Rev. Johann Georg Birkmann came to Holy Cross from Prairie Ridge Church in Madison County, Illinois. He had served there for two years immediately following his graduation from Fort Wayne Seminary. He signed the church constitution on September 18, 1850.
When not teaching in the school, Birkmann was engaged in preaching at three mission stations in neighboring communities. These were at Deer Hill (several miles northwest of Wartburg), Maeystown (four miles south of Wartburg) and St. Joe. These services were conducted in homes.
Immanuel Lutheran Congregation, St. Joe, was organized in October 1853. Seven men, four from the Wartburg congregation, met to discuss erecting a church building. These members were: Samuel Koch, Frederik Koch, Carl Hartmann and Peter Dann. The others present were Anton Johnson, Karl Hagemeier and Yorkert Heinerich. Birkmann preached in the homes of several members and was subsequently asked to continue serving at St. Joe. C.L. Kleppisch and J. Nachtigall also served at St. Joe before the congregation became autonomous in 1880.
In 1869, Immanuel, St. Joe, changed its name to Holy Cross and resolved to relocate to Glasgow City (Renault) for a more central location. The Renault church building was not constructed until 1880.
Financial assistance was authorized to cover Holy Cross, Renault's debts in January 1882. Many members opposed this decision because they needed the money to feed their animals.
Holy Cross joined the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States, in 1850. The Synod had been organized in 1847. In May 31, 1852's meeting, the decision was made to remain in the Synod as long as the Synod remained faithful to the Lutheran Confessions.
The Synod formed districts in 1854. Holy Cross became a charter member of the Western District formed at Immanuel, St. Louis on June 21, 1854. Rev. Schieferdecker, then serving at Trinity, Altenburg, Missouri, was elected the first president of the Western District. In 1875 Holy Cross became part of the newly-created Illinois District. Synodical districts were realigned in 1909. Holy Cross then became a member of the Southern Illinois District. In 1947, the name of the synod was changed to Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. The current president of the LCMS is Rev. Gerald Kieschnick. The current president of the Southern Illinois District is Rev. Herbert Mueller Jr..
In 1858 Birkmann gathered a few families in the home of Wilhelm Feldmeier near Maeystown. He served this group for two years until the church endorsed the Evangelical (Reformed) faith. This church is now known as St. John Evangelical Church of the United Church of Christ, Maeystown, Illinois.
Between 1850 and 1871, many new members signed the Holy Cross constitution. This gave the men voting rights. Others joined the church but did not join the voter's assembly. By 1871, there were 192 communicant members at Holy Cross.
The Wartburg parish still encompassed much of Monroe County. It served Lutherans in Waterloo, Valmeyer, Deer Hill, Maeystown, Burksville and Ivy Landing. The only other Lutheran churches in the county were in Columbia and Renault.
In 1856 a second parsonage was built. This home was used until 1904 when the current parsonage was constructed.
At this time, Holy Cross called its first full-time teacher, Johann Sigmund Ludwig Deffner, who directed the school until 1862. Deffner resided in the old parsonage during his tenure. Friedrich Rix was the second teacher and taught from 1862-1864.
In 1861 the Civil War erupted. Member Julius Just heeded President Abraham Lincoln's call for volunteers to serve in the Grand Army of the Republic.
Despite the troubled times in the U.S., the congregation constructed a larger church. The building was completed in 1863. This construction represents the nave of the current building. The name of the church was inscribed in German over the arched entrance. A wooden bell tower was constructed in 1874. The current stone bell tower replaced it in 1913. Although the congregation apparently began worshipping in the new building in 1863, it was not dedicated until June 1864.
Birkmann was a giant in the congregation as well as the county. His fifteen-year pastorate ended on December 28, 1865, when he died of pneumonia. He is buried in the cemetery.
Birkmann left a wife and six children. The family was provided housing in the vacant teacher's home for four years. On June 17, 1869, Mrs. Birkmann married Wilhelm Feldmeier from Maeystown. She died on March 14, 1872, and is also buried in the cemetery.
In 1867, the Birkmanns' only son, Gotthilf Heinrich Wilhelm, was confirmed. He desired to go into the ministry and the congregation assisted him financially during his theological education. Gotthilf served as a pastor and district president of the Texas District.
After Birkmann's death in 1865, Seminarian G. Hieronymous completed the school year and served as a vacancy pastor for five months