1840

• The German Evangelical Church Association of the West is founded in Missouri, the parent body of the German Evangelical Synod of North America. St. John's will join with this synod in 1855.

1844

• December 25: First baptism - Anna Barbara Volkert.

1845

• January 1: Forty men and their families organized the German Protestant Evangelical Church in Mansfield, Ohio, led by Rev. A. L. W. Begemann. 

• The first church building, located at the corner of Mulberry and First Streets, is erected as the tenth church in Mansfield, at an approximate cost of $2,000.

• March 23: First Communion service, with 50 communicants.

• June 10: First funeral - Michael Altvater, age 2 years, 6 months.

1846

• Rev. H. H. Hunsche becomes pastor of St. John's.

1851

• Fr. W. Weiskotten becomes pastor of St. John's.

1852

• April 11: First confirmation class confirmed.

• Organization of the first Sunday School, George Fisher, Superintendent.

1853

• W. H. Her becomes pastor of St. John's.

1854

• Split of Lutheran congregation from St. John's.

1855

• Ministers begin to be supplied to St. John's by the Evangelical Synod of North America.

• Theodore Dresel becomes pastor of St. John's.

1856

• The first parsonage is built for Rev. Theodore Dresel. The congregation raised $900 to build it, and it will be used until 1874. Dresel left before it was finished.

1857

• Albert Schory becomes pastor of St. John's and moves into the new parsonage.

1859

• First choir organized, Martin Boettcher, Director.

• Preliminary steps in the organization of the Evangelical Synod.

1860

• First steps of the organization of the Evangelical Synod in Mansfield,

• W. Duerr becomes pastor of St. John's.

1861

• Organization of the first "Frauenverein," or Ladies Aid.

1863

• First organ purchased.

• August 16: First Missionary Day.

1864

• F. Lenschau becomes pastor of St. John's.

1866

• St. John's formally affiliates with the Evangelical Synod of North America.

1870

• First church building sold for $380.00.

• The original log church building is moved into the street and the second church building is built on that site at Mulberry and First Streets. 

• November 24: First services held in the second church.

1871

• June 25: The second church building is dedicated.

• The old church building is moved to Fourth, then Fifth and Adams streets and is used as a soap factory for many years.

1872

• The cost of the second church is totaled at $21,000.

1874

• A. Klein becomes pastor of St. John's. He rents a house rather than moving into the parsonage, which is inadequate for his needs. The parsonage is sold with the idea of using the money to build a new parsonage on the lot next to the church. The money was instead used to pay off the debt on the church.

1877

• J. B. Jud becomes pastor at St. John's.

1880

• The second parsonage is erected adjacent to the church for Rev. J. B. Jud and his eight children, and will continue to be in use until 1921. It is very roomy, with plenty of space for entertaining family and friends. 

1881

• First Young People's League established.

1886

• F. Buesser becomes pastor of St. John's.

1894

• First pipe organ installed.

1895

• Fiftieth anniversary celebrated.

1896

• The beginning of our "Annual Easter Offering."

1901

• William N. Dresel becomes pastor of St. John's.

• September 1: The first services in English are held in the evening.

1902

• January 1: First issue of the St. John's Messenger published.

1903

• Christ Evangelical Sunday School established.

1905

• Sixtieth anniversary celebrated.

• Last surviving charter member of the congregation, George Bauer, dies.

• First janitor, William Heucher, dies after 55 years of service.

• Arnold Kallmerten is honored for 33 years as Choir Director.

• First class in English in Sunday School, taught by Katherine Aberle.

1907

• G.A. Kienle becomes pastor of St. John's.

1910

• Second church sold and the site for the third church is purchased.

1911

• The third and present building for St. John's church is built on the corner of Park Avenue East and Franklin Street at the cost of $55,000. The old organ, bells, lectern, chancel chairs, and baptismal font are moved from the First and Mulberry building. It's altar setting and the original painting above it can be seen in this photograph from a 1932 service. The original organ, to the left of the altar, and the general interior can be seen in these pictures of the church decorated for Boy Scout Sunday, 1918.

• The home of Dr. William Bushnell, at the corner of Park Avenue East and Franklin Street, is purchased and moved a half block to the corner of Franklin Street and Luther Place to make room for the new church. It will serve as the third parsonage beginning in 1921.

