The Lutheran Church in Guyana was founded by Dutch settlers in 1743, making it the second oldest Lutheran church in the Caribbean and the South American continent. During its early history, the church was served by pastors from Holland. In 1803 the colony changed hands from the Dutch to the British, and in 1841 the Dutch severed links with the Lutheran church in what was then British Guiana. That left the church without pastoral services for about 100 years, and the church began to decline in membership. All the Christian congregations organized in Dutch times died out except Ebenezer Lutheran Church.
In 1878 John Robert Mittelholzer, became the first Guyanese (black) pastor and began serving the Ebenezer congregation. He served not only the Dutch descendants but also those of African, Amerindian, and East Indian origin. Five congregations were established in the Berbice region. In 1890, Mittelholzer and the Ebenezer congregation became part of the East Pennsylvania Synod of one of the ELCA’s predecessors, the General Synod. Rev. Mittelholzer died in 1913 leaving the church without a pastor.
In 1915 Dr. M.J. Stine was commissioned by the Missionary Committee of the East Pennsylvania Synod to visit British Guiana and investigate the work there. Upon his return, the General Synod as a whole took over the support of the work in British Guiana and sent its first missionary, the Rev. Ralph J. White, in January of 1916.
When the United Lutheran Church in America (ULCA) was formed in 1918, British Guiana became one of its mission fields. During the next half century, many Lutheran missionaries were sent to British Guiana, which became Guyana in 1966.
In 1944 the Lutheran Church in Guyana became an associate synod of the ULCA, and in 1950 it was received into membership in the Lutheran World Federation. When Guyana became independent in 1966, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana also became independent
Rev. John R. Mittelholzer was born in the Berbice River district, was initially a Congregational minister trained by the London Mission Society, until taking the position as pastor of Ebenezer Lutheran Church, New Amsterdam. He received additional training at Gettysburg Seminary and joined the East Pennsylvania Synod of the General Synod along with his congregation, serving in British Guiana from 1878 until his death in 1913.
“This picture was presented by him to Dr. Charles A. Hay while studying under the latter at Gettysburg Seminary Cabinet card by Lothrop, 54 N. Ninth St., Philadelphia, PA, USA, just below Arch Street.
