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Rosemeyer Family Tree - Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ

 Rosemeyer Family Tree - Zion Church 

Ok, I admit. this isn't the usual post about someone in the family tree. However, I thought it was important to acknowledge the role that Zion UCC (as it is usually referred to today) in the Rosemeyer and Harmening families. It's where many in the Indianapolis German immigrant family gathered for worship, social activities, help, and support. 

First, some history. In February 1841, a small group of German-speaking people gathered to organize a church. Reverend J. G.  Kunz was called to be the pastor. Services and Sunday School were held in the Collete Building on Pennsylvania Street. In 1844 the congregation was incorporated and chartered by the State Legislature. 

In 1845, the congregation built a small wood-framed church and called the Rev. J. F. Isensee to lead them. 

First Zion Church building

The church was located at 32 West Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis. At that time, the church name was the German Evangelical Zion's Church. 

In 1859, the Rev. Herman Quinius was sent by the Evangelical Synod of North America to lead the church. Under his guidance, a brick Sunday School building and a new brick church building were completed and dedicated  in 1867. 

Second Zion Church Building

Rev. J.C. Peters was the next pastor to serve this church beginning in 1883. He was pastor for 38 years. During his time, the current church buildings were constructed. The main part including the sanctuary was dedicated in May 1913, and the Parish Hall in 1928. In 1934, the church's name became Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church.


So why is this in my genealogy blog? Because this church is the common denominator of the Rosemeyer branch of my family tree. At the beginning, the church offered a faith community worshipping in the German Language, and it grew to include sports leagues, drama productions, social groups like Women's Guild, Evening Guild, youth groups, and many other activities. I'm pretty certain that most, if not all, the marriages in that branch began here, in Sunday School classes and social events

I don't know when Zion started doing some services in English, but it was most likely around the time of World War 1. I also don't know when it fully transitioned to English for all but two special services a year. 

Rosemeyers, Harmenings, Schaekels, and many more names from this branch of the family tree were baptized, confirmed, married, and lived their lives in this place. 



Much of the material for this post came from two sources:
        discoverindianahistory.org and  www.zioneucc.org



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