1912

• May 5: The new church building is dedicated.

1915

• St. John's participates in the Front-Line Sunday School program, sponsored by the Ohio Sunday School Association.

• Lot adjacent to church on Park Avenue East is purchased.

• Individual Communion Service is introduced.

1919

• Mrs. Helen Enslin-Seuger becomes our first missionary.

1920

• Seventy-fifth anniversary celebrated.

1921

• The second parsonage is sold and the Bushnell House, next door to the church, becomes the parsonage. It originally belonged to Dr. William Bushnell.

1922

• First Every-Member-Canvass introduced.

1923

• The St. John's Guild is organized, with Mrs. V. Hauserman as President.

1924

• September 26: Farewell party for Pastor Kienle.

1925

• Theodore Frohne becomes pastor of St. John's.

• The church constitution is revised, and English becomes the official language.

• The church is remodeled and a new organ is purchased for $17,500. It turns out to be too large for the organ chamber, so the east extension is built to house it, along with a choir room and choir loft, at a cost of $25,000. The combined cost almost equals the $45,000 cost for the entire building in 1911.

• The St. John's Brotherhood is organized, with Charles Hoffman as President.

1926

• June 27: The new organ is dedicated after an addition is adjoined to the building above the choir loft to hold the instrument. The addition included a new choir room beneath. A dedication service is held. Dr. Minor C. Baldwin participates in the services and performs a dedicatory concert, which receives a good review in the local newspaper.

1929

• Dr. Paul H. Saleste becomes pastor of St. John's.

1930

• April 20: Acceptance of the gift, "Ascending Christ" for chancel niche given by Mr. William Martin, member of church, who painted it and generously offered it to his church.

• June 29: Installation of Dr. Saleste by Rev. G. A. Kienle.

1931

• March 19: Ladies Aid celebrates 70th anniversary. Mrs. Anna Ost, President.

• June 21: Rededication service after major church redecoration.

• September: Organization of Brotherhood Men's Chorus by Mr. John C. Klinger.

• The Congregational and Christian denominations merge to become the Congregational Christian denomination, one of the ancestors of the United Church of Christ..

1932

• Easter: Two thousand in attendance in four services of day in Sunday School and Church.

• Corporate communion is introduced.

1934

• The Evangelical and Reformed denominations merge to become the Evangelical & Reformed denomination, one of the ancestors of the United Church of Christ.

• Boy Scout Troop No. 16 is organized by Phil Smith.

• All Mansfield Boy Scout troops met at St. Johns on Saturday February 10, 1934 to hear a radio address by President Roosevelt, on the 24th anniversary of the Scouts.

   

1935

• January 6 - January 13: Ninetieth anniversary services.

• New altar dedicated in memory of Mr. and Mrs. George Guenther.

1936

• Helen Mueller becomes our second missionary.

1937

• April 29: Miss Katherine Aberle, who first taught English in Sunday School in 1905, dies.

• May 5: Silver anniversary of the present church building. The church debt of $2,400 dollars is paid off with an anniversary offering of $2,773 and the debt note is burned.

1939

• Miss Hazel Painter is commissioned as our third missionary.

1941

• German services are discontinued because of the anti-German feeling at the outbreak of World War II.

1944

• The church is renovated for the 100th anniversary.

1945

• January 1: Dr. Paul H. Saleste resigns.

• January 7: St. John's celebrates its centennial service. Rev. Robert Kienle, son of Dr. Gustav A. Kienle, is the speaker.

• 165 young men and women of St. John's have served in the armed services during World War II.

• 100th year anniversary offering raises $13,700.

1946

• John C. Melchert becomes pastor of St. John's.

1947

• May 26: Farewell dinner for Rev. Paul Saleste.

• June 15: Installation of Rev. John C. Melchert.

• Many parcels of food and vitamins sent to Germany and Japan.

1950

• St. John's members send 16 twenty-two pound boxes of food to Germany and Japan, 3 cartons of toys to missions in Mississippi, mittens and cookies to the Winnebago Indians in Wisconsin, food and gifts to the Salvation Army, and 48 boxes of goodies to the Upper Sandusky Home for Ages (now called Fairhaven Community).

• St. John's wins the Bowling Championship.

