About Saint Luke

Saint Luke Lutheran Church was founded in 1915 in the New Edinburgh neighbourhood of Ottawa as a member congregation of the Canadian District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.  With the establishment of the Lutheran Church - Canada (LC-C), Saint Luke became part of the Ottawa circuit within the LC-C East District.

From the beginning, Saint Luke has been honoured to serve the spiritual needs of the community of New Edinburgh. The early congregation was largely made up from the many German speaking families in the area.  The congregational makeup has changed along with that of the neighbourhood and community over the years since its establishment.  German services gradually gave way to English, then a Spanish language service was added to meet the needs of Spanish speaking Christians within the Ottawa area.  In September of 2003 our Spanish speaking members joined with others in the Ottawa area to create a new Congregation, Unidos en Cristo, to specifically meet the needs of the Spanish speakers in the NCR area.

In 2005, Saint Luke celebrated 90 years of service to our community.  With God's grace, we hope that our service will continue long into the future.  At present, the congregation consists of approximately 150 families, and is served full time by our pastor, Rev. Dr. Bryan King.

Historical Highlights

The following items were collected for Saint Luke's 50th Anniversary  in 1965. It is amazing to see how things have changed over the years. The demographics of New Edinburgh have changed significantly as it has transitioned from being a "suburb" (with large young families) to become part of the central city itself. It is encouraging to see how the efforts made by our forebears have born fruit over the years. Our challenges today are different than in the past, but we are facing them with the same faith, confident that God will guide us through the decades to come.

1895	St. Paul's congregation establishes a branch school in New Edinburgh.
1914	On Aug. 4th, an organizational meeting held. Constitution accepted. Name "Ev. Lutheran St. Lucas Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, Ottawa, Canada". Trustees appointed. Building Committee appointed. A motion passed to request an interest free loan of $7000 from the Lutheran Church -Missouri Synod. (This loan did not materialize but it is interesting to note that even then the Church Extension Fund was unable to supply the demands placed upon it.) W. E. Noffke instructed to draw up plans for a church building. In October, a motion passed to visit all the homes to see how much money could be gathered - the first Every Member Visit! Money borrowed at 4% to finance building program. November meeting notes that it is too late to begin Cement Work.
1915	March 14th meeting resolves to proceed with building the church. The tender of Shuttleworth & Black for $18,500 accepted at this meeting. March 18th meeting accepts tender of Mr. Ed. Wentzlaff at $18,600 since Shuttleworth & Black did not put up completion bond claiming that there was a $900 mistake in estimates. May 2, 1915, Elders elected and a Church Council organized. Call list made and a Call issued. Oct. 24th Dedication service and Installation of Pastor A. Orzen, (Salary offered was $800 per year.)
1916	Minutes show that at the end of 1916 they had received $3834.43 for the Building Fund and paid out $3661.90. This left a debt of $9960 after the first full year of operation. Congregational receipts were $2974.17 and expenses $2504.47.
1917	Building Committee officially thanked and dismissed at the January meeting.
1919	Ladies Aid purchased a Casavant Freres pipe organ for $4000 which was paid for within the year.
1921	25th Anniversary of the school.
1922	Rev. A. Orzen first resident pastor leaves. Rev. A. Dashner installed as Pastor.
1926	Last of "Dominion Day" picnics to Larmouth Hill (up at the end of Dufferin Rd.) School children delighted in marching along behind Union Jack, singing loudly.
1929	Congregation numbers 490.
1931	35th Anniversary of the School. Ontario District convention held at St. Lucas.
1934	Church Basement remodelled for use as a hall
1935	Ottawa Mayor Mr. P. Nolan asks all churches to observe Kings Jubilee (George V) Special service held.
1936	40th Anniversary of school. Also 40th anniversary of Teacher Hartwick. St. Lucas male choir accompanies Lutheran Hour broadcast on radio sta­tion CBO.
1937	Rev. Walter Maier preached Reformation sermon. Rev. Carter first negro Mission Sunday preacher.
1938	Annual report to be printed in booklet form and contain activities of each society.
1940	25th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Church. English language takes precedence at 11 a.m. services of the future. October 27th. special anniversary services; Rev. Orzen, morning (German) and Rev. Malinsky evening.
1941	250 new hymnals ordered. (Council motion: "The old coins in the treasury be put in strong box and written off -" )
1942	Pastor Dashner celebrates 25th anniversary of his ministry Social evening held following service; Pastors Luft, A. Pollen, C. Neuhaus and M. Michael present. Congregation numbers 560 souls.
1945	Teacher Hartwick dies after 49 years as teacher in St. Luke school. Graduate Clifford Braun called. Peace-Thankoffering totals $3,425.00.
1946	Rev. Dashner passed away while introducing new teacher, Mr. Phil. Enders. 68 pupils in Sunday School; 21 in Parochial school. Budget rises to $6,398.95.
1947	Rev. R. Witt installed as pastor.
1948	House built for teacher on lot beside school on Dufferin Road. Original school remodelled and rededicated as HARTWICK MEMORIAL SCHOOL.
1949	Stainglass window a memorial to Rev. A. Dashner donated by the Ladies Circle Society. Council voted Pastor an annual salary of $2,200. Budget $9,000.
1950	Reformation service broadcast from the church over CFRA. 1 teacher with 23 pupils in parochial school. 467 communicants.
1951	Rev. Witt organizes Our Savior congregation in West Ottawa.
1952	Laurentian District Walther League host for International Walther League Convention in Ottawa. (St. Luke member President and Chairman)
1953	Rev. Witt leaves for Chicago.
1954	Rev. M. Renner installed.
1956	60th Anniversary of the school. Two services commemorated this happy occa­sion. Rev. F. Gumz. Toronto and Rev. W. Mueller, Our Savior, Ottawa, guest speakers.
1957	55 school pupils; 2 school teachers, 455 communicants.
1958	New school erected costing $150,000. Church name officially changed from St. Lucas to St. Luke.
1960	Rev. M. Renner accepts a Call to Wisconsin.
1961	Rev. John Korcok installed as Pastor (August). 1963 - Membership 520 Souls, 380 communicants.
1964	Rev. J. Korcok leaves for St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Kitchener.
1965	Rev. H. Kuhl from GasLine-Snyder installed as Pastor, Aug. 15th. School enrolment 90 with 4 teachers and 2 buses in operation. Teacher P. Enders accepted a Call to Grace, Chicago, Ill. Mr. Fred Raaflaub of Magnetawan engaged as principal for the year.

Saint Luke's history doesn't stop in 1965! We will be adding material gleaned from our more recent anniversaries soon. Please come back again soon.

If you are a member, former member or friend of Saint Luke and have any interesting anecdotes or information that you would like to share with us, please send a message to: