Church History 1908 to the Present

      The early history of the our present church was recorded in German and translated by W. Louise Kochert with assistance by Selma Kutschman.  These excerpts from the souvenir book, November 1962.

     As a building committee for the erection of the new church, the Messrs. Henry Bieberson, President, George Hook, C.F. Brandfass, John Medick and William Goering - in whose place - Mr. Henry Moenkemoeller stepped in - were named.  To this Mr. John Friedal, congregational president, was named ex-officio.

     Next the congregation must choose a site.  Two were in view - one on Chapline Street between the Court Theater and Aul's Cleaning Establishment, and the other on the northeast corner of Chapline and 22nd Streets.  The choice fell to the latter, and it was  for $27,500.  The firm of Giesey and Faris were employed as architects.  Mr. Louis Harttong was appointed superintendent of all building by the committee.

     The work of the building of the church is in the hands of the following firms:

• Stone Masonry - Low and Boyd, Wheeling

• Brickwork and Terra Cotta - Brodley and Phillips

• Woodwork - Louis Harttong and Sons

• Plumbing and Heating - Trimble and Lutz Company

• Whitewashing - C.E. Groves

• Electrical Arrangements - G.H Gould

• Paint and Painter - B.F. Higgins

• Metal Roofing - Wheeling Corrugating Iron Works

• Metal and Slate Work - David E. Bayha

     The artistic glass windows are from Von Gerichten Art Glass Company in Columbus, Ohio and the large pipe organ from the American Pipe Organ Company in Pomeroy, Ohio.  The chairs in the schoolroom and the gallery of the church were delivered by the American Seating Company., Chicago, Ill.

     The chandeliers and sundry gas and electric appliances came from Trimble and Lutz.

     On the 26th of May, 1907, the building was so far advanced that the corner stone could be laid, and on that day, with delightful weather, and a good attendance, it was accomplished.

     The stone lays in the northeastern corner and carries the inscription - "Evangelical Protestantische St. John's Church 1836 - 1907."  It contains a copper box filled with various objects given by the members.  Since the presiding minister was recovering from a lengthy serious illness and was unable to attend the services, at the wish of the building committee and the Church Council, the ministers who had served during our ministers illness were invited to attend the ceremony.  The Pastors Christian Schaer from Steubenville, Ohio, and Otto Eisele from Wheeling; Pastor J. Fuendling of San Francisco, California., who 35 years ago served our congregation, and was here on a visit; and last Pastor William Geese of Allegheny City, a child of our own congregation.

     Besides the men's choir of the Church, the Beethoven Singing Society and Miester's Band took part.

     Aside from the pastor's the president of the congregation, Mr. John Friedal, Mr. Henry Bieberson, and Mr. William Stamm - the oldest living member of the church - who had taken part in the corner stone laying of the three churches and who hoped to witness the dedication of this one, also gave a stroke of the hammer.

     From that point forward the building made rapid progress, despite the fact in so large a building many difficulties and hindrances detained them on the way, but the building committee did everything in its power to further the progress.

     The following is a short description of the Church and parsonage as published in the local German Paper by the Church;

     The new Church and parsonage kept in the German - Gothic style both outside and inside, will be an imposing ornamental contribution, and no doubt the most beautiful in the city and neighborhood.  The front of the church is on Chapline Street, but the main entrance to the parsonage will be on 22nd Street.  The dimensions for the Church are 55 feet wide and 98 feet long - the parsonage is 25 feet wide and 66 feet long.  The Church will be three stories high.

     In the basement there will be a dining room, kitchen, and storage room; furthermore, a furnace room, a room for the church sexton and wash rooms with all conveniences for men and women.

     This floor is built of hewn stone.

     The second and third floors are built of light brick and will be flanked with two towers, one on the north, the other on the south eastern corner.  The main entrance will be in these towers.

     The Sunday school room with stage and smaller rooms for the secretary and Sunday school library will be located on the second floor.

     The large auditorium of the Church will be on the third floor.  The organ will occupy a niche on the west side with pulpit and alter in front.  Opposite on the east side a tasteful gallery is built in.  On the side of the organ is a room for the church choir.

     The parsonage is on the west wall of the Church and is connected on both the lower and upper floors by several entrances. so that the pastor can go directly into the Church or school room.   On the ground floor is a laundry and other cellar rooms; on the first floor is a parlor, a library, a dinning room, kitchen, pantry and large entrance hall.  On the second floor are four bedrooms and the bathroom, while on the third floor is a large attic which has been divided into two rooms.

     The Church and parsonage is built in the same style, so that it looks like one big building.  An ornament to the parsonage is a large veranda on 22nd Street.

     The inner structure is of iron and oak wood.  Metal covers cover the ground floor and the first floor of the Church, while the ceiling of the Church is in the Gothic style.

     The magnificent windows of the old church decorate the new, and the new ones are works of art of the first class.

