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Denominational Records

Evangelical Synod of North America (ESNA)

Evangelical Synod of North America

The Evangelical Synod of North America, before 1927 German Evangelical Synod of North America, in German (Deutsche) Evangelische Synode von Nord-Amerika, was a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States existing from the mid-19th century until its 1934 merger with the Reformed Church in the United States to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church. Centered in the Midwest, the denomination was made of German Protestant congregations of mixed Lutheran and Reformed heritage, reflecting the 1817 union of those traditions in Prussia (and subsequently in other areas of Germany). This church merged with the Congregational Christian Churches denomination in 1957 to create the United Church of Christ. 

This guide provides basic historical information about congregations originating in German Protestant traditions related to the present day United Church of Christ and lists records available on microfilm in History & Genealogy at St. Louis County Library.

Congregation Maps

Congregations listed in the guide are keyed to the following location maps. The maps can also be viewed in the History & Genealogy Department. The maps are used by permission of Eden Theological Seminary Archives.

Cemeteries

This guide provides information about cemeteries related to congregations of the former Evangelical Synod of North America located in St. Louis City and County. The Evangelical Synod was a German Protestant denomination that in the course of several mergers has been incorporated into the present-day United Church of Christ. The guide was compiled by the staff of the Eden Theological Seminary Archives and is made available here by permission. Records for some cemeteries listed in the guide are available on microfilm copies in the St. Louis County Library History & Genealogy Department.

 

 

In August 2021, History & Genealogy published "A brief history of the Evangelical Synod of North America" in PastPorts Newsletter.

Clergy serving congregations originating in the Evangelical Synod of North America in St. Louis, 1834 - 2007

 

This index lists pastors who served congregations in St. Louis City and County that are related to the Evangelical Synod of North America, 1834-1934, the Evangelical and Reformed Church, 1934-1957, or the United Church of Christ, 1957-present. Most congregations listed here originated in the Evangelical Synod of North America, a German-American denomination.

The index provides the name of pastors who served congregations in St. Louis City and County, the years they served them,and the names and locations of their congregations. More information about St. Louis City and County UCC congregations is available on the website of the Archives at Eden Theological Seminary.

Data for this index was contributed by the Archives at Eden Theological Seminary and is used by permission. 

Lutheran vs. Evangelical

Congregations belonging to Lutheran denominations and those belonging to the Evangelical Synod of North America (ESNA) are often confused with one another. Many ESNA congregations identified themselves as Lutheran, which is often reflected in their names. In addition, it was not uncommon for Lutheran and ESNA congregations to share historical beginnings in a common congregation. Most existing congregations that originated in the ESNA are now incorporated into the present-day United Church of Christ.

The term “Evangelical” in German Protestantism simply means “Protestant” and was a term used by every German Protestant denomination. Lutheran congregations almost always identified themselves as “German Evangelical Lutheran.” ESNA congregations could identify themselves as either “German Evangelical” or “German Evangelical Lutheran” or sometimes as United Evangelical.

A helpful aid for determining if a congregation belonged to the German Evangelical Synod of North America as opposed to a Lutheran denomination is Richard H. Taylor’s, “Congregations of the German Evangelical Synod of North America and Related Groups” (Benton Harbor, Mich.: Richard H. Taylor, 1998; R 285.734 T245C).

The Evangelical Synod of North America, a German-speaking predecessor of the United Church of Christ, had congregations in most 19th-century German immigrant communities. Although it was Lutheran in character, it was not a Lutheran denomination. This lecture will review the denomination’s history and character and offer tips for finding records of congregations. Download the presentation handout as a PDF.