jeanzpix: UTTUM - OSTFRIESLAND

SPRING, 2011
May Day found us at the Uttum church.

This is the church where my Great Grandfather grew up and from which he departed to America. He probably sat in pews there (if they went to church more back then). I’m sure he knew about an “A. Plükker” whose name we saw on a plaque in the church as one of the men who died in the war of 1870-71.

See the name there on the top row, second column.

From Gene: "When we went inside and talked with a couple of laymen – and a lay woman. None could speak English so I carried on in Platt. I told them Jean was a Plükker from Uttum. One guy ran into the sanctuary and sure enough, there was A. Plükker on the wall. He, along with about a dozen others, died in combat in a war fought in 1870-71. That plaque was not on the wall when we were here in 1997. In fact, there was no sign of Plükkers then - anywhere. When Joe and Lydia Mihelic were in Germany and visited Uttum in about 1955 or so, they had a picture of a plaque from this church with Plükker on it – it may have been the same one, refinished."

"This church is probably nothing like the church was when Menne Plücker attended. It has been newly refurbished and is very beautiful inside –all white and purple. The organ is beautiful, too, and was played by a young man who did a good job."

"The sanctuary had been redone. The high pulpit is on the east wall midway between either end of the church. Most of the pews face the pulpit, and that is where most of the congregation sat. On either end of the church there are a few pews that sit normally as in most other churches. Those who sit in them look at the preacher from the side. This church with its re-do is now very “Reformed” with the high pulpit, the communion table at ground level along with the baptismal font."

Here you can see just a bit of the organist.

"The organist, I thought, was better in this church than the others we have visited. He was a very young man. I didn’t know that until the service was over and I saw him come down from the balcony. Amost all the organs we have seen are in the balcony at the back."

"There were 16 people in church - four were American. Unusual, I thought, was the eight men and eight women in attendance. It is usually two or three men and the rest women. The pastor didn’t read everything, but was animated. . . . It [must] have been a good sermon."