• The fourth parsonage, a beautiful three-bedroom home, is built at 501 Overlook Road and the Melcherts move in.

1952

• April: a Confirmation Reunion Banquet was held for the classes of 1948 through 1952.

• May: A living memorial, the Bertha Reuss Building Fund, raises $1,000 toward a fund which loans money to build churches in communities in unchurched areas.

1954

• The Bushnell House is replaced with Parish Hall. The laying of the cornerstone is celebrated with a solemn ceremony.

1955

• February 27: Parish Hall is dedicated to the glory of God in memory of Bertha Reuss, a faithful long-time Sunday School teacher.

• May: The Sanctuary is redecorated and a new pulpit, lectern, and chairs donated.

• December: A nativity mural is donated to St. John's by billboard businessman Elmer Eckert. It is then lost and rediscovered in 1983.

• The mortgage on the parsonage is burned.

1956

• Children's Chapel started.

1957

• The Evangelical & Reformed and Congregational Christian denominations merge to become the United Church of Christ.

1958

• Harold L. Konz becomes pastor of St. John's.

1959

• May 10: Ordination service of Rev. Richard Van Voorhis, third son of the congregation.

1960

• Average weekly attendance in Church School is 413.

• Plans are made to refurbish the Undercroft.

1962

• Alfred (Sam) W. Schroeder beings a year of service as Student Intern Minister.

1965

• Committee on Christian Education is formed with an official representative to Church Council.

• A new sound system is installed in the Sanctuary

1968

• New pipe organ from the Hillgren-Lane Organ Company is installed at a cost of $42,500.

• April 28: Dedication organ concert at 4:00 p.m. by Miss Mabel Zehner.

1970

• Resignation of Rev. Konz.

• Undercroft remodeled at a total cost of $55,475.00, as reported in the Nov. 5, 1970, St. John's Messenger and the church bulletin dated October 18, 1970. It is also noted in the bulletin that "BUILDING FUND envelopes are available for contributions to replace these monies, which, by congregational vote, were taken from other funds."

• October 18: Rev. Alfred (Sam) Schroeder preaches his trial sermon.

1971

• Rev. Dr. George Spink serves as Interim Pastor.

• February 21: Rev. Alfred (Sam) W. Schroeder is installed as the 18th pastor of St. John's.

• The front of the chancel is redecorated for a more "modern" look and the blue carpeting is installed. New chancel furniture is designed by William Olinger, architect and member of St. John's.

1972

• May: Celebration of 60 years in present building.

• Library begins in the former pastor's study.

• Allen J. Reiter serves as Student Intern Minister.

1973

• May 20: Service of Dedication after the Sanctuary and Chancel are redecorated and provided with new furnishings.

• Ms. Char Raitt serves as Student Pastor.

1974

• July 16: Rev. Allen Reiter becomes Associate Pastor.

• Begin radio ministry at $41 per week.

• Charlotte Hellinger becomes the first woman Council President.

1975

• Purchase new U.C.C. hymnals.

1976

• Rev. Schroeder resigns.

• Rev. Dr. George Spink serves as Interim Pastor.

• St. John's Bus Ministry begins.

1977

• Rev. Gerald G. Schuessler becomes pastor of St. John's.

• Mr. William Olinger, a member of St. John's, purchases the old second parsonage, restores it to its original condition, adds an addition, and uses the house as his architectural office.

1978

• Mr. Rick L. Mearkle comes for a clinical year at St. John's.

• June 11: New sound system installed.

1979

• June 10: 25th Ordination Anniversary celebration is held for Dr. George Spink.

1980

• Begin taping worship services for shut-ins.

1983

• A nativity mural, lost since Christmas, 1955, is rediscovered in the Parish Hall kitchen, restored, and hung in the sanctuary.

1984

• First annual Thanksgiving Dinner.

1985

• Rev. Schuessler resigns.

• Rev. Dr. George Spink becomes Interim Pastor.

1986

• The Parish Hall and adjoining areas are renovated and an elevator installed to make the sanctuary wheelchair accessible.

• February 1: Rev. Marcus S. Buehrer becomes pastor of St. John's.

1987

• James A. Benzing ordained as 4th son of the congregation.

• Junior Church is established during the worship hour.

