KLEMZIG, SA. — The Skjold, one of the last ships to bring religious refugees to South Australia, arrived on October 27, 1841. Captain Hans Christian Claussen commanded the Skjold, which brought over two hundred Lutheran immigrants. Several of these Lutheran migrants were among the first to start the South Australian settlements of Lobethal and Bethany.
Lobethal was started by about thirty families who, between them, acquired about two hundred acres, and paved the way for the German settlement of the region.
Thanks to wealthy Scottish businessman and chairman of the South Australian Company, George Fife Angas, a deal was struck by Pastor August Kavel to start a new Lutheran settlement in South Australia.
The first group of 21 Lutherans arrived on the ship Bengalee on November 18, 1838, followed two days later by the main group on the Prince George. They first settled the town of Klemzig. Many more ships followed over the next three years.
In the 1800s, under King Friedrich Wilhelm III, German/Prussian Lutherans suffered religious persecution. Friedrich Wilhelm was an autocratic king who believed he had the right to create his own state church from the two main Protestant churches – the Lutheran church and the smaller Reformed church – in a united Prussian state church.
This would effectively remove the right of Lutherans to worship in a way of their choosing. Penalties for non-adherence to the state religion were severe. Many Lutherans immigrated to Australia to escape the persecution.
