St. Paul’s Lutheran Church was established in 1894, one of the last major denominations to be founded in Saratoga Springs. By the late 19th century, a growing number of German families had settled here, working as storekeepers, contractors, laborers and farmers. Organized as a daughter congregation of Zion Lutheran Church in Schenectady, worship services were conducted in German up until World War I.
In 1900 the congregation purchased the Congregational Church located on the corner of Caroline and Henry streets which became the congregation’s home for the next 60 years. During the post war years arriving Slovak and Scandinavian families fleeing the disruptions in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s joined the congregation, seeking a familiar church home in their new country.
The growing church community was blessed under the strong, steady leadership of Pastors Schulze, Buchheimer and Jaekel, who served from 1925 to 2010. As the city itself grew and welcomed new residents so did St. Paul’s. Conservative by nature, leaders of the congregation began developing new approaches to reaching out to the community, offering a unique blend of traditional and contemporary worship experiences, all based on the founding traditions of Lutheran doctrine.
The congregation moved to its current edifice in 1960 and continued to grow. In more recent years the church has sought to meet the changing needs of the community. In 1995 the congregation embarked on a major expansion project, driven by the desire to open a Christian Childhood Center which has been serving the needs of young families for 30 years. The congregation’s focus on youth also includes a dynamic summer Vacation Bible School program, supported by a strong volunteer staff. For adults St. Paul’s offers several Bible study groups that explore scripture and contemporary topics.
St. Paul’s has also taken steps to offer services for those in need, including an active Stephan Ministry program to assist those undergoing life changing experiences, a community Food Pantry, as well as sponsoring weekly AA groups.
Pastor Adam Weigand has served the Congregation since his arrival in 2000. He is well known for his energy and dedication to all aspects of church life from teaching and preaching to caregiving and music. St Paul’s welcomes all those seeking or strengthening their faith to pay us a visit.
