Religion > Church Planning and History > 1909 Report Regarding the Norka Parish
1909 Report Regarding the Norka Parish
In 1909, a history of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Russia was compiled. This was an update to a church history written in 1867 by G. H. Busch. There is also an earlier 1862 study by G. H. Busch. The information about the Norka Parish was extracted from the portion of the 1909 book dealing with the Volga Colonies Bergseite (hilly side) in which the parish colonies of Norka, Huck and Neu-Messer were located.
The title of the 1867 book is Ergaenzungen der Materialien zur Geschichte und Statistik des Kirchen- und Schulwesens der Ev. Luth. in Russland. The abbreviations Erg. and Mat. probably refer to "Ergaenzungen" and "Materialien." Both books were publications from the Central Committee of the Unterstützungs-Kasse of the Evangelical Church in Russia. This organization, founded in 1858, provided funding for operational and capital expenditures to local parishes and villages in Russia. The Mat. and the Erg. numbering scheme are very similar and usually identical in the 1867 and 1909 books, EXCEPT where a parish had been formed after the 1867 book appeared. For example, the parish of Krasnojar, founded in 1880, does not have an Mat. or an Erg. reference number. Nor do the colonies of Boaro (Boisroux) or Paulskoye, which were formed when the two parishes of North and South Katharinenstadt were split into the three parishes of Boaro, Paulskoye and Katharinenstadt in 1905. My conclusion is that the Mat. and Erg. convention began with publication of the 1867 book; it could have been used beginning in 1858 when the Foundation Council was formed, but if that were the case, it would seem they would have continued to use that convention for new parishes.
Bill Pickelhaupt (Translator), 2011.
The title of the 1867 book is Ergaenzungen der Materialien zur Geschichte und Statistik des Kirchen- und Schulwesens der Ev. Luth. in Russland. The abbreviations Erg. and Mat. probably refer to "Ergaenzungen" and "Materialien." Both books were publications from the Central Committee of the Unterstützungs-Kasse of the Evangelical Church in Russia. This organization, founded in 1858, provided funding for operational and capital expenditures to local parishes and villages in Russia. The Mat. and the Erg. numbering scheme are very similar and usually identical in the 1867 and 1909 books, EXCEPT where a parish had been formed after the 1867 book appeared. For example, the parish of Krasnojar, founded in 1880, does not have an Mat. or an Erg. reference number. Nor do the colonies of Boaro (Boisroux) or Paulskoye, which were formed when the two parishes of North and South Katharinenstadt were split into the three parishes of Boaro, Paulskoye and Katharinenstadt in 1905. My conclusion is that the Mat. and Erg. convention began with publication of the 1867 book; it could have been used beginning in 1858 when the Foundation Council was formed, but if that were the case, it would seem they would have continued to use that convention for new parishes.
Bill Pickelhaupt (Translator), 2011.
Parish of Norka
Mat. S. 278. Erg. S. 329.
Location. The parish of Norka with the seat in the German colony of the same name is situated in Kamyschin district of Saratov province.
History. Both German colonies, from which the parish was originally constituted, Norka and Huck, were founded in 1767 by Reformed emigrants from Hesse and the Pfaltz. The first pastor was employed in 1769. In Norka in 1822 a new church was built on the spot of the old one. This stood until 1882, when the third church was initiated. The present church in Huck was built in 1898. In 1886, the pastorate of Norka went up in flames and in the course of things was replaced by a new building. Since the 90th year of the preceding century the appointment of an Adjunct was necessary in Norka. Recently also the colony of Neu-Messer, which originally belonged to Messer, has formed part of Norka's area of service. There are church councils in Norka, Huck and Neu-Messer. The following ministers have served the parish since 1866: Christian Heinrich Bonwetsch (1845 to 1876), Wilhelm Starkel (1876 to 1908).
Parish. The parish of Norka counts 23,179 parish members of German ethnicity; of these, only 385 were Lutheran. In 1906-1907 284 individuals were confirmed. There are 13,500 served by the pastor in the colony of Norka, 7,200 in Huck and in the colony of Neu-Messer 2,500 are ministered to.
