On the seventeenth day of September 1837, a group of 120 Germans met for the purpose of organizing what later became known as the St. John Evangelical Church. They sought Christian fellowship with the Presbyterian Church until the time seemed auspicious for the organizing of their own church. An offer to take over the Presbyterian Church building, built eight years earlier, was accepted and a transfer of the deed gave the Germans their first church home. Two years later a lot adjoining the church was purchased and a log house was erected for the pastor. Mr. George Reiss was the first pastor but Mr. C. E. Rosenfield is termed the real founder. Fourteen pastors served the church from 1848 to 1866 and little is known about the church during that period of time. Mr. Hardorf left the service of the church and organized the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.

From 1855 to 1875 and again from 1877 to the time of his death, Reverend C. A. Hermann served as Pastor. The old church could no longer accommodate the growing congregation and it was torn down. The present edifice was erected in 1867 and paid off in 1903.   Under Reverend Hermann's leadership the Bible School, the choir and the Ladies Aid was brought to higher levels and a catechetical instruction was introduced. St. Paul Evangelical Church and St. John of East Hamilton (Redeemer) were organized by Reverend Hermann.

Reverend Philip Stempel served between the pastorates of Reverend Hermann and organized two youth groups, one for young women and one for young men. After the death of Reverend Hermann in 1903, Reverend H. A. Dickman was called as Pastor and after serving for seven years he left with his friends to organize Bethel Church which is now known as the Bethel Christian Missionary Alliance Church.

St. John Choir, 1902 Top row: Henry Houzler, Otto Liebrich, Gus Phillips, E. Masmann, John Lotz, August Haid, William Keppler, Junnette Stephens;     Bottom row:  Rev. C.A. Hermann, Margarethe Hufnagle, Gussie Stephan, Caroline Lingler, Anna Buetner, Katherine Braun, Helen Lingler, Frieda Ludeke, Maggie Schmuck, Irma Ludeke, Frieda Kuhn

In 1900 the stained glass windows were installed and given in memory of loved ones by families of the congregation.  The years of 1910 and 1911 brought Pastors of different affiliations to serve the church. In 1911 the Reverend G. L. Gerhold was called and St. John Church made application to become part of the Indiana District of the Synod.

In 1913 St. John became a refuge for the flood victims. Shelter and food were provided by the Pastor's family and members of the congregation.

Extensive remodeling of the interior of the church took place in 1919. New pews, a new lighting system, a new electric organ, walls and ceiling were frescoed and new hardwood floors were laid. An additional lot was purchased by the Ladies Aid. The parsonage (now the Educational Building) was built in 1905.

1920 again brought a new pastor. Reverend C. L. Langerhans accepted the call and he served until his death in 1931. The tower of the church was removed because of its unsafe condition.

After the death of Reverend Langerhans the congregation extended a call to Reverend Fred C. Kuether. Once again the congregation ventured into an extensive remodeling program. The Bible School needed better facilities. The church basement was remodeled. A modern kitchen was installed and modern rest rooms were provided. A vault for the safe keeping of church records and a wide concourse connecting all basement rooms to the church proper were part of the renovation. The annex connecting the church with the parsonage was also a part of the remodeling program.

In June of 1934 St. John Evangelical Church merged with the Reformed Churches and became known as St. John Evangelical and Reformed Church. In 1957 the Evangelical and Reformed Churches joined the Congregational Christians to become the United Church of Christ.

From 1950 to 1979 St. John's has been served by faithful and dedicated pastors, namely, Reverend Ann Blasberg, Reverend Roy Whisenhunt, Philip Stahl, Reverend Lester Dresch, Reverend Marvin Rettig, Reverend Anthony Acheson, and Reverend Kenneth Wyant. Some highlights of these years are the moving of the parsonage from 412 South Front Street to Cleveland Avenue and then to a new home at 1300 Susan Drive. A new steeple was erected and, put in place in 1964. The Educational Building was renovated and the church was sand blasted and returned to its original color of red brick.

Members of St. John Church who have dedicated their lives to Christ and were ordained here are Paul Kaefer in 1920; Arthur Gerhold in 1925; Fred C. Kuether in 1934; Merlin N. Getz in 1964 and James Farinet in 1972. Oscar Storch went into the Presbyterian Ministry and Hilda Mark became a Deaconess in the Evangelical Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

The history of the church is written on the basis of events which stand out and are observed by man, but the best record of the church is written in the lives of men, women and youth influenced for good through their association with a household of faith. May He make us increasingly faithful to the charge placed in our keeping.

(source for the text:  1980 St. John United Church of Christ Directory)
 
 

St. John’s Brotherhood, 1911 Beginning with the front row:  Dr. Hermann, Theo. Bock, Mayor C. S. Bosch, Dr. Hammerle, Supt. Joyce, Rev. Moorhead, Dr. Frechtling, Judge Belden, H. Hammerle, Mr. Horn, Capt. Zellner, F. Gradolph; C. Kaefer, A. Haid, J. Gebhardt, C. Roemer, W. Gebhart, Sr., Wm. Stonebridge, G. Bisdorf, A. Bauer, J. Fuhrman, Sr., P. Beiser, M. Burkhardt, R. Thiem, Mr. Kauffung, C. Schellhorn, Mr. Pfirrman, Sr., M. Young, Rev. Gerhold, Mr. Rothenbusch, C. Mueller, H. Garver, J. Bosch, P. Straub, J. Keiser, Sr., J. Pabst, G. Stroh, V. Gradolph, J. Fuhrman, Jr., Mr. Sipp, H. Geckler, F. Rodenbush, R. Roemer, G. Bisdorf, Sr., C. Ranke, C. Pabst, P. Morgenthaler , Mr. Keller, F. Humbach, G. Protzman, F. Nagleschmidt, P. Schwab, H. Denzler, K. Huber, Prof. Huber, P. Turner, Wm. Hartleb, Wm. Getz, Wm. Reiff, Mr. Helfrich, Arthur Pfirrman, Earl Schneider, Fred Shearer, Robert Gessner, David Ittel, John Reiff, Joe Anselm, Chas. Ebel, Carl Bartels, E. Burkhardt, Otto Bauer, John Lotz, John Schweizer, John Schorr, John Metz, C. DeArmond, C. Reinke.

 © 2000 by the Butler County Historical Society