Our most recent bit of history: On October 7, 2007 Reverend Patricia J. Payne was installed as Pastor of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church. She is the third full time pastor called to serve St. Andrew’s in our first half century of ministry. She brings demonstrated skills of leadership and consensus building in both the religious and secular arenas.

   Seeds for a United Lutheran Church in America (ULCA) congregation in Dover, Delaware were sown in 1956 and 1957. The Board of American Missions of the ULCA received proposals for initiating a congregation in Dover. These cam, independent of each other from the Rev. John M. Scherch, Mission Developer in Milford, Delaware, Paul and Edith Goeppel of Dover, and the Rev. Ross Forcey, Pastor of Resurrection Lutheran Church, Kensington, Maryland. Bernard and Ana Forcey, parents of Ross, wrote their own request. Consequently, a survey was made in 1957 to determine the feasibility of establishing a mission field in Dover.

   In addition to financing the property the BAM paid the salary and provided the funds necessary to pursue the goal of establishing a ULCA congregation in Dover. Pastor Best canvassed the City and surrounding area, house by house, street by street, seeking prospective members for the Mission. “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, (nor cold), nor gloom of night” kept him from his quest. In March 1958 Mission Developer Raymond Best met frequently with the Steering Committee he had assembled. Members were: Robert Baylor, Paul Goeppel, Garland Meyer, Howard Row and Glenn Vidt. This committee dealt with organizational matters such as finding a place for worship services, finances, transportation, choir, Sunday School, nursery, arranging and rearranging the temporary quarters before and after Sunday Services.

   On the 9th an agreement was made for the rental of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Building (VFW) on Saulsbury Road at $15.00 per Sunday. Prospective members were invited, by mail and newspaper article to come to a “Get acquainted meeting” there in the afternoon of March 16th. Pastor Best explained the Mission, outlined plans for it, presented the members of the Steering Committee, and introduced the FIRST SETTING for The Service. The LITURGICAL MUSIC booklet, a predecessor of the SERVICE BOOK AND HYMNAL was used.

   Edith Goeppel played the decrepit old piano with expertise, energy and enthusiasm. She’d had experience in movie theatres, playing for silent films in the 1920’s and was full of zeal for this Mission she’d had a part in creating. Accordingly the 26 participants made the VFW Building ring while singing, with reverence and joy, familiar hymns from mimeographed sheets Pastor Best had made in his home.

   The first Sunday morning Worship Service was held on March 23rd at eleven o’clock. It was attended by 76 adults and young people; 16 babies and children were in the nursery. 

   Following The Service all remained in place while Ross Young photographed Pastor Best at the worship center, from behind the congregation. The folding chairs were arranged as closely as possible; Pastor Best, other men and children stood behind the people seated while a second picture was snapped. Ross was a prospective member who volunteered his services as a professional photographer.

   A name for the congregation was selected by paper ballot following The Service on Palm Sunday, March 30th. Names proposed were Immanuel (God with Us) and St. Andrew’s. The latter was chosen (2 to 1). Andrew was the first of Jesus’ disciples to be called and he became the first home missionary when he brought his brother to Christ. 

   Continuing his house-to-house canvassing, Pastor Best made 739 calls in March 1958.

   On Easter Sunday, April 6, 1958, Erma Baylor was soloist at St. Andrew’s with Edith Goeppel accompanying for “Opening The Gates.” Erma, a music major in college, was a teacher in a Dover Public elementary school. As Choir Director she opened her home for practice. Choir members dressed in their “Sunday best” for The Service, as did the congregation.

   Fifty people attended the first Sunday School on the 20th of April at 9:45 a.m. Howard Row, Chairman of the Committee for Christian Education and Sunday School organization, had met with prospective teachers to prepare for this the foremost educational arm of the Church. His profession was education administration. The quarterly material published by the United Lutheran Church was reviewed and children, whose names and ages were on the list made by Pastor Best while canvassing, were assigned to Nursery, Kindergarten, Primary, Junior and Intermediate classes. There was an adult class taught by Howard Row. Other teachers were: Erma Baylor, Margaret Dowdy, Margaret Evans, Edith Goeppel, Ardis Meyer, Greta Podzus, Ruth Schwartz and Betty Lou Ward. Pastor Best met with 15 prospective members at the same hour.

