A Brief History of St. John’s Lutheran Church
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Covington, Ohio was organized during the summer of 1855 by Rev. Constantine Koeberlin; although, people gathered for worship in each others’ homes several years prior to that. The first 32 charter members worshipped in a rented church until 1863 when the first church building was purchased on South High Street. Twelve years later, the present church building was built at the corner of Bridge and South Wall streets; the year was 1875. The present parsonage was built in 1885. A large bell tower with a steeple was added on the front of the church in 1893. Being a predominantly German community, the services were all conducted entirely in German for many years. Both English and German were used until 1915.
In 1925, St. John’s Lutheran Church underwent major renovation. The bell tower was moved from the front of the church to the south side where it is presently, and the steeple was removed. The sanctuary was extended, and the rooms in the back of the church were added for Sunday school classes and other purposes. Under this addition, a basement was also added. The present pipe organ was installed, and other furnishings were added including the pulpit, the altar, and the rose window, to name a few.
In 1938, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Newberry Township burned, and rather than rebuilding, merged with St. John’s. The size of the congregation increased dramatically because of this. By the 1950’s, St. John’s Lutheran Church had 550 baptized members. There were two services held every Sunday, and many groups and classes were offered including the Fisherman’s Club, Luther League, St. Paul’s Missionary Society, Luther Chorus, Adult Instruction classes, Lutheran Brotherhood, and Women’s Circle meetings.
In 1962, the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (UELCA) merged with several others forming the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). In 1982, the LCA merged with the ALC and AELC to form the present ELCA. Both of these transitions brought more liturgical, traditional hymnbooks to St. John’s.
Over the years, the congregation has reached out to the local community and the world in many ways. The congregation began donating food every month to a local food pantry and conducting regular visits to the Covington Care Center. At various times over the years, the church has supported its own softball, basketball, and volleyball teams as well as a Boy Scout Troop. Globally, the congregation has sponsored a church in Haiti and the Rocky Boy Mission in the Rocky Mountains along with various other missions around the world.
The physical changes to the church over the last few decades include a redecorating project around 1980 that included painting and replacing the carpet. In 1991, the basement was renovated and enlarged. A large fellowship hall was added along with a large new kitchen, an elevator, an upstairs bathroom, and another room in the back of the church presently used as a nursery. In 1997, the name and the cross were added to the front of the church.
In 2005, St. John’s Lutheran Church celebrated our 150th Anniversary, and we are currently served by Rev. Stephen Nierman. We have a strong, loving congregation of approximately 300 baptized members. We are proud to support a growing youth group, a choir, social ministries, and various Sunday and evening classes periodically throughout the year.
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Covington, Ohio was organized during the summer of 1855 by Rev. Constantine Koeberlin; although, people gathered for worship in each others’ homes several years prior to that. The first 32 charter members worshipped in a rented church until 1863 when the first church building was purchased on South High Street. Twelve years later, the present church building was built at the corner of Bridge and South Wall streets; the year was 1875. The present parsonage was built in 1885. A large bell tower with a steeple was added on the front of the church in 1893. Being a predominantly German community, the services were all conducted entirely in German for many years. Both English and German were used until 1915.
In 1925, St. John’s Lutheran Church underwent major renovation. The bell tower was moved from the front of the church to the south side where it is presently, and the steeple was removed. The sanctuary was extended, and the rooms in the back of the church were added for Sunday school classes and other purposes. Under this addition, a basement was also added. The present pipe organ was installed, and other furnishings were added including the pulpit, the altar, and the rose window, to name a few.
In 1938, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Newberry Township burned, and rather than rebuilding, merged with St. John’s. The size of the congregation increased dramatically because of this. By the 1950’s, St. John’s Lutheran Church had 550 baptized members. There were two services held every Sunday, and many groups and classes were offered including the Fisherman’s Club, Luther League, St. Paul’s Missionary Society, Luther Chorus, Adult Instruction classes, Lutheran Brotherhood, and Women’s Circle meetings.
In 1962, the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (UELCA) merged with several others forming the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). In 1982, the LCA merged with the ALC and AELC to form the present ELCA. Both of these transitions brought more liturgical, traditional hymnbooks to St. John’s.
Over the years, the congregation has reached out to the local community and the world in many ways. The congregation began donating food every month to a local food pantry and conducting regular visits to the Covington Care Center. At various times over the years, the church has supported its own softball, basketball, and volleyball teams as well as a Boy Scout Troop. Globally, the congregation has sponsored a church in Haiti and the Rocky Boy Mission in the Rocky Mountains along with various other missions around the world.
The physical changes to the church over the last few decades include a redecorating project around 1980 that included painting and replacing the carpet. In 1991, the basement was renovated and enlarged. A large fellowship hall was added along with a large new kitchen, an elevator, an upstairs bathroom, and another room in the back of the church presently used as a nursery. In 1997, the name and the cross were added to the front of the church.
In 2005, St. John’s Lutheran Church celebrated our 150th Anniversary, and we are currently served by Rev. Stephen Nierman. We have a strong, loving congregation of approximately 300 baptized members. We are proud to support a growing youth group, a choir, social ministries, and various Sunday and evening classes periodically throughout the year.
