St. John's has served community for 176 years

ZANESVILLE – German immigrants Nicholas and Elizabeth Border brought their infant daughter across the Allegheny Mountains in 1803 to settle in the fertile Ohio territory the year it became a state.

Other Lutheran families also began to settle here and soon they wanted to conduct church services in their native language.

They met for worship services in each others' homes. On June 8, 1813, the first Lutheran church was formed. Border, Philip Munch, Matthias Spangler and Solomon Deffenbaugh bought a lot on the southwest corner of Seventh and South streets from John McIntire for $280.

In 1814, a building was erected from logs that were growing on the site. The group was known as the German Lutheran Society. Ten years later, the constitution was revised and a new name was adopted. The United Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Church was born.

Doctrinal differences grew over the years and an increasing desire to hold English language services caused the growing congregation to separate. In 1839, St. John's English Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed from about 60 people from the congregation.

St. James Episcopal Church decided to change locations and sold their building at the corner of Sixth and South streets to St. John's for $3,000. It was dedicated on Dec. 5, 1841, and stood until the second St. John's was built on the same site in 1878.

The congregation experienced many struggles until the Rev. Dr. Frank Richards became pastor. He contributed to the recovery and growth of St. John's. It was during his tenure from 1876 to 1904 that a parsonage was purchased at 85 S. Seventh St. for $3,000. John Bowman donated $1,000 toward the purchase. He was the husband of the baby Border girl who was brought here by her parents.

In 1901, a white marble baptismal font was dedicated in memory of Mrs. Margaret E. Darlington who was the Bowmans' daughter. The font continues to stand in the present sanctuary.

In 1919, plans were being made for the construction of a new church on the Stolzenbach and Baker properties that had been purchased on South Seventh Street. The new name for the proposed church was to be St. John's Lutheran Church.

By 1923, it was apparent to the congregation that the Seventh Street location had disadvantages. They felt they needed more room and a corner lot. It was decided to purchase three lots on Market Street between Seventh Street and the alley east of the property.

Ground was broken in March 1926 and the cornerstone was laid on May 30. The present church was dedicated Sept. 12, 1927. The Gothic architecture included mingled shades of brick trimmed with art stone. Two spires featured a stone cross between them. The cross was later destroyed in a storm and replaced with a cross of steel.

The beautiful carved oak in the chancel was done by skilled craftsmen of Oberammergau, Germany. A three manual Austin organ with chimes and echo organ was installed at a cost of $23,000. The pipe organ is said to be the largest in Zanesville. Total cost of the new church was $315,000.

The windows over the altar and those over the balcony are quite unique and very stunning. They were made in Germany and the colors were fired into them. "The five behind the altar depict the life of Christ," Pastor Mark Combs said. "The Great Window in the balcony represents the apostles."

The first panel depicts Matthew and Mark, the second is Peter and Paul and the third represents Luke and John. The center aisle leading to the chancel is thought to be the longest one in Zanesville. The nave has a seating capacity of more than 700.

"It is a great room for worship space," said Combs. "A lot of emphasis is put on experiencing God's presence. It's an inspiring experience."

In addition to Martin Luther's coat-of-arms, the tiles in the floor of the narthex and those in the chancel contain symbols of a Fleur de Lis, a fort, a sun and a rainbow. There is also a serpent representing Satan in front of the altar so you step on it as you approach. The serpent tile in the narthex is badly worn where parishioners have deliberately stamped on it for years.

Plans were begun to build an adjoining parish hall in 1947 and the cornerstone was laid on Oct. 23, 1949. To the right of the main entrance of the parish hall is Baker Memorial Chapel, named for member Albert T. Baker who died in 1946. He owned a local grocery store and later Baker Wholesale Grocery Co.

The stained glass window over the chapel's altar is Christ as the Good Shepherd. "The altar is made of mosaic tile," said Wayne Cunningham who has been a member of St. John's for nearly 60 years. "It was designed and made by Mosaic Tile Company here in Zanesville."

"Every year we hold 'Amazing Grace Day Camp,'" Combs said. "We provide facilities and bus kids in from all over town. We usually have well over a hundred. We also have Vacation Bible School."

The camp ministry is intended to introduce unchurched children to Christianity. Another ministry began at St. John's. In 1986 as a response to a need for a warm meals program, Christ's Table was formed.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregation provides support to the Rev. John Lunn, a missionary in Tanzania.

"A group of teenagers will be going to Detroit with the ELCA to perform service projects," said Combs. "They are taking baby diapers with them to diaper Detroit."

The Ladies Quilting Guild will be making quilts for high school graduates to take to college with them. The church also pairs up adult members with kindergarten through high school students to be prayer partners.

"My wife is paired with a second-grader," Cunningham said. "They have a mail box where they can write back and forth to each other."

The Rev. Seminarian Amanda Highben works with the younger members of the congregation, as well. She has been serving as Vicar at St. John's since 2012. There are three adult Sunday school classes that meet each week between services that are held at 8 and 10:30 a.m.