page_title: Johannes Adam Simon Oertel
section_title: St James Episcopal Church
hierarchical_section_title: Johannes Adam Simon Oertel / St James Episcopal Church
context_page_description: Johannes Adam Simon Oertel was a German-American Episcopal clergyman and artist.
context_section_description: The Rev. Johannes Oertel served as the priest of St James Episcopal Church in Lenoir, North Carolina, from 1869 to 1874. He was one of the first in the valley to offer a school for African American children, and offered religious services to those recently freed from slavery, including baptism, confirmation, marriage and funeral rites.
  The Reredos in front of the church is an outstanding exampal of his woodworking skills. Made from over four hundred pieces of chestnut, oak, poplar, holly, cherry, beech, and pine, they were often carved during missionary trips to the Chapel of Rest in Happy Valley, North Carolina, and the Chapel of Peace in Witnel, North Carolina The architectural design is  Gothic perpendicular from the 14th and 16th centuries. While Rev. Oertel carved other reredos and altar rails, the one in St. James is considered to be the most intricate and notable. The altar painting (1872) is layered oil on canvass with gold gilt, and depicts Jesus administering Holy Communion to male and female communicants.
  While at St. James, friends in New York donated the 100 year old pump organ from Christ Episcopal Church (Tarrytown, New York). The organ, dating from about 1770, was the first instrument to enhance the service in Lenoir. Rev. Oertel rebuilt the damaged organ, making new pipes, and a new wind chest and bellows. He then carved an illuminated case for the organ works.
  By the main church door of the church is "Father Time and His Family", (1862, charcoal and pen on paper), which was completed in Westerly, Rhode Island. It depicts Father Time, his wife (the year) and their children (the months). Each child carries an item from the Cornucopia representative of their month.
  A collection of his art is held by the church, and includes: "The Wandering Jew" (1902?, oil on canvas); "Capturing Wild Horses" (print); "Founded Upon a Rock" (1900, oil on canvas); "Rock of Ages" (offset lithography), and known as his most popular work; "Man Rowing Out on the Sea of Life With Christ as Pilot" (1880, oil on canvas); "In Memorium" (between 1880 and 1900, oil on canvas board); "Christian Hope" (1867, oil on canvas); "Head of St Paul" (oil on canvas, unknown date); "Expulsion from the Garden of Eden" (1893, oil on canvas); "Prophecy of Balaam" (1891, monochrome oil on canvas); "The Four Evangelists" (1884, monochrome oil on canvas); "Lament of the Fallen Spirits" (1850, oil on canvas); "Mary Magdalene at the Cross" (ca 1902, oil on canvas); "The Good Shepherd" (1878, oil on canvas); "The Prophet Jeremiah" (oil on canvas, unknown date); "The King of Truth" (1903, oil on canvas); "The Prophet Joel"; The Prophet Ezekiel"; "The Prophet Isaiah"; "The Unknown Prophet";  "The Dispensation of Promise and the Law" (1864-1865, chalk and ink on linen-backed paper).
  He had charge of two parishes in North Carolina (in Lenoir) until 1876.  He moved around a great deal as a priest and spent time in North Carolina, Florida,  Tennessee, St. Louis, Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia.
caption: "The Union Scout" by Johannes Adam Simon Oertel, 1866.
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