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Groundbreaking for new Fellowship Hall

        Spring, 1961  -   Dedication Jan., 1962

The following photographs were submitted by:

Martha Koeller

Short Church History

The history of our Church began  in 1803, the German Reformed Church Synod of Pennsylvania then sponsored the meetings. The Church was reorganized in 1816. In 1817, a "United Church" was dedicated serving both Lutheran and Reformed congregations. This church building (of logs) was located in what is now Peace Park and served until 1833.

Our congregation joined the Ohio Synod of the Reformed Church in 1843. The First constitution was approved listing 109 members and a Sunday school was established.

A new church building was erected on our present site in 1854 and the parsonage, still in use, was built in 1860. In 1894, a bell tower and Sunday school room was added to the sanctuary section.

In 1941, a new addition was added to the tower building, and is known as the "Geeting" section and consists of five rooms and a rest room. In 1962 our fellowship hall was built connected by an entry way to our bell tower section.

Our denominational affiliation remained Reformed until 1934 at which time we merged with the Evangelical Church (German) and were known as the First Evangelical and Reformed Church.

Our Evangelical and Reformed Church united with the Congregational Christian Churches in 1957 and formed the United Church of Christ. In 1969 we changed our name from First Church back to the original name of St. John and it remains as such.