The Parish Rosenberg, clerical headquarters in the German colony of the same name, is situated in the county Kamischin of the Government Saratov.

The Parish Rosenberg was established in the year 1859 from the old settled colonies which were resettled in the year 1850-1853, consisting of Rosenberg, Erlenbach (earlier also Remennaya), New-Norka, Oberdorf (earlier also named Kupzowo and Beckers Chutor), Unterdorf and Alexandertal (earlier also New-Schosnowka); also the Protestant population of the adjacent parish city (town) Kamischin enrolled (combined into one parish). In the year 1895, Kamischin, with the Russian villages Rikolajewstaja and Sloboda, were divided from Rosenberg as a separate section and as a consequence, the majority of suitable religious services in the Parish for the numerous Protestants in Kamischin and Rikolajewstaja were very unsatisfactory. Consequently, since 1896 Kamischin was an independent parish.

By 1858, in the colony Rosenberg, there already was one church built of wood. In 1871, the colonies Oberdorf and Erlenbach followed, and wooden churches were also built, in the latter place with the aid of the Support (Aid) Chest (monies).

Since 1893, both at a distance from Rosenberg in the northern region and in the Donischen Kosaken on Pachtland, numerous Protestant resettlers (colonizers) were living, and the majority were served by the parishes of Medwedzko- Krestowoi-Bujerak, Oleschna, Ust Kulalinka, and Rosenberg.

In the Parish of Rosenberg, the only Church Council is in the colony of Rosenberg.

Since 1866, the following preachers were employed in the Rosenberg parish: Konstantin Ferdinand Butzke, 1865-1891; Gotthold Eduard Hahn, 1892-1906; Otto Johannes Harff beginning in 1906.

In the year 1904, the Parish Rosenberg, numbered 10,306 persons enrolled of German nationality, of which, however, only 6,376 were residents (ansaessig) in the Parish. In the year 1906, seven brought the total of confirmees to 115.

Included in the Parish are: the colony Rosenberg with 1,363 members; New-Norka (995), Alexandertal (333), Unterdorf (837), Oberdorf (1,528), and Erlenbach (1,320), as well as the landed estates Awilowa (282) and Magelstal (199). New-Norka is for the most part Reformed, the remaining villages are predominately Lutheran.

The Parish Rosenberg has three churches entirely of wood: Rosenberg, Oberdorf (30 Werst from the Parish seat), and Erlenbach (25 Werst); the first has seating capacity of 500, the second has 600, and the last 500. In entirety, six colonies of the Parish, as well as both church-enrolled landed estates, have Prayerhouses.

The pastor is elected by the congregation and only introduced from the Consistory. He preaches in the German language on every Sunday and holiday, alternating the colonies; in addition to these, three times yearly in Awilowa and one time yearly in Magelstal. In his absence, the elder conducts (reads/leads) the service.

The pastor receives 171 Rbl. 60 Kop. From the Preacher-payroll. In addition from the six colonies: free housing with heating, 1,300 Rbl. In salary and 200 Rbl. Travel fare; from Awilowa 25 Pud grain, 10 Pud potatoes and 25 heads of cabbage and from Magelstal, 10 Rbl. Parish land is not available (vorhanden). For additional services he receives 15 Kop. For a baptism, 30 Kop. For a confirmation in Spring, 60 Kop. For in the Fall, 60 Kop. For a marriage, the funeral of a child 15 Kop. And an adult 25 Kop.

The Parish has eight church schools: in Rosenberg (258) students, New-Norka (196), Alexandertal (82), Unterdorf (112), Oberdorf (283), Awilowa (36), and Magelstal (24). Overall the church schools are in one and the same building with the Prayerhouse. A school fee of 7 Kop. is levied in Rosenberg, New-Norka, and Erlenbach; 10 in Oberdorf; and 5 Kop. in Unterdorf; school study is free in Alexandertal, Awilowa, and Magelstal.

The total income for the School Master amounts to 400 Rbl. each in Rosenberg and Alexandertal; 500 Rbl. in Erlenbach; 475 Rbl. in Oberdorf; in New-Norka 200 Rbl. and 140 Pud grain; in Unterdorf 80 Rbl. and 170 Pud; in Awilowa 180 Rbl. and 80 Pud; and in Magelstal 120 Rbl.

The parish does not have established charities.

Source:

Hilda (Gilig) Weber, Village Coordinator for Erlenbach, and her husband, Raymond Weber, Village Coordinator for Unterdorf, have translated the above information on the Rosenberg Church Parish, which includes those two colonies as well as several others. The AHSGR Journal, Summer 1983, pages 11-13, has brief summaries, translated from a Russian article of 1890, of the following colonies which are southwest of ours: Marienfeld, Josefstal, Erlenbach, Oberdorf, Neu-Norka, and Alexandertal. The above is from "Die Evangelisch-Lutherischen Gemenden in Russland" St. Petersberg, Buckdrukerei J. Watfar, Safadowaja 55, 1909, Call #: 1 Band, BX 8027, E926X, V. 1. Available in German at AHSGR in Lincoln, NE.