Old Lutherans

Prussia's king, Frederick William III, was determined to unify the Protestant churches, homogenize their liturgy, organization, and architecture.

In a series of proclamations over several years the Church of the Prussian Union was formed, bringing together a group that was majority Lutheran and minority Reformed.

As a result, the government of Prussia had full control over church affairs, with the king recognized as the leading bishop.

In 1799 King Frederick William III of Prussia issued a decree for a new common liturgical Agenda (service book) to be published, for use in both the Lutheran and Reformed congregations.

Rather than having the unifying effect that Frederick William desired, the decree created a great deal of dissent among Lutheran congregations.

[4] In a compromise with dissenters, who had now earned the name "Old Lutherans", in 1834 Frederick William issued a decree which stated that Union would only be in the areas of governance and liturgy, but the respective congregations could retain their confessional identities.

He spoke, preached and wrote against the Union, which consequently resulted in suspension from his post as theological professor.

Other famous Old Lutherans included Henrik Steffens, H. E. F. Guericke, Kahnis and Rudolf Rocholl.

[7] The Lutherans in South Australia established the Killalpaninna Mission (Bethesda) Station at Cooper's Creek.

"[This quote needs a citation] In June of the same year, 1843, a shipload of German migrants arrived in Nelson.

Most initially settled along Pukepapa Road in Marton, which is still the location of the St Martin's Lutheran Church.

In the 1870s other Lutheran migrants arrived in New Zealand including large numbers from Scandinavia who settled in the Wairarapa, Manawatu and Hawkes Bay regions.

In addition to Old Lutherans there were also Neo-Lutheran immigrants from the German Kingdom of Saxony, where there was no evangelical union.