This historical account of St. John's was taken from the pages of two booklets: St. John's Church History 1872-1874, written by George R. Schoedinger, Sr. and Helen M Schoedinger (their ancestor, Philip Schoedinger served on the first church council), and One Hundred Twenty-five Years, complied and written by Rev. Donald M. Yaekle and Rev. Paul Baumer.
St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church
United Church of Christ
St. John's has its roots deep in the soil of the southern edge of downtown Columbus. Over the past 131 years, its branches have grown to reach around the world. Even though St. John's has a rich heritage and strong traditions, it strives to give new bloom to fresh ideas and have a faithful eye into the future.
The St. John's seed was planted in June of 1872 when 20 men met in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Bleile, Sr. to discuss the formation of new German Evangelical Protestant Church. The records say they "enthusiastically joined hands" to proceed. These men had been denied the spiritual blessing of other established churches in Columbus because of the group's membership in secret societies (particularly the Masons).
Word went out to those of German descent, and on July 16, 1872 a larger group met in the old City Hall (possibly the same building that housed the Central or Old Market). At this meeting the constitution was adopted and the name "St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church" was chosen.
Not having any affiliation with any denominational organization, they needed to advertise for a pastor through the newspapers. The congregation, worshiping in the Market or City Hall, extended a call to the Rev. Purpus to serve as the first pastor of St. John's. He began his ministry on December 1, 1872.
For a year and a half, worship services were held at the United Brethren Church at Town and Carpenter Street. During this time the congregation purchased a lot on East Mound Street for $5,500 and contracted with Philip Schlapp to draw plans for a new church building. The cornerstone of the first St. John's church building (see photo) was laid July 28, 1873. Dedication of the church was on May 3, 1874. This building had a seating capacity of approximately 800. There were 150 parishioners on the church rolls,100 enrolled in Sunday School, and a debt of $20,000.00 -- a sizable sum for those days.
Over the next five years little was done to lessen the debt of construction, and membership had decreased to 119. Rev. Purpus resigned in June of 1879 to return to Germany. The Rev. J.J. Weiss assumed the duties of pastor in August, 1879. A house to house canvas was made among the membership to bring the debt to $16,705. Membership in 1879 was recorded at 210.
On the recommendation of Pastor Weiss, St. John's joined the Columbus Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in 1881. For one year they remained in this association. In 1882, having liquidated all their obligations to the Presbytery, they withdrew to become again an independent congregation.
Historically, St John's is an independent congregation, and gives that same independence to its members. Members are not required to assent to a particular statement of faith in order to belong to the congregation other than the original proclamation of the Christian Church, which affirms Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Upon Rev. Weiss' resignation in 1884 to join the Ohio Synod of the Lutheran Church, the congregation called Rev. Carl Ackerman to assume the duties of pastor on January 1885. He would serve St. John's for twelve years. There was some renovation and a better lighting system installed during this period.
According to these aforementioned historical recordings, a new era dawned on St. John's with the call of Rev. Jacob Pister on December 3, 1896. It was under his ministry that the Sunday School was reorganized. Both enrollment and attendance increased at a rapid rate. The average attendance in 1897 was 188. By April, 1899 it had increased to 590 with 71 teachers. The young people in the church organized a Christian Endeavor Society in 1897. English language anthems and evening services were introduced. Church membership reached 777 by the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary. And the debt was paid in full on May 7, 1899.
A personal note about Rev. Pister is found in the autobiography of Eddie Rickenbacher, son of John Richenbacher, first President of the congregation (Prentice-Hall, 1967, p. 8). Richenbacher, a World War I ace, while on a special mission for the United States government in World War II was lost at sea for 24 days. He became an executive of General Motors and Eastern Airlines. He writes:
"On Sunday, we all dressed up in our best to attend Sunday school services and, when we were old enough, morning worship at St. John's Church in the south end of Columbus. T he pastor of the church was Rev. Jacob Pister, one of the most forthright and inspiring individuals I have ever known. He christened me, and years later performed my wedding ceremony."
In 1901 a dream of the founders became a reality. A building to house the Sunday School and social activities was started. The cornerstone bearing the inscription, "Jesus Christus der Rechte Eckstein" (Jesus Christ the true cornerstone), was laid September 27, 1901 and the building was dedicated in March 1902.
A gradual change from German to English started to take place. At first English services were held on Sunday evenings. By 1909 the first Sunday of the month was in English.
The Mary-Martha Missionary Society was organized in the 1907 and the Brotherhood was organized in 1909. A new organ was installed by the Moeller Organ Co. of Hagerstown, Maryland in 1910 at a cost of $7,700. This organ was the largest and finest in the city of Columbus.
Pastor Pister left St. John's in 1911 to answer a call to St. Paul's Church, Chicago. A call was then extended to Rev. Timotheus Lehmann. He was installed July 16, 1911. Under his leadership the church grew numerically as well as spiritually. Sunday School enrollment rose to 1,083 in 1916, with an average attendance of 753 per Sunday. Church enrollment rose to 1,553 in 1927.
In 1914 the church called Miss Margaret Kunzmann as Parish Worker. She served St. John's more than 25 years. Her duties were to assist the Pastor in calling on the sick, the aged, and others.
Enthusiasm running high, in 1917 the congregation decided to remodel the now 43 -year old building. But after due consideration it was deemed unwise to remodel. The congregation voted to build a new church on the site of the old. The firm of Miller and Reeves was retained as architects. Plans were drawn for a building to cost about $126,000. At a later meeting the congregation decided that the building, as planned, would not be large enough. As all available ground was being used, it was necessary to purchase two lots east of the church and have the alley moved. An opportunity presented itself to purchase the lot west of the church, which increased the total frontage to about 133 feet. Plans were accepted and the last service was held in the old church on Easter Sunday, 1924, some seven years from the original decision to remodel.
During this period of planning for a new building, on June 23, 1923 St. John's officially joined the Evangelical Synod of North America at Kenton, Ohio, on June 23. Rev. Lehmann left for a tour of the denominational missions in India on September 24, returning in time for the Easter service in 1924.
Yet another cornerstone was laid on Sunday, August 3, 1924, bearing the inscription: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another. 1872-1924."
The architecture in a medieval European Romanesque academic revival by Reeves and Miller, is in the traditional cruciform shape. Materials were brought to the site in-the-rough and were shaped to fit as they were built into the church.
The building, which is the present structure, was completed in October 25, 1925 with a seating capacity of almost 1,200. This number would decease over the years as improvements were made to the sanctuary.
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