A Brief History of St. Mark

It is unknown when the first Lutherans arrived in Norwich, but records show that the first gathering of Lutherans for worship occurred in 1856/57 under the leadership of the Rev. William Geyer of the Moravian Lutheran Church. In 1866 the Rev. E.J.O. Hauser and his associate, the Rev. Christian Koerner met with the German Lutherans in the area and organized First Lutheran Church. Their building, on Franklin Street, was the first Lutheran church built in Connecticut. First Lutheran was served by 17 pastors during their 100 year history, ending with the Rev. Carl Storek who served from 1928 to 1957.

Salem Lutheran Church was established in 1892, by a group of Swedish Lutherans, with the Rev. G.D. Nelsius serving as initial pastor. The Salem Lutheran Church, at the corner of Golden and Hickory, was built in 1894. Over 65 years Salem congregation was served by 12 pastors, ending with the Rev. Carl Brostrum, who served from 1952 to 1957.

In the mid 1950's, several lay people, with the encouragement of their pastors, began to advocate for the merger of the two congregations and the building of a new church building. Official conversations began in 1954; property was acquired in 1955; and on January 2, 1957, the merger of First and Salem Lutheran Churches was effected, resulting in the establishment of St. Mark Lutheran Church. Pastor Carl Storek was called as the first pastor of the new congregation, and the Rev. Frederick W. Frick was called as Associate Pastor.

Plans were soon set and construction was begun on the new building at 248 Broadway. Pastor Storek retired shortly after the dedication, and Pastor Frick was called to be Senior Pastor at St. Mark. Pastor Frick served St. Mark for 37 years, until his retirement in December of 1994. In 1996, The Rev. William L. Sieburg was called to be Pastor of St. Mark. Pastor Sieburg served St. Mark for 10 years, until his retirement in February of 2006. On July 8, 2007 St. Mark called the Rev. James Rowe to his first call. Pastor Rowe is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. He served for 3 years.

To capture the essence of the story of St. Mark, you would have to know the thousands of stories that are the lives of the people who have been a part of this congregation. You would need to hear the grief of the families whose funerals took place here. You would need to hear the joy of the celebrations in Baptisms, weddings, confirmations and in the observance of the seasons. You would need to feel the depth of faith and of the Spirit's indwelling experienced by the thousands who have occupied the pews in every worship service. You cannot know all those stories anymore than we can know all the instances of children who have been taught the love of Jesus while participating in the Christian Education programs.

What we can know is the love of God expressed in the on-going life of St. Mark as we are involved in it. We experience the community of God as we are that community for one another in this place. We experience the feelings of joy, sorrow, closeness of community, and intimacy with God that have been a part of the history of this place, as we are involved in the life of Christ that is this community of Faith. Come here to encounter it. Stay here to embrace it. Be with us here for the years of God's blessings to come. Welcome.