HISTORY
OF
ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
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St.
John's Evangelical Lutheran Church |
Many
people who had been born and brought up in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Germany sought such a church when they came to America. A number of these
German immigrants came down from the Buffalo area and settled in Allegany, NY In 1856, a United Evangelical Protestant Congregation was established. Services were originally held once a month in the old public school house. Within a year, the congregation had moved to the Presbyterian Church for worship. The first pastor of the Lutheran congregation was Rev. C. F. S. Strauss, who came from Dunkirk once a month. During a meeting on November 27, 1857, the congregation had decided to build a church of its own on land given by the Harmon and Johnson families on Day Street (now N. Fourth Street). Most of the labor and all of the materials were provided by members of the congregation. The new building was dedicated on August 4, 1861. Since the Lutheran church had no pastor of its own, the pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Tightsworth, consecrated the new building. The building was used for services, but had no furnishings. A group, known only as an "English Congregation," negotiated a deal with the Lutheran congregation to furnish the church in return for use of the building one-half day per week for ten years. Within two years of the agreement, the "English Congregation" disbanded. |
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From its earliest days the small congregation recognized the importance of a church school and so purchased for $75 the former residence of Mr. Willard, which was moved in the snow by oxen, and with little change served well as a school. They were also able to purchase the property where the parsonage now stands for $200. In 1862, a full-time teacher was hired (Teacher Rademacher). The congregation also called Rev. C. E. Englender, pastor of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Olean, NY. Although Rev. Englender first preached in Allegany on Easter Sunday, 1862, he did not immediately accept the call because the congregation still called themselves "United Evangelical Protestant's." He could not administer his Sacred Office to other than an Evangelical Lutheran congregation. On July 28, 1862, the congregation unanimously voted to change the name of their church to the First German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Allegany in order to reflect the origins of its members. The name change opened the way for Rev. Englender to accept the call to be pastor of the Allegany church, which he served together with the Olean church. In October of 1863, the Allegany church joined the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other states. In July of 1868, Rev. J. Bernreuther was installed as pastor, serving until 1887. |
St.
John's Lutheran Church |
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Sanctuary and Chancel |
In January of 1888, Rev. F. C. Weidmann was installed. The church had been enlarged once and a new parsonage had been consecrated. The congregation separated from the Olean church in order to have its own pastor. Rev. A. T. Pechtold was installed on September 1, 1889 (serving until December 18, 1904). By this time the congregation had changed it's name to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. A day school opened on September 7, 1889 with 17 students enrolled. On May 11, 1890 the Sunday School had an enrollment of 27 pupils. Teachers were Rev. Pechtold, Mrs. Caroline Miller, Mr. Herman Kleinschmidt, and Mrs. Katherine Mossner. The congregation purchased the bell from the Stuckstede foundry in St. Louis in 1897. Rev. Theodore Buch was installed on May 14, 1905 (serving until November 1, 1909). The church choir sang for the first time on July 16, 1905. On December 8, 1907, the stained glass windows and altar furnishings were consecrated during a special service of Thanksgiving. Included were the altar, pulpit, two clergy chairs, baptismal font, hymn board, and communion railing. These were secured through gifts from the members. |
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Rev. R. W. Huebsch was installed on November 14, 1909, serving until January 1928. On April 22, 1928, Rev. H. W. Moehring was installed. He served until September 1, 1931. Rev. E. P. Beyer was installed on November 8, 1931, serving until he retired his pastorate in 1937. Rev. Daniel J. Knueppel was installed on September 26, 1937. The new vestibule and church front were completed. Rev. Knueppel served until 1941. Rev. Edward Brusick was installed on November 16, 1941 and served until July 24, 1949. Rev. Clyde Hahn was installed on January 9, 1950, serving until 1963. The church had undergone a major building project. A new chancel and a 14 room educational wing was added in 1950, dedicated in 1951. The congregation celebrated its 100th year in May of 1956 with special services lead by Rev. Moehring, Rev. Knueppel, and Rev. Brusick, all former pastors of St. John's. In 1956, St. John's had 250 communicant members and 154 children enrolled in Sunday School. On November 10, 1963, Rev. Gerard Drum was installed and served the congregation of St. John's for nearly 33 years retiring on April 28, 1996. Rev. Gerard F. leFeber was installed January 12, 1997 and currently serves the congregation. The narthex was renovated in 1996 and a new addition was dedicated on August 31, 1997 which houses the new pastors study, additional basement storage and a new Sunday school classroom. Also, the kitchen was enlarged and renovated in the summer of 2000, dedicated on September 29. |
St.
John's Lutheran Church |
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Church Steeple Installation |
When the church front was enlarged in the 1930’s, it required the removal of the steeple, which had fallen into a state of disrepair and was unsafe. While plans called for the eventual installation of a steeple on the new bell tower, it would be nearly 70 years before the steeple would be replaced. Funds raised by church members, including memorial gifts, made it possible to install the new steeple on the church on October 24, 2001. The dedication of the new spire was done on Reformation Sunday, celebrated on October 28, 2001, officiated by Pastor leFeber. |
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