Pilgrims of Zion Lutheran Church

No foundation stone details are known. Information/photographs are invited.

A dedication stone, in German records: To the Glory of God - 1 Cor 3:11 - Dedicated 17 September 1924.

An historical plaque records: In 1900 three pioneer Lutheran families worshipped in the Pfeiffer home adjacent the River Murray at Bookpurnong. A pug and pine church building with a thatched roof was erected nearby in the following year.[see photograph 3 below] - By 1901 an influx of Lutheran settlers led to the formation of a congregation under the guidance of Pastor L E Kuss of Loxton. Shortly after he was succeeded by his son Pastor M Kuss who served the newly formed Loxton parish which included Bookpurnong and Paringa - Foundation members included the Pfeiffer, Nitschke, Scharz, Quast, Hombsch, Obst and Rothe families - ...A new house of worship/school was erected in 1913 on section 27. The school closed in 1943 and was then used as a family residence until 1966 when it was demolished after a severe storm - Berri Lutherans attended services during 1914 ~ 1926 with the river level determining their travel either by horse conveyance or boat. - The church cemetery was laid out on section 58 in July 1920. - Under the pastoral care of CWJ Meier the congregation with a baptised membership of 95 including 59 communicants engaged JC Garrod of Berri to build on section 80, a new larger church which was subsequently dedicated on September 7th(?) 1924. - Donated materials helped to contain the total cost to approximately 1500 pounds and the debt was liquidated within twelve months.

A plaque on a rock in the church grounds records: Pilgrims of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Bookpurnong - Members acknowledge the land donations of pioneer farmer C G Nitschke. The land was surveyed from the Nitschke farm Perpetual Lease 11270 - Section 27 Hundred of Gordon 0.4047 ha for a church & School 5/8/1914, Section 58 Hundred of Gordon 0.2023 ha for a cemetery 12/9/1921. Section 80 Hundred of Gordon 0.3768 ha for a new church 10/3/1925. - This plaque is in honour of a legacy left to the Church by Mrs Mona Zeppel, grandaughter of C G Nitschke - Praise God for blessings received from the generosity of the Nitschke family - Erected on the grounds 1/1/2018.

A plaque in the church grounds records: The site of the Bookpurnong Lutheran Church 1913 ~ 1924. The building was used as a public school 1913 ~1943.