     The grounds and the church without the inner furnishings, such as the organ, benches, carpet, chairs, gas, electric, and water facilities, glass, etc., cost around $74,000, and St. John's congregation can be proud to possess the most beautiful and practical Church in the city.

     In addition we add the following for completeness:

     The still missing two large windows were donated by the Women's Society and the Christian Endeavor Society; and the first was "Jesus in Bethany" - with Mary and Matha - the second "The Good Samaritan."

    In the tower of the upper vestibule of the Church, four new windows were donated by:

• Family of William Stamm -

  • The Risen Christ

• Children of the deceased Mr. L.C. Stifel -

  • The Sacrificial Angel

• Mr. Henry Bieberson -

  • The resurrection Angel

• Mrs. Louise Happy -

  • The Sower

     In the school room the windows were donated by the following friends:

• Lohse Family -

  • Ornamental Window - Chalice and Grapes

• Henry Moenkemoeller -

  • Jesus the Good Shepherd

• Schenerlein - Laue -

  • Bust of the Boy Jesus

     The remaining art windows are gifts of the Families of F. Schmeichel, Sr., Bingell, Peter Zimmer, C. Sobanski, The Young People's Society and the Sunday School.

     The windows in the lower vestibule are gifts of the:

• John Medick Family -

  • Bust of Apostle John

• G. Weissner Family -

  • Crown

• Fred Borck Family -

  • Cross

     The wondrously beautiful windows over the entrance doors in the large tower are gifts of Messrs. John Friedal and Louis Harttong.

    Further gifts include:

• Pulpit and Altar Cloth

  • Miss Caroline Stamm

• Pulpit Bible

  • Mr. Peter Iverson

• New Clock

  • Mr. Bernard Hose

     And finally -

• Reading Desk

  • Mr. George Moenkemoller

     At last the work is completed, a house worthy to be used as a house in which to worship the Lord, in whose service it stands, and the congregation which has so beautifully decorated it.  The building committee looks back with satisfaction in its work.  They endeavored zealously to do their duty and hope they have complied with the wishes of the congregation.

     May the Lord commend the deed.

Girded then with such a challenging history, let us look at the events of St. John’s in the following years. On May 18, 1924, Rev. Wm. J. Hausmann was called to serve the congregation. The organ, which cost $16,000, was dedicated on April 7, 1925. In 1926 the entire church interior was refrescoed.

On October 21, 1928, St. John’s affiliated with the Evangelical Synod of North America. In 1929 the German services were questioned and evaluated. On July 1, 1929, the congregation voted to have German services on the first Sunday evening of every month. Then on January 6, 1930, due to poor attendance, the congregation voted to hold the German services once a month after regular English services. Finally, on January 8, 1934, the congregation voted to discontinue all German services on a regular basis.

In June of 1934 Rev. Hausmann was given permission to look of rental property as a parsonage. Later in 1946 it was decided by the congregation to purchase the rental home of Rev. Hausmann for $9,000.

With a denominational merger, the congregation again changed their name on July 5, 1939 to St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church.

In 1949 attention was given to the chancel area of the building. Nineteen members were in favor and thirteen were against altering and rearranging the chancel furnishings. A new central altar was purchased as well as new carpet. Various members also purchased a set of candlesticks, cross, altar vases, dossal curtains, choir rail curtains, flags, and had the chairs re-upholstered. The new chancel renovations were designed and installed by Meyers Brothers of Steubenville, Ohio.

In 1957 the United Church of Christ as formed, representing a merger of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. St. John’s participated in this merger about 1961, and the name was again changed to St. John’s United Church of Christ.

With the retirement of Rev. Hausmann after thirty-six years of faithful service, the congregation called the Rev. Mr. Ralph Rebman. Rev. Rebman served St. John’s from 1960 to 1968. During the interim period after Rev. Rebman’s pastorate, the congregation purchased new cushioned pews for the sanctuary. By September, 1969, the campaign was over-subscribed. Around $6,000 had been received. The pews were purchased from the Sauder Manufacturing Company of Archbold, Ohio.

On January 18, 1970, a special congregational meeting was held to call the Rev. Mr. Byron Amacher. In that same month the congregation voted to sell the old parsonage at 41 Park Place and purchase a home at 20 Echo Terrace for the sum of $19,000.

In October, 1970, the congregation voted to have the Hunt Stained Glass Company of Pittsburgh re-cement the stained glass windows and pain the window frames in the sanctuary, the total cost for this project was $5,875. In January, 1971, the church steeple was repaired by the Trigg Company of Neffs, Ohio, for a cost of $3,001.

In July of 1971, Rev. Amacher was confined to the Ohio Valley Medical Center, and supply ministers were obtained from Bethany College. With this illness began periods continuing over 18 months when Pastor Amacher was unable to give his leadership ability due to being confined to his home or hospital.

