In 1873, a number of Lutheran settlers from South Australia and Tarrington, Victoria, selected land at Vectis, 16 kilometres west of Horsham. This land had been opened up for closer settlement. These Lutherans soon organized themselves into a congregation and regular services were held in the home of J.W. Hoffmann, conducted by one of the elders with their former Pastor C.W. Schurmann of Tarringto
n visiting on horse back or buggy as often as possible. On March 22, 1874 a meeting also attended by representatives of the Natimuk Lutheran congregation was held at Drung Drung, a Lutheran settlement, east of Horsham. There it was decided to issue a permanent call to Pastor C. Schoknecht, a missionary, who had been working with aboriginals in Central Australia and was temporarily helping out in the new settlements of the Wimmera. This call was accepted and included ministry to new congregations at Dimboola, Nhill, Minyip and Wonwondah. As this was too much for one man, the field was narrowed down to allow a new parish to be formed with Pastor Schoknecht retaining Natimuk, Vectis and Dimboola, preaching at Wonwondah and Gymbowen occasionally. In 1890 Vectis, Natimuk and Gymbowen became Pastor Schoknecht’s congregations. Those days unmade roads and slow travel meant great hardship for the minister who faced all this with cheer and courage and willingly shared the humble conditions of the early settlers. During this time the members of the Vectis congregation had decided to build their own house of worship on the land given by Mr. The materials were supplied by the members and built by brothers Carl and Christian Koenig, free of charge. The building was dedicated on November 9, 1875. The congregation continued to grow and as the original church was becoming too small, tenders were called for the er****on of a new brick church. The first appeal yielded the sum of 682 pounds 16 shillings (₤682 16/-) with further collections bringing the total to 728 pounds 13 shillings (₤728 13/-). The building of the church was undertaken by Mr. Dinning from Beulah with the architect thought to be Mr. The total cost was ₤728 14/- 11p which included the picket fence and gate. The church was dedicated on November 20, 1907 by Pastor J.F. Noack who had been installed as parish pastor on September 6, 1905, soon after the death of Pastor Schoknecht. Pastor Noack resigned at the end of 1949 at the age of 73, having served the Natimuk parish for 44 years. Pastor W.J. Hoopmann was called and served until 1955. Pastor E.C. Hempel ministered from 1956 to early 1961 when Pastor C.M. Minge was called and served until 1964. After a vacancy of 7 months, Pastor H.C. Mattiske was installed and served until his retirement in February 1969. In 1970, Pastor G.D. Noller was installed and served until May 1974. Pastor R.M. Mickan, was then called and installed on February 2, 1975 and served until March 2, 1980. Pastor J.A. Paech served from December 21, 1980—December 11, 1988 followed by Pastor T.W. Kowald from January 29, 1989—January 2, 1994. Pastor B.T. Kuchel served from August 7, 1994 until he was called home on December 29, 1999. Pastor G.N. Zweck then accepted the call and served from August 26, 2000—April 25, 2004. Fry was installed on August 22, 2004 but retired due to ill health. Texan minister, Pr. Sean McMaughan began servicing the parish in 2012 before returning home with his family to the USA in 2016. After several years, God answered our prayers when his faithful servant, Rev. Levi Geraham accepted the call from the nearby Lutheran parish of Rainbow/Hopetoun. During the period of vacancy, the manse at Natimuk was sold and a new manse was purchased in Horsham. Prior to his call, the parish also undertook the amalgamation of the Dimboola Lutheran congregation with the Edenhope, Goroke, Natimuk and Vectis congregations to create the Dimboola/Natimuk Lutheran Parish. With this process came the fortnightly change for Natimuk and Vectis congregations who now gather together alternatively for preaching services in each other's churches. God continued to bless us throughout the COVID-19 pandemic through Zoom worship services which saw an approximate weekly attendance of 80 parishioners. This was a time of learning and adaptation and we all appreciated the new skills developed during this time which continues with weekly devotions via this electronic means. A new style of connectivity to God's word has been made and is open to all to join in.