• May 17: Dedication of renovation of the kitchen and Parish Hall and new accessible restrooms, elevator, and parlor between Parish Hall and the church. Total cost: $377,199.84.

• Youth Work Mission at Shannondale, Missouri.

• Fellowship & Kitchen Committee started for dinners and funeral receptions.

1988

• Celebrated Rev. Buehrer's 30 years of ministry.

• Annual Senior's Day for shut-ins and others begun.

• Food pantry for the needy is restarted as St. John's Door Ministry.

• Church exterior is landscaped.

• New sound system and speakers are installed.

1989

• David S. Jordan-Haas called as Assistant Minister.

1990

• David S. Jordan-Haas ordained as Associate Minister.

• Sanctuary and Church School Auditorium redecorated, exterior and new wooden front doors are painted, roofing over the Auditorium is replaced.

1991

• Resignation of Rev. Jordan-Haas.

• Rev. Wray C. Smith becomes part-time Visitation Minister.

1992

• February 16: Oldest member, Lottie Mendlich, dies at age 102.

• Mrs. Anne McLain comes as part-time Assistant Minister.

• The 80th anniversary of the church building is celebrated.

1993

• August 29: Anne D. McLain installed as Associate Minister after being ordained May 23.

• Church celebrates Rev. Buehrer's 35 years of ministry.

• A mile of pennies was raised for Bibles to be sent to the Philippines, a total of 87,000 pennies.

• Begin weekly television ministry in Mansfield at a cost of $140 per week for one half hour Sunday morning at 10:30.

1994

• August 15: Rev. Anne McLain resigns.

• Sharon Mollica hired as part-time Youth Coordinator.

• St. John's 150th anniversary logo and commemorative poster is designed by Randy Sowash. The poster is framed and presented to him as a thank-you gift.

1995

• January 26: First celebration of St. John's celebrates 150th anniversary with a German-English service by Rev. Buehrer and Rev. Smith.

• February 19: Second celebration of the 150th year: The St. John's Story is told by Rev. Buehrer. A plaque with the pictures of all 20 ministers who served St. John's is presented to the church by the 150th Anniversary Committee.

• March 19: Third 150th Anniversary celebration: An old-fashion hymn sing and the presentation of 20 banners to be hung in the city square.

• April 9: Fourth 150th Anniversary celebration: A Confirmation Reunion. More than 50 class pictures are on display in the Parish Hall. Eight new members are confirmed.

• May 21: Fifth 150th Anniversary celebration: A worship service including the President of the United Church of Christ, Rev. Paul Sherry; Ohio Conference Minister and Executive, Rev. Ralph Quellhorst; and the North West Ohio Association Minister, Rev. Roger Perl.

1998

• June: Rev. Lon McSherley becomes pastor of St. John's.

• Sunday School rooms are refurbished and a new chapel off the sanctuary is dedicated. A Nursery is added next to the Sanctuary.

• The parsonage on Overlook Road. is sold to Rev. Marcus and Jane Buehrer, after Rev. Buehrer's retirement.

1998

1999

• The Henry Fiedler Library and Historical Room is dedicated.

2000

• May: The church Web site at www.stjohns-mansfield.org is established.

2001

• April: Work on restoring the roof and stone work of the church building is begun.

• June: Restoration of the stone work is completed.

• October 14: First Celebration Worship Service held in Parish Hall between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m., with an attendance of 115. Traditional service continues at 10:30 a.m. Total attendance for both services showed a 30% increase. A full page story in the Mansfield News-Journal the following Saturday results in an attendance of 112 the following Sunday, including about 30 new people.

2002

• January 1: Cumulative hits on the church Web site since May 30, 2000, reaches 1700.

• January 6: Mark J. Ludwig II debuts as organist by performing a half-hour organ recital before the 10:30 a.m. worship service.

• June 17: Church council formally adopts the "St. John's UCC Mission Statement."

• November 10: St. John's hosts the city-wide Veteran's Day service.

2004

• September 21: Cumulative hits on the church Web site since May 30, 2000, reaches 6000.2003

  February: Debra Haymaker, church secretary is diagnosed with acute leukemia and needs to resign. This is a sad day.

  March: St. John’s Liturgical Theatre is formed.