On October 10. 1971, the congregation voted to accept a bid to renovate the women’s restroom for a cost of $2,562, as well as a bid to repair the gutters on the church for a cost of $1,895. In July of 1972 Council decided to call Dr. Hubert Barnett to serve as interim pastor, since Rev. Amacher’s physical condition continued to worsen. These delicate deliberations were done with advice from the Eastern Ohio Association. Dr. Barnett began work at St. John’s September 1, 1972.

In August of 1972 the organ committee report was approved, and the Moller Organ Company was contracted to releather certain sections of the organ for a total cost of $2,200.

In October the congregation received a letter of resignation from Rev. Amacher, effective December 31, 1972.

On December 17, 1972, the congregation of St. John’s called the Rev. Mr. Ronald C. Riggs as their pastor. It was also decided at that time to place the present parsonage at 12 Echo Terrace up for sale and set up a housing allowance for their new pastor. Rev. Riggs was officially installed as pastor of St. John’s on March 18, 1973. At that service the Rev. Mr. William J. Hausmann was honored with the honorary title of Pastor Emeritus.

At a special congregational meeting held August 4, 1974, it was voted to contract with the Hunt Stained Glass Company of Pittsburgh to seal with clear plexiglass the stained glass windows in the bell tower and to remove the opaque glass in the rest of the towers and replace with tinted plexiglass. This was financed through the Memorial Fund for a cost of $4,298.00.

On June 29, 1975, the congregation, after considerable study and discussion, embarked upon major renovation of the first level of the church building. For a sum not to exceed $17,000 the Blaine Sampson Company of Dallas Pike was hired to create a large multipurpose room, now being used by children in our Learning Community, a new nursery, and new kitchen plus a new men’s restroom. The money to pay for this project was borrowed from a local bank, and the repayment of the loan is to be made using the dividends from church stocks that have to come to St. John’s as bequests to the Memorial Fund. The work on this project was completed on January 23, 1976.

Challenged by the generosity of those who remembered their church in wills, the living members responded through a special drive to paint the sanctuary and all three halls and stair wells, and to add special spot lights to enhance the chancel area. The project was completed in time for the October, 1976, 140th Anniversary Celebrations. The total cost of this redecoration was about $7,200.

It had been apparent for several years that the church’s pipe organ was deteriorating. In 1979 the congregation decided to renovate the organ and a contract was signed with M. P. Moeller, Inc., organ building firm of Hagerstown, Maryland, for the work to be done at a cost of $79,000. Half of this amount was to be borrowed from the Memorial Trust Fund and the other half raised by donations. The renovation was completed in 1981 and the organ dedicated on Palm Sunday of that year; a dedicatory recital followed on June 7, performed by Dr. John Lively of Pittsburgh. At this time also Mr. John Shepherd became the church’s Organist and Music Director and began leading the choir to a renewed level of ability and ministry.

In August of 1980 Rev. Riggs accepted a call to the Congregational Church of Brea, California. His tenure as pastor had brought to St. John’s an openness to new forms of worship, a commitment to quality church music and innovating Christian education, and a deep pastoral concern for the sick and elderly. In the interim following Rev. Riggs’ departure the church was blessed with the ministry of Mr. Randall Hachfield, a seminary student; and by the Rev. Jack Lipphardt, Associate Director of The House of the Carpenter.

In December, 1981, the Rev. Robert K. Thompson became the 27th pastor of St. John’s. At this time the church began coming to grips with the disheartening economic decline and population loss in the Wheeling area. Believing, nevertheless, that St. John’s has a needed ministry to offer, the Church Council began facing the future with courage and faith. Among the many efforts directed at increasing the church’s understanding of its place of ministry and to increase its visibility within the community have been a door-to-door survey of neighborhood residents; participation in Wheeling’s Ft. Henry Days Festival; sponsoring of organ recitals and choir concerts; an intentional church growth program to attract area newcomers and unchurched persons; implementation of a program of after-school care of "latch-key children"; continued improvements to the building, including repair and covering of the stained glass windows, redecorating the office area, renovations in the custodian’s apartment, and especially the redecoration and remodeling of the second level as the 150th Anniversary project. In an era of population decline church membership has not grown in numbers, but Sunday worship attendance and financial giving increased significantly and many new people, including ethnic minority persons, became part of the church’s fellowship.

At the present, as through all the years, St. John’s is indebted to the faithful numbers of people who have cared greatly about the life, ministry and future of the church. Some come especially to mind, such as the Loyal Workers (after whom the renewed second level of the building has been named "Loyal Workers Friendship Room"); the Lydia Circle; the volunteer church school staff; the choir members; the men and women who devote time and skill in various remodeling projects; the Church Council members; committee chairpersons and members; the children and young people who join us so willingly in worship, work and fellowship; and all those who consistently volunteer for tasks large and small. These are all that "cloud of witnesses" by whom a church becomes a fruitful means to ministry in Jesus’ name.

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