St. Johns Lutheran Church

Personal relationship with Jesus Christ; Active discipleship; Equipped to be efficient and effective witness — disciplers

History

On the 4th of July, 1865, in Bamberger's Grove (at Gravois and Gustine), many young people from St. Louis's 6 Lutheran churches gathered for a picnic celebration. Speakers for the occasion were students from Concordia Seminary (then at Jefferson and Winnebago).

The German language festivities attracted people from surrounding 'Minserstown', as the area extending generally southwestward from Grand and Arsenal to Gravois and Kingshighway was known by the German immigrants who began settling here in large numbers about 1850. They listened with interest to the students' speeches. Then, some asked about the possibility of establishing a church there. The students promised assistance.

At the Seminary, the petition to found a church was favorably received by Pres. C.F.W. Walther (president of the newly formed Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States - later, changed to LCMS). He asked his colleague, Prof. Friedrich August Craemer, to take charge. Soon thereafter, St. Johns Lutheran Church was organized with 8 charter members.

At this time, St. Louis was 101 years old and had a population of about 230,000, being the 3rd largest city in the U.S., preceded by New York and Philadelphia. It extended north and south about 6.5 miles along the Mississippi River and as far west as Grand Ave.

Previously, in 1820, coal was discovered in the 'Minerstown' area, giving the area new vitality, new people, a new look, and a new name - the 'Gravois Coal Diggings'. Welsh, English, Scotch, and Irish miners came from other U.S. mining areas and from the British Isles.

In 1847, coal production here hit 80,000 tons, selling for about $2 a ton. But, around 1860, the coal was almost all worked out - all except from the seams under the nearby estate of Henry Shaw (now Tower Grove Park and the Missouri Botanical Gardens and nearby areas). Shaw, who made a fortune in the manufacture of nails, refused to let the beauty of his county home site be marred by mining. As the coal ran out, some of the miners began leaving for new mining areas opening in Illinois and elsewhere.

2 events caused rapid changes in this area. One was the discovery of an exceptionally high quality clay, which led to a switch from mining coal to clay and the rapid development of the fire clay products industry (fine brick, clay tile, pots, retorts, etc.)

The other was the failure of a political movement in Germany in 1848 which brought on a great wave of German migration. From 1820 to 1892, for religious, political and/or economic reasons, 4,731,000 German immigrants came to the U.S., many of whom were, at least nominally, Lutherans.

Many became miners, merchants or farmers. Shortly, they built a church, a school and created a dominant community life.

For 10 years after the new St. Johns Lutheran Church was initiated, it was shepherded by Prof. Craemer of Concordia Seminary. At first, they worshiped in Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, the community's only church building, located in the northwest corner of Morganford and Tholozan. This church was used at different times by people of various faiths.

After 3 years, a half-acre, where the church now stands, was purchased for $250. Here, a small 2-story frame building was erected. It was dedicated on September 20, 1868. The lower floor was used for worship services and the upper floor served as a parochial school.

In 1875, when Concordia Seminary, Springfield, Ill., was opened, Prof. Craemer was called to be its President and Chief Instructor.

The little congregation of 50 communicants then called its first fulltime Pastor, a young candidate just graduated from the St. Louis Seminary, the Rev. Herman Bartels, 24, installed by his predecessor on August 1, 1875. He retired after 55 years, preaching his final sermon on September 28, 1930, and died 21 days later on October 19, 1930.

During 'Papa' Bartels pastorate, the congregation grew to 575 members, a 'daughter congregation', Salem Lutheran Church, was established, and for 7 years, he taught the students in the church's school.

The congregation outgrew its first church home and plans were made for the erection of a larger, brick building, seating 375 worshippers. It was dedicated on November 25, 1884. The 16-year-old frame church was moved to the rear of the lot and continued to serve as the school until 1905, when a brick 4-room parish school was erected. Later, the frame church was used as a residence for many years.

Built for approximately $6000, the new church served the congregation for more than 60 years. When it was condemned as unsafe (vibrations from the heavy truck traffic nearby threatened to jostle it off its stone foundation), final services were held in this building on January 7, 1945.

During Pastor Bartels first year, a new city Charter extended the St. Louis city limits to include its present 61 square miles. The 'Minerstown' area was then known as Beckville, in honor of the Postmaster who ran its first post office at (now) Beck and Morganford.

