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.
Thank you for taking the time to explore St. John’s 145 year history of ministry in the city of Columbus! This “abbreviated” history is necessarily long, because capturing 145 years from church historical records for our new website is something our founding members couldn’t have even imagined back then. We nevertheless hope you enjoy the spiritual journey into the history of a daring church with profound vision – and faith.
St. John's has its roots deep in the soil of the southern edge of downtown Columbus. Over the past 147 years, our church branches have grown to reach around the world. We honor our past at St. John’s, while continually striving to give new bloom to fresh ideas, with a faith-filled vision for our future ministry in the city of Columbus.
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 a new German Evangelical Protestant Church. The records say they "enthusiastically joined hands" to proceed.
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 extended a call to the Rev. Purpus (“Pastor 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 and contracted with Philip Schlapp to draw plans for a new church building. The cornerstone of the first St. John's church building was laid July 28, 1873. Dedication of the church was on May 3, 1874.
Most significantly, the congregation of 150 parishioners had constructed a building with a seating capacity of 800 – more than quadruple the size of the church at the time! Since its earliest days, the people of St. John’s have had vision and faith – even taking on debt to fund the ministry needed in the city. After several more years (and pastors), the congregation called Rev. Carl Ackerman to assume the duties of pastor on January 1885. He would serve St. John's for twelve years.
A new era dawned on St. John's with the next call of Rev. Jacob Pister on December 3, 1896 (and yes, he was called “Pastor Pister”!). 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. English language anthems and evening services were introduced. Church membership reached 777 by the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary. And the church’s building 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 Rickenbacher, first President of the congregation (Prentice-Hall, 1967, p. 8). Rickenbacher, 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. The 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 church 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.
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 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.
True to its original vision of abundant ministry, the congregation decided that the building, as planned, would not be large enough. 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.
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 October 25, 1925 with an original seating capacity of almost 1,200. Talk about vision!
Ladies' and men's organizations were active in support of the church, providing fellowship and serving in mission. The annual Sunday School picnics were a special event. Hundreds of children, teachers, church members and friends marched down High Street in costumes and riding decorated wagons, bicycles and motor vehicles to Schiller Park. Barrels of lemonade were consumed and all sorts of food, games and contests were enjoyed. A band concert and worship service would end the festivities of the day. It is recorded that 2,500 persons attended the picnic in 1930.
St. John's sponsored Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and athletic teams, particularly bowling and basketball.
City League trophies were won by St. John's teams throughout the 1920's and in 1930.
After seventeen years of service at St. John's, Rev. Lehmann resigned in January 1928 to become the president of Elmhurst College.
On October 23, 1928 the Rev. Gottieb Siegenthaler was installed as the sixth pastor of St. John's.
With membership peaking in 1929 at 1,727, the church, and the world, were about to enter into the period known as the Great Depression. Yet, during the worst of these years, almost $50,000 was paid on the debt for the new church building.
The union of the Evangelical Synod and the Reformed Church was consummated June 26, 1934. The name of the new body was the Evangelical and Reformed Church. With the church membership now at 1,527, Rev. Siegnthaler resigned in January 1935 to assume the pastorate of St. Matthew's in Baltimore. A call was made to Rev. Arnold E. Klick. He was installed September 22, 1935.
Above the altar is a large carved wood sculpture. This piece, called a reredos (from the Latin for "back" or "behind"), was carved in Germany from walnut and installed in the church in 1953 as a memorial.
Rev. Klick resigned in December 1953 to enter the national mission field by starting the congregation of Western Hills, Omaha, Nebraska. The Rev. Arthur Detwiler was installed on September 13, 1954. In 1957 St. John's called Rev. Ralph E. Schluer to become the associate pastor.
The merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches had been completed in 1957, forming the United Church of Christ. The Uniting General Synod of the United Church of Christ met on June 26, 1958.
In 1959 Rev. Detwiller resigned in October to accept a call in Texas. Rev. Schluer was called to become Senior Pastor of St. John's in May 1960. Also the first women were elected to Consistory, two being elected to be deacons. Pastor William F. von Brauchitsch was called to be the Associate Pastor and installed on December 3, 1961.
Tragically, on November 14, 1962, Pastor Ralph Schluer died while serving as Senior Pastor of St. John's at the age of 51. Then, on Palm Sunday, April 7, 1963, "the dream of our founders" -- what was called "the Chapel" (Christian Education Building) -- was partially destroyed by fire.
Pastor Leroy Kutz, Jr. was called to the Senior Pastor position and began his ministry July 7, 1963. After a settlement with the insurance company for fire damage, plans were made to rebuild the Christian Education Building. George Stegmiller was the architect and Garwick & Ross the general contractors for the new building. The ground-breaking service was held on September 13.