  
  
   

  May: Doris Gamble begins as new interim secretary.

  July: The TV ministry becomes a self supporting ministry.

  September: A Constitution Revision Committee is formed to later complete the task of revising the Church Constitution.

  2004

  January: Sanctuary sound system is upgraded with accommodation for traditional and contemporary music.

  February: Twenty one members of the traditional and contemporary choirs participate in a community gospel celebration at the Renaissance Theatre, accompanied by the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra.

  March: Brenda Clinger becomes the new Church Administrative Assistant and office manager following the illness of Doris Gamble.

  June: Dr. Spink celebrates 50 years in ministry.

  June: A special service of recognition is held to honor the long ministries of our resident pastors, Rev. Harold Konz, Dr. George Spink, Rev. Marcus Buehrer, Rev. Wray Smith, and Rev. Lon McSherley

  July: St. Johns is cited by the Association as being a 5 for 5 in its special mission giving offerings to our United Church of Christ.

  August: Scott Berry is hired as Organist and Chancel Choir Director.

  August: The Church hires Ms. Pam Easterday as a student assistant from Methesco.

  September: A carpeting and renovation project is completed in the sanctuary.

  October: The church begins a noon downtown “Brown Bag Worship” with funds donated by several members.

  November: Ms. Easterday leads a very creative service to explain the meaning of baptism.

  November: The church hosts the Community Veteran’s Day Worship with 279 people in attendance. The Chancel Choir, the 179^th Choir, The Chordsmen, and a bagpiper helped to make this day a very meaningful day for the community.

  2005

  February: St. John’s hosts “Flight School” for the Northwest Ohio Association.

  April: St. John’s creates “Operation Phone Home” and collects 177 phone cards for the veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan.

  June: Recognition of the 60^th Ordination Anniversary of Rev. Harold Konz.

  June: St. John’s recognizes three of our members in Seminary: Bruce Benzing, Pam Easterday, and Brad McKibben.

  July 31: The congregation reacts over the decision of the UCC to affirm the resolution named “Supporting Equal Marriage Rights For All”.

  A vote is made to withhold funds from OCWM so the congregation can do further study.

  A vote affirms that 107 people do not affirm the UCC decision and 25 people do affirm the UCC decision. A total of 8 people abstain.

  November: The church again holds the community Veteran’s Day remembrance. The program is again written and directed by Elisha Floro.

  December: The congregation in its annual meeting voted to restore funding to OCWM (also giving money that had been withheld) since we learned that the resolution on “Equality in Marriage” through the General Synod was a ‘Non Funded’ resolution.

  December: St. John’s hosts the Mansfield Choral Society in its production of Handel’s Messiah.

  2006

  March: New NIV Bibles (funded by members of the congregation) are dedicated for the pews.

  June: The stained glass windows are re-dedicated as a result of a restoration project funded by Mr. Ted Hissong, a long time friend of St. John’s. The dedication was made in memory of his mother, Elizabeth and in honor of Miriam Henderson, a long time friend of Elizabeth Hissong. We were most honored to receive this gift to restore our beautiful glass.

  June: A ‘Hands On Project’ was performed by many members and friends of St. John’s to refurbish a lounge area at our County Home, “Day Spring”. Mrs. Clarice Lewis sewed the curtains as well as new table clothes for the dining room. Mrs. Dottie Nikolaus arranged several thousand dollars in donations from members to put new plexiglass tops on the dining room tables. The congregation pitched in to provide a picnic for the residents of the home. This was a wonderful experience for the congregation and for the residents of Day Spring.

  August: St. John’s bids farewell to long time friend, mentor and custodian, Nancy Peters. Nancy had been our custodian for 27 years.

  September: A new community ‘Grief Support Group’ begins at St. John’s.

  September: The large stained glass windows are lighted from the inside of the church so that the windows would be visible at night. The tower and front of the church was also lighted to make a visible proclamation to the presence of God in this community. This was done through memorial donations given by faithful members in remembrance of their loved ones.

  October: St. John’s Television Ministry goes digital with the purchase of new camera equipment and computers given anonymously by our members.

  November: St. John’s Television ministry is made available on the Web through the technology of ‘Streaming Tape Video’. People all over the world can view our TV ministry at any time or in any place. Amazing!