   On April 27th an altar cross and lectern made by Claude Yergey and Earl Prince were used for the first time in The Service. (The lectern is still convenient for various functions at St. Andrew’s!) The sermon was delivered by the Rev. Robert E. Neumeyer, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Wilmington, Delaware, President of the Synodical Board of Home Missions which was supervising the Mission named St. Andrew’s.

   Ours was one of the first congregations to use the newly published SERVICE BOOK AND HYMNAL (the red book); 50 copies having been received as a gift from the Board of Home Missions. These were used for the first time on April 27th.

   The older boys folded bulletins, mimeographed by Pastor Best. Ruth Schwartz volunteered secretarial service. The Church Hour Nursery was supervised by Louise Yergey, aided by other mothers of young children, The Steering Committee continued meeting with Pastor Best, planning for Charter Day and organizing visits to prospective members in advance of it.

   Pastor Best continued canvassing, finding interest in the Camden-Wyoming area but little in Smyrna.

   May 18, 1958 was CHARTER DAY at St. Andrew’s. Attendance at The Service was 78 and at Sunday School 53. The membership roll was opened for the first time and signed by 41 adults. This Charter roll was kept open for additional signatures. These whose names were on it were to be received as members on Organization Sunday.

   One CHARTER DAY the Rev. Orval C. Hartman, S.T.M., Director of Home Mission for the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium (synod) of Pennsylvania and Adjacent States of the United Lutheran Church in America preached the sermon.

   According to regulations, a mission congregation was not permitted to receive communion before formal organization. However, St. Andrew’s was granted that privilege for the following reasons: geographical isolation from ULCA congregations, the extensive length of time between the FIRST SERVICE and ORGANIZATION which was planned for the Fall, and numerous requests from members of the sprouting congregation. Communion was served for the first time at ST. Andrew’s on Pentecost Sunday, May 25, 1958. Communion ware was donated by St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Philadelphia, PA and by Hope Lutheran Church, New Castle, DE. (The latter was a mission formally organized in 1958).

   On June 8, 1958 the first baptisms were solemnized at St. Andrew’s. Diane Marie, Scott William and Denise Lynn, children of Melvin and Carol Huggins were baptized by Pastor Best.

   Weekly choir practice continued through June in the Baylor’s living room. The following were members of the first choir: sopranos-Erma Baylor, Margaret Ann Dowdy, Ana Forcey, Carol Huggins, Vicky Johnson and Shy Mackes; altos-Greta Podzus, Ardis Meyer and Marion Wagner; tenors-Bernard Forcey and Glen Vidt; basses-Bob Baylor and Paul Merkel.

   A brochure describing the Mission was mailed to each prospective member and widely distributed in the community. The date for formal organization was set by the Steering Committee and announced as Reformation Sunday, October 26, 1958.

   Additional signatures on the Charter brought the total to 52. Pastor Best held membership classes during the Sunday School hour. Before worship each Sunday throughout June, July and August, he explained a part of The Service.

   Cheryl Lynn, daughter of Kenneth and Lorena Weible was baptized on June 29, 1958.

   In July and August 1958 the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Building was not air-conditioned, nor were there fans. Although Pastor Best conducted The Service in a white surplice over a black cassock with a clerical collar, he invited the men to take off their coats during the hot weather. The choir did not yet have robes. Sunday School, too, continued, regardless of the heat.

   Eighteen additional Service Book and Hymnals were donated by individuals, anonymously, at $4.00 each.

   In August 1958 there were 58 signatures on the Charter. Of these 19 were military, 10 were civilian employees at Dover Air Force Base and 29 were civilians employed elsewhere. The Bureau of Service to Military Personnel to the National Lutheran Church asked Pastor Best to be “contact pastor” for Lutheran men on duty at DAFB.

   A Committee which had been drafting a Constitution for St. Andrew’s submitted it to Bernard Hessler, Jr., a Delaware lawyer, who was to review it for compliance with Delaware law and to the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania and Adjacent States for review of compliance with United Lutheran Church in America requirements. Members of the Constitution Committee, appointed by Pastor Best, were: Donald Difenbaugh, Chairman, Marjorie Avery, Charles Vibrock and Pastor Best. 

   An altar, “handed down” from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wilmington (A ULCA mission organized on Reformation Sunday in 1957) was refurbished by Robert Baylor and Howard Row. Erma Baylor and Jean Row made a dossal of red cotton Indianhead cloth. (A curtain behind the altar).

