St. John History

Church History

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jersey Shore, PA, was organized on April 29, 1867, as the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jersey Shore, with 31 charter members. The following spring, excavation was begun for the building of the new church, which still serves the congregation. All the bricks for the church were made and burned in a kiln on the building site. For two years the congregation worshiped in the lecture room. During the summer of 1871, the church spire was completed and the nave, with its newly frescoed walls, finished. The building was dedicated to the service of God at a session of the Susquehanna Synod that June. In November of 1891, a severe wind storm blew the tall church spire over onto the parsonage. This upper portion of the spire was never rebuilt. Several years later the stained glass windows were placed in the church. By 1911, the congregational membership had risen to "500 souls", and three years later a large junior young peoples society was organized. Among other improvements in 1925, the beautiful Ascension scene was painted behind the altar. The installation of the new pipe organ in 1932 was the occasion for a full week of special musical programs. After years of discussion concerning the need for a Christian Education building, the campaign for fund raising was authorized in 1954. The dream was finally realized in 1956 when the Christian Education building with a Chapel was completed. The Chapel is frequently used for meditation, baptisms, weddings, and services of Holy Communion. Several weeks before the Christmas of 1970, the Sunday School and choir rooms in the old wing of the building were ravaged by a fire and the recently redecorated nave suffered smoke and water damage.  Fortunately, the fine new pipe organ being built by Moeller, Inc. was not yet installed and escaped damage. Thanks to a generous gift from Mrs. Oscar Marshall, the chancel area of the nave was expanded to provide a communion railing and kneeling cushions in 1979. In 1988, a ramp was added at the Canal Street entrance of the church, out of concern of the handicapped. The church nursery was the recipient of a beautiful wall mural of Noah's Ark, this was dedicated to the memory of Linda Katov in 1989, as were numerous other pieces of children's furniture in the nursery.

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church 229 South Broad Street Jersey Shore, PA 17740 570-398-1676 stjohn@stjl.org