert Mirly from 1945 to 1947). During the early 20th century, a devastating tornado ripped through the Fountain Bluff area, and multiple severe floods destroyed much of the congregation’s property. Yet, by the grace and mercy of God, the congregation moved forward in faith, salvaging and repairing what it could.
In 1948, the Rev. Waldemar Petzold accepted a call and was installed on June 20, 1948. Remodeling of the church was undertaken in 1964. Installing a center aisle, new pews, stained-glass windows, a speaker system, heating, new interior paint, organ repairs, and the replacement of the baptismal font were among the projects completed. The old font was donated to the Lutheran Historical Society.
The church continued through the years, eventually switching its Divine Services from German to English, beginning Sunday School and confirmation classes, and continuing the upkeep and remodeling of the church and its other buildings. After suffering from leukemia, Rev. Petzold fell asleep in Jesus on October 14, 1973, the day before his 71st birthday. Even during his illness, he continued to serve the people of Christ. Rev. Duane Imig was installed on March 31, 1974, and served until June 1979. Rev. Josepha Lecke was called, accepted the call, and was installed on November 4, 1979. He served until 1985 and was followed by Rev. Gary Bickner, who was installed on January 26, 1986. It was in that same year that Christ Lutheran underwent its last major remodeling. The interior was repainted, and new communion vessels were purchased. Rev. Bickner received and accepted a call to Gallup, New Mexico. The Rev. Gregory Todd was installed on May 13, 1990.
During the 1990s, following the closing of the Gorham school, Christ Lutheran School experienced a dramatic increase in enrollment, leading to an expansion of the school and the addition of a playground. Rev. Todd was granted a peaceful release, and on July 31, 1994, the Rev. Thomas Fast was installed as pastor. Following his departure in June 2000, the Rev. Michael Kettner was installed as pastor on February 4, 2001. In 2021, with great sadness, Christ Lutheran Church closed its school due to low enrollment. Pastor Kettner faithfully served Christ Lutheran until his retirement in May 2023. Upon his retirement, the congregation sought a new pastoral candidate from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. On July 16, the Rev. Gunnar G. Campbell was ordained and installed as pastor of Christ Lutheran.
Christ Lutheran Church 