   The PARISH NEWS, September 1958, was published at the end of August. Earl Scheidt, a teacher in the Caesar Rodney High School and a professional draftsman and printer used his commercial facilities to prepare and print it at no cost except for paper. Postage was 1 cent per copy. Earl designed the masthead for this, the first issue. It became the letterhead for St. Andrew’s and adaptations of it have been used in various ways. The ever increasing mailing list was begun by Pastor Best when he started house-to-house canvassing. 

   On September 14, 1958, Mary Beth, daughter of Garland and Ardis Meyer was baptized.

   By this time one of the signers of the Charter had moved from the area, beginning a pattern which was to continue at St. Andrew’s, “The church of the revolving door,” as Pastor Best eventually described it.

   At this time average attendance at the The Service was 45 and at Sunday School 39.

   Gifts totaling $313.24 had been received from the following United Lutheran Church in America Congregations: St. Paul’s, Hawley, Pa; Zion, Wilmington, DE; and ULCA mission congregations in Delaware (dates of organization noted) – St. Phillip’s, Wilmington, 1955; Reformation, Milford 1956; Good Shepherd, Wilmington 1957; and Hope, New Castle 1958. St. Andrew’s was the 6th mission in 6 years in Delaware; St. Paul’s, Newark having been organized in 1953.

   One Sunday morning an usher was surprise when a visitor from Pennsylvania presented his V.F.W. membership card at the entrance, asking what time the bar would open. In turn the visitor was surprised to be told that Sunday School classes were underway in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Building! 

   The formal Organization of St. Andrew’s occurred on October 26, 1958 in the V.F.W. Building. Officials from the Ministerium of Pennsylvania and Adjacent States who participated in The Service of Organization were: Dr. Karl S. Henry, speaker; Roy L. Winters, PhD., liturgist; and the Rev. Orval C. Hartman who conducted the Order of Organization. In the congregation were representatives of the following local churches: Christ Episcopal, Peoples Congregational Christian (presently Peoples United Church of Christ), First Baptist and the Presbyterian Church (USA).

   The Constitution and By-Laws had been adopted and members of Council elected at the first congregational dinner meeting on October 25, 1958 at the Grange Hall. The Charter had been signed by 75 adults. (Received by Baptism – 1, Confirmation – 16, Profession of Faith – 15, Letter of Transfer – 43). Also on the rolls were 53 baptized but not confirmed Child members.

   Attendance in Sunday School prior to the Organization Service was 67 plus 22 children in the Nursery. At 11;00 a.m. 113 persons attended The Service where $55.00 was received in offerings. At this time the Building Fund totaled $430.86. (Bear in mind that, in the economy of 1958, one gallon of regular gasoline cost 28 cents).

   Photos recording the events of October 25 and 26, made by Ross Young, are in the History Collection.

   Dr. Roy Winters, Secretary of the Board of American Missions of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania and Adjacent States presided over the first meeting of the Congregation Council and Board of Trustees held at the Murphey School at 2:00 p.m. on October 26th. Elections of officers were conducted. Members were: Ruth Schwartz; ED Vahl, v. pres; Charles Vibrock, Marion Wagner; Bernard Forcey, financial secretary; Don Mackes; Garland Meyer; Glenn Vidt, treasurer; Robert Baylor, secretary; Don Diffenbaugh; Paul Goeppel and Howard Row, president.

   From the seeds that were sown hopefully and nurtured faithfully emerged, by the Grace of God, St. Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, a mission congregation of the United Lutheran Church in America, on October 26, 1958.

   SOURCES: REPORTS to THE BIARD OF AMEICAN MISSZIONS 1958; MINUTES of COUNCIL 1958; ANNUAL REPORTS OF 1958, 1997; BULLETINS 1958; PARISH NEWS SEPT 1958, FEB 1978; PARISH REGISTER: HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS BY PASTOR BEST, BERNARD FORCEY, JEAN ROW; 15th ANNIVERSARY BROCHURE 1973; PHOTOS, NEWSCLIPPINGS-1950’s ALBUM; COORESPONDENCE EDITH GOEPPEL to PASTOR BEST 16 OCT 1958, ORVAL HARTMAN to EDITH GOEPPEL 28 JUNE 1956, PASTOR BEST to PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS 12 May 1958, Exec Sec of BAM to Pastor Best 4 Dec 1957; REMINISCENCES of PARTICIPANTS in the 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION (on Audio Tape0; RECOLLECTIONS of MEMBERS.

   Information contained herein was complied by Jean Row on October 8, 1998.