In 1966 the Triune Concert Series was introduced as a musical mission to the community featuring central Ohio musicians. May Schwarz was called to be the Minister of Music of St. John's Church in 1969. Under her leadership, St. John's became well known as one of the premier church music ministries in Columbus, and its music program was the hallmark by which St. John's was known in the Columbus area. In 2003 May was honored as one of the outstanding music ministers in the country. May left St. John's in 2019, after 50 years of leadership.
Renovation of the sanctuary and construction of a narthex began in April 1971 and was completed in June. Pastor Kutz resigned his position as Senior Pastor to accept a call to serve as Senior Minister of First Congregational Church of Port Huron, Michigan, on September 30, 1973.
On June 16, 1974 Rev. Donald W Gorbett began his ministry as senior pastor. Upon his resignation Pastor Paul E. Baumer was called to ministry.
During the 1980's, like many churches in downtown Columbus, the congregation began a long-term decline in membership. Nonetheless the sanctuary was refurbished during the summer of 1987 and an elevator was added to the building in 1995. The congregation has entered into several community ministries including ministries with homeless families.
Pastor Paul Baumer ended his tenure at St. John’s and later joined the ministry staff of First Community Church in Columbus, Ohio, where he continues to serve as Minister of Staff. After an interim period, Pastor Kathy Dwyer came to St. John's Church. During Pastor Dwyer's tenure, St. John's Church became an "Open and Affirming Church" in the United Church of Christ denomination. After obtaining her Doctor of Ministry degree Pastor Dwyer left to become senior pastor at Rock Spring Congregational Church UCC in Arlington, VA.
In 2011, Rev. Virginia Lohmann Bauman (J.D., M.Div.) was called as St. John’s current Senior Pastor. During her tenure, St. John’s has transformed into one of the most vibrant “new” legacy churches in downtown Columbus. Pastor Gini worked diligently to equip and empower St. John’s laity, paving the way for the church to start a new chapter in its history as the church courageously moved to best practices in ministry and engaged in deeper ministry on the margins of the Columbus community.
Under Pastor Gini’s leadership, St. John’s has now assembled a multi-talented ministry team featuring Director of Faith Formation, Mary Torok, Pastor of Community Engagement, Hank Osmundson, and our St. John's Worship Band. Together the St. John’s team is poised to lead the church into a new era of exponential growth and vibrant ministry – and this is where YOU become part of our story!
(Pastor Gini promises she will write a book about this latest chapter in St. John’s 146 year history – so we hope you will help us create our future story!)
St. John's has its roots deep in the soil of the southern edge of downtown Columbus. Over the past 147 years, our church branches have grown to reach around the world. We honor our past at St. John’s, while continually striving to give new bloom to fresh ideas, with a faith-filled vision for our future ministry in the city of Columbus.
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 a new German Evangelical Protestant Church. The records say they "enthusiastically joined hands" to proceed.
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 extended a call to the Rev. Purpus (“Pastor 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 and contracted with Philip Schlapp to draw plans for a new church building. The cornerstone of the first St. John's church building was laid July 28, 1873. Dedication of the church was on May 3, 1874.
Most significantly, the congregation of 150 parishioners had constructed a building with a seating capacity of 800 – more than quadruple the size of the church at the time! Since its earliest days, the people of St. John’s have had vision and faith – even taking on debt to fund the ministry needed in the city. After several more years (and pastors), the congregation called Rev. Carl Ackerman to assume the duties of pastor on January 1885. He would serve St. John's for twelve years.
A new era dawned on St. John's with the next call of Rev. Jacob Pister on December 3, 1896 (and yes, he was called “Pastor Pister”!). 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. English language anthems and evening services were introduced. Church membership reached 777 by the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary. And the church’s building 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 Rickenbacher, first President of the congregation (Prentice-Hall, 1967, p. 8). Rickenbacher, 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. The 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 church 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.
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 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.
True to its original vision of abundant ministry, the congregation decided that the building, as planned, would not be large enough. 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.
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 October 25, 1925 with an original seating capacity of almost 1,200. Talk about vision!
Ladies' and men's organizations were active in support of the church, providing fellowship and serving in mission. The annual Sunday School picnics were a special event. Hundreds of children, teachers, church members and friends marched down High Street in costumes and riding decorated wagons, bicycles and motor vehicles to Schiller Park. Barrels of lemonade were consumed and all sorts of food, games and contests were enjoyed. A band concert and worship service would end the festivities of the day. It is recorded that 2,500 persons attended the picnic in 1930.
St. John's sponsored Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and athletic teams, particularly bowling and basketball.
City League trophies were won by St. John's teams throughout the 1920's and in 1930.
