Denial Bay Bethlehem Lutheran Church

No Foundation Stone or Memorial Plaque details are known. Information/photographs are invited.

Notice Board which is erected on the slab from the manse records: Denial Bay Lutheran Church - 1896 ~ 1996 - First Lutheran Church/School and Manse. - The first recorded service for this congregation was on July 19th 1896. Pioneer settlers met at the home of Mr W A E Lutz. Services were held there until 30th August 1897, when the first Lutheran Church/school was dedicated on this land, donated by Mr Gottlieb Handtke. - Travelling missionaries served the congregation until 1901, when Pastor C A Wiebush, of Koonibba Aboriginal Mission took over the spiritual care of the congregation. - A Manse was built on this slab for Pastor Benno Schwarz who was the first resident Pastor in 1908. He also taught in the German speaking school four days a week. The Pastors lived here until 1925, when a manse was purchased in Ceduna. - The present church, built on the same site as the original church/school, was dedicated in 1921. Improvements have been: - Backroom - 1952, Front Porch - 1956, Power - 1974, Sideroom - 1976. - Twenty seven ministers have served the congregation over this period. - Membership numbers have been 1902 - 56 People, 1963 - 41, 1973 - 44, 1996 - 38. - During its early years this church provided a stable, religious background for hard working pioneer families. Amongst today's congregation are many of their descendants. - Services are still held on a regular basis. - Psalm 100 V5 -'For the Lord is good and his love endures forever: his faithfulness continues through all generations.'

A plaque on a time capsule site beside the Notice Borad records: 14.7.1996 - 14.7.2071.