St. Nicodemus is a Lutheran Church located in Marilla, New York for over 150 years. We offer Sunday services, Communion, Sunday School, and Bible Study.
Our church was founded with 18 members in 1856 under the name of The German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Marilla. Rev. H. Schwankowsky presided at the first service which was in German and probably in a member’s home. The pastor would come from Buffalo for the weekend.
In 1857 one acre on Four Rod Road was sold to the church for $40.00 and a small one-room building was erected of hand-hewn beams and planks. Wooden benches and a pot belly stove were its furnishings. Women and men sat on opposite sides of the room. Later, in 1890 this building was moved to 3 acres acquired at the corner of Four Rod and Liberia Road.
In 1899 Rev. R. Schultz began his 22 year ministry and helped organize the Ladies’ Aid Society and the Sunday School in 1909. In 1921 he was followed by Rev. Edward Nemeschy whose ministry lasted until 1956 and who was also the pastor of Town Line Lutheran Church. Services were conducted in English and the present Church building was constructed and dedicated on April 28, 1929.
The parsonage was purchased and the first full-time pastor, Rev. Frederick Althoff was installed in 1956. In 1965 more land was purchased around the Church. This was followed by an expansion of the Church building in 1972. In 1979 a Vietnamese refugee family was sponsored by the church to come to United States. In 1999 another major expansion of the Church facilities was completed giving us more Sunday School, office and meeting space.
From its beginnings in 1856 until the year 2006, which marked the 150th anniversary of our Church, we have been served by 21 pastors. Saint Nicodemus continues to minister in the name of Jesus Christ and has drawn around the cross 216 baptized members. To God be the Glory!
