Preserving our Lutheran heritage

For Alf and Charlotte Stiller, preserving the story of Lutheranism in Australia and New Zealand was a lifelong passion rooted in faith, history and community. As prominent members of Queensland’s Lutheran community, they held a deep appreciation for the buildings that shaped the church’s identity across generations. These historic places of worship and service were, to them, living reminders of God’s work through the hands of ordinary people.

In keeping with this commitment, Alf and Charlotte bequeathed the proceeds from the sale of their home to the church for the maintenance and restoration of significant Lutheran buildings. Their generous gift laid the foundation for a dedicated fund to this purpose.

Following discussions with the Stillers’ sons, the Alf and Charlotte Stiller Fund was established. With a total value of $1 million, the fund was administered by the LCA and designed to support projects across Australia and New Zealand.

Criteria ensured the Stillers’ intentions were honoured: projects had to be Lutheran buildings more than 50 years old and still in active use for worship, ministry or service within the Lutheran Church.

Congregations could apply for grants from $10,000 to $100,000, with a required co-contribution of $1 for every $2 of grant funding – a model that encourages shared responsibility and local investment.

When the fund opened in November 2024, interest was immediate and widespread. Congregations from every district of the church sought support to preserve their treasured buildings.

In total, 60 applications were submitted, representing over $4.7 million in proposed project value. The fund was oversubscribed by more than $2.13 million, reflecting both the scale of need and congregations’ deep care for their places of worship.

After careful assessment, 25 applications were selected for funding. In total, the fund distributed just over $1.06 million, slightly exceeding the original $1 million allocation to meet priority needs.

The projects supported were across three districts: 11 in Queensland, 13 in South Australia and one in Victoria.

One congregation to benefit was Lobethal Lutheran Church in South Australia, where the fund helped restore the floor of its historic chapel. Built in 1845, the chapel remains an active centre for worship, school chapels and community events.

The project replaced a failing floor, preserved important heritage features, and renewed the congregation’s appreciation for the building’s history and its place in generations of baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals. The restored chapel will continue serving both the worshipping community and visitors interested in the region’s Lutheran heritage.

The Alf and Charlotte Stiller Fund is a wonderful testament to the Stillers’ lifelong commitment to their church and its heritage.

Nigel Long is the LCANZ’s secretary of the church and a member of St John’s Unley SA.