During World War I (1917), the American-born young people of the congregation were anxious for a language change from German to English. Pastor Bartels attempted an occasional service in English. About 1910, the school instructors changed to English (except for the religion classes).

During this war, a number of Concordia Seminary students came to associate with the congregation's young people. In 1921, one of these men, upon graduation, was called as an Assistant Pastor. He was the Rev. Ferdinand Rupprecht. He worked with the young people and conducted services in English. Tragically, he died only 4 years later, as a result of drinking contaminated water and contracting typhoid fever.

To replace him, the congregation immediately called the Rev. Paul H. Hansen, who had graduated from Concordia Seminary in 1914. He was installed on September 6, 1925. He served as Assistant Pastor for 5 years, and, following Pastor Bartel's brief illness and death at age 79, became full-time Pastor, later to retire in 1962.

Pastor Hansen occasionally preached sermons and assisted with Communion, until 1 day, while waiting to enter the chancel, he suffered a fatal heart attack, thus ending a full life of service to our Lord.

During Pastor Hansen's pastorate, the congregation grew to a peak membership of 950 in 1955. German services continued until 1957. In 1928, a spacious hall was added to the parish school at a cost of $55,000. It contained a gymnasium-auditorium (with seating capacity for over 1000), facilities for Sunday School classes, indoor sports, and dramatic/entertainment events. The sub-story contained a kitchen, dining room, and 4 bowling lanes.

After World War II, since many of the houses of this area became old (like their owners), and space was limited, the younger families moved out to the suburbs. Many transferred their membership to churches, closer to their new homes. Membership turnover was 50% in 1 decade!

In the '60s, much rejuvenation took place, with new multi-family apartments sprouting up and the population climbed again. Ground was broken for the present church on December 28, 1947. Build in 1948, at a cost of $285,000, it was dedicated on October 30, 1949, accommodating 450 worshippers.

The church called its 3rd full-time Pastor, the Rev. Daniel D. Dautenhahn, who was installed on July 15, 1962. To expand its educational programs, a new school building was erected and dedication services were on March 12, 1967. It contained offices, 6 classrooms and a dividable multipurpose room for a total cost of $250,000.

Pastor Dautenhahn was called to God's side on November 2, 1979. During a vacancy of about 1.5 years, St. Johns was blessed with 2 part-time Assistant Pastors, Rev. Elmer Knoernschild and Rev. Blake Wolf.

The Holy Spirit led Pastor Roger Rekstad to serve as the 4th full-time Pastor, who was installed on June 21, 1981. During his pastorate the church offices were moved to the school building and the old school building was completely remodeled, with most of the work performed by congregation members!

On June 10, 1984, Pastor Todd McVey was installed as an Assistant Pastor, with an assigned responsibility for church growth. Soon afterwards, Pastor Rekstad accepted another call and was granted a peaceful release in November, 1984.

Pastor McVey was installed was installed as Senior Pastor on March 24, 1985. Rev. Richard Lieske was installed as the Assistant Pastor on August 18, 1985. He served mainly in the area of Youth and Evangelism. Both were led to accept calls elsewhere in mid-1988 and granted peaceful releases.

From 1981 to 1999 (when he was called to Heaven), Rev. Knoernschild served as Visitation Pastor, traveling many miles to minister to 'his' congregation of shut-ins.

During 1980, Rev. Wolf served as Vacancy Pastor, while Dr. John Johnson and Rev. Roy Bleick served during the vacancy, until our present Pastor Gary Dehnke was installed in 1990.

During Pastor Dehnke's pastorate, St. Johns neighborhood has changed dramatically, with many of local community being from various ethnic backgrounds, including the Bosnian immigration. God sometimes brings the Gospel to His people and, sometimes, He brings His people to the Gospel.

This has led to some good challenges and, as part of this, St. Johns joined with many other LCMS churches in the city to form 'Partners In Urban Ministry' (PIUM), in which Pastor Dehnke has been very involved and has, not only accepted these challenges, esp. in how the school ministry may serve these people, but has welcomed it with the joy that he emits and an unstoppable determination to share the Gospel, as he lives by the Word - 'If God is with you, who can be against you?'.

The congregation of St. Johns has been blessed with many of God's servants and we are very thankful to Him for this, since, without these Spirit-filled 'shepherds', we'd be His 'lost sheep'!