After seventeen years of service at St. John's, Rev. Lehmann resigned in January 1928 to become the president of Elmhurst College.
On October 23, 1928 the Rev. Gottieb Siegenthaler was installed as the sixth pastor of St. John's.
With membership peaking in 1929 at 1,727, the church, and the world, were about to enter into the period known as the Great Depression. Yet, during the worst of these years, almost $50,000 was paid on the debt for the new church building.
The union of the Evangelical Synod and the Reformed Church was consummated June 26, 1934. The name of the new body was the Evangelical and Reformed Church. With the church membership now at 1,527, Rev. Siegnthaler resigned in January 1935 to assume the pastorate of St. Matthew's in Baltimore. A call was made to Rev. Arnold E. Klick. He was installed September 22, 1935.
Above the altar is a large carved wood sculpture. This piece, called a reredos (from the Latin for "back" or "behind"), was carved in Germany from walnut and installed in the church in 1953 as a memorial.
Rev. Klick resigned in December 1953 to enter the national mission field by starting the congregation of Western Hills, Omaha, Nebraska. The Rev. Arthur Detwiler was installed on September 13, 1954. In 1957 St. John's called Rev. Ralph E. Schluer to become the associate pastor.
The merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches had been completed in 1957, forming the United Church of Christ. The Uniting General Synod of the United Church of Christ met on June 26, 1958.
In 1959 Rev. Detwiller resigned in October to accept a call in Texas. Rev. Schluer was called to become Senior Pastor of St. John's in May 1960. Also the first women were elected to Consistory, two being elected to be deacons. Pastor William F. von Brauchitsch was called to be the Associate Pastor and installed on December 3, 1961.
Tragically, on November 14, 1962, Pastor Ralph Schluer died while serving as Senior Pastor of St. John's at the age of 51. Then, on Palm Sunday, April 7, 1963, "the dream of our founders" -- what was called "the Chapel" (Christian Education Building) -- was partially destroyed by fire.
Pastor Leroy Kutz, Jr. was called to the Senior Pastor position and began his ministry July 7, 1963. After a settlement with the insurance company for fire damage, plans were made to rebuild the Christian Education Building. George Stegmiller was the architect and Garwick & Ross the general contractors for the new building. The ground-breaking service was held on September 13.
In 1966 the Triune Concert Series was introduced as a musical mission to the community featuring central Ohio musicians. May Schwarz was called to be the Minister of Music of St. John's Church in 1969. Under her leadership, St. John's became well known as one of the premier church music ministries in Columbus, and its music program was the hallmark by which St. John's was known in the Columbus area. In 2003 May was honored as one of the outstanding music ministers in the country. May left St. John's in 2019, after 50 years of leadership.
Renovation of the sanctuary and construction of a narthex began in April 1971 and was completed in June. Pastor Kutz resigned his position as Senior Pastor to accept a call to serve as Senior Minister of First Congregational Church of Port Huron, Michigan, on September 30, 1973.
On June 16, 1974 Rev. Donald W Gorbett began his ministry as senior pastor. Upon his resignation Pastor Paul E. Baumer was called to ministry.
During the 1980's, like many churches in downtown Columbus, the congregation began a long-term decline in membership. Nonetheless the sanctuary was refurbished during the summer of 1987 and an elevator was added to the building in 1995. The congregation has entered into several community ministries including ministries with homeless families.
Pastor Paul Baumer ended his tenure at St. John’s and later joined the ministry staff of First Community Church in Columbus, Ohio, where he continues to serve as Minister of Staff. After an interim period, Pastor Kathy Dwyer came to St. John's Church. During Pastor Dwyer's tenure, St. John's Church became an "Open and Affirming Church" in the United Church of Christ denomination. After obtaining her Doctor of Ministry degree Pastor Dwyer left to become senior pastor at Rock Spring Congregational Church UCC in Arlington, VA.
In 2011, Rev. Virginia Lohmann Bauman (J.D., M.Div.) was called as St. John’s current Senior Pastor. During her tenure, St. John’s has transformed into one of the most vibrant “new” legacy churches in downtown Columbus. Pastor Gini worked diligently to equip and empower St. John’s laity, paving the way for the church to start a new chapter in its history as the church courageously moved to best practices in ministry and engaged in deeper ministry on the margins of the Columbus community.
Under Pastor Gini’s leadership, St. John’s has now assembled a multi-talented ministry team featuring Director of Faith Formation, Mary Torok, Pastor of Community Engagement, Hank Osmundson, and our St. John's Worship Band. Together the St. John’s team is poised to lead the church into a new era of exponential growth and vibrant ministry – and this is where YOU become part of our story!
(Pastor Gini promises she will write a book about this latest chapter in St. John’s 146 year history – so we hope you will help us create our future story!)