Church and prayer halls. In the parish are two churches, in Norka of wood, with seating for 2,500, and in Huck likewise of wood, with capacity of 2,000. In Neu-Messer there is a prayer hall, just as there is in Norka.
Pastor. The pastor is chosen by the congregation and introduced by the Consistory. The pastor alternates between Norka and Huck and 6 times a year in Neu-Messer. During his absence a religious service is held by the school teacher. Besides the pastor's state salary of 171 rubles and 60 kopecks as well as free lodging along with heating allowance, he receives as pay 1,500 rubles from the parish, and a 190 ruble travel allowance from the parish, 700 pud of hay and 40 rubles potato money. There is no parish land available to the pastor. The fees for performance of religious ceremonies are established as follows: a baptism ceremony 15 kopecks, a confirmation 30 kopecks, a marriage ceremony 60 kopeck.
Schools. In Norka there are three church schools, with a total of 1,085 schoolchildren, in Huck one school with 900 students and in Neu-Messer one school with 345 schoolchildren. School fees are not assessed.
School teacher. The school teacher's salary in Norka is 800 rubles, in Huck 775 rubles and in Neu-Messer 400 rubles.
Charitable Organizations. The parish has no organizations of this kind.
Mat. S. 278. Erg. S. 329.
Location. The parish of Norka with the seat in the German colony of the same name is situated in Kamyschin district of Saratov province.
History. Both German colonies, from which the parish was originally constituted, Norka and Huck, were founded in 1767 by Reformed emigrants from Hesse and the Pfaltz. The first pastor was employed in 1769. In Norka in 1822 a new church was built on the spot of the old one. This stood until 1882, when the third church was initiated. The present church in Huck was built in 1898. In 1886, the pastorate of Norka went up in flames and in the course of things was replaced by a new building. Since the 90th year of the preceding century the appointment of an Adjunct was necessary in Norka. Recently also the colony of Neu-Messer, which originally belonged to Messer, has formed part of Norka's area of service. There are church councils in Norka, Huck and Neu-Messer. The following ministers have served the parish since 1866: Christian Heinrich Bonwetsch (1845 to 1876), Wilhelm Starkel (1876 to 1908).
Parish. The parish of Norka counts 23,179 parish members of German ethnicity; of these, only 385 were Lutheran. In 1906-1907 284 individuals were confirmed. There are 13,500 served by the pastor in the colony of Norka, 7,200 in Huck and in the colony of Neu-Messer 2,500 are ministered to.
Church and prayer halls. In the parish are two churches, in Norka of wood, with seating for 2,500, and in Huck likewise of wood, with capacity of 2,000. In Neu-Messer there is a prayer hall, just as there is in Norka.
Pastor. The pastor is chosen by the congregation and introduced by the Consistory. The pastor alternates between Norka and Huck and 6 times a year in Neu-Messer. During his absence a religious service is held by the school teacher. Besides the pastor's state salary of 171 rubles and 60 kopecks as well as free lodging along with heating allowance, he receives as pay 1,500 rubles from the parish, and a 190 ruble travel allowance from the parish, 700 pud of hay and 40 rubles potato money. There is no parish land available to the pastor. The fees for performance of religious ceremonies are established as follows: a baptism ceremony 15 kopecks, a confirmation 30 kopecks, a marriage ceremony 60 kopeck.
Schools. In Norka there are three church schools, with a total of 1,085 schoolchildren, in Huck one school with 900 students and in Neu-Messer one school with 345 schoolchildren. School fees are not assessed.
School teacher. The school teacher's salary in Norka is 800 rubles, in Huck 775 rubles and in Neu-Messer 400 rubles.
Charitable Organizations. The parish has no organizations of this kind.
Sources
Bill Pickelhaupt, trans. Die Evangelische-Lutherischen Gemeinden in Russland. Vol. 1. St. Petersburg: Zentral-Komite Der Unterstützungs-Kasse für evangelische-lutherische Gemeinden in Russland, 1909. Print. Used with permission of the translator.
Last updated April 23, 2016.