The following history was taken from our 100th anniversary church directory. An addendum has been added.
Our Heritage
Throughout Holy Scripture the movement of God's hand is evident. From the
Genesis story of creation, to the mighty deeds of King David; from the
predictions of the prophets to their fulfillment in Christ Jesus, God'sWord
gives clear testimony to the guiding hand of the Father, the loving sacrifice
of the Son, and the sanctifying work of the Spirit.
Yet when the story of the Bible is finished, God's work was not yet done.
His Hand has been shown throughout history. It is seen in Christianity's
conquest of the Roman Empire; in the development in the basic tenets of faith
articulated in the creeds; in the zeal of the Reformation; and in the fervor
of the pilgrims who sought freedom to worship in a new land. Truly, the Hand
of God paints on a universal canvas.
And somewhere on that canvas, God has painted the story of St. John's Evangelical
Lutheran Church. On this small patch of canvas, the Hand of the Master Artist
is equally evident, the attention to detail unwavering. For over a century
God has blessed the people of St. John's with His presence. This is the story
of that small piece of canvas.
THE 1890's
"Fields are white, the harvest waiting"
For pastors Paul Schwan and Adolph Ernst the harvest was waiting in Collinwood.
As early as 1883, these two men of God began work among the German community
encouraging them to attend Lutheran services. The early lay leadership was
provided by Christoph Kulow and William Rolf. For about eight years a small
band of worshippers met in various homes and in a church on Saranac Road.
In February of 1890, in the home of William Rolf, the small band of worshippers
became a congregation with the adoption of a constitution. At virtually the
same time, the first service organization, the Ladies Aid Society, was
established. A year later, the congregation purchased four lots on what is
now E. 159, spurred on by a $100 donation by Pastor Schwan. In August of
1891, the first house of worship was completed.
Now in their own building, the congregation sought their own pastor. In 1892
Martin Ilse, a graduate of the St. Louis Seminary, accepted the call to serve
God at St. John's. Within a month of his installation, the congregation voted
to build a school. The structure was dedicated in January of 1893. Pastor
Ilse became teacher Ilse with 28 students. Throughout the decade the church
and school continued to grow. Additional lots south of the school were purchased
to provide room for the anticipated need for expansion.
THE 1900's
"The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide"
By 1900, the congregation and school had grown to the point where Pastor
Ilse could not do both jobs. The congregation called its first teacher, Mr.
F. Freese. Six years later Miss Kolmann of South Brooklyn was employed as
a lower grade teacher.
In 1907, on the day following Christmas, fire partially destroyed the church.
Plans were immediately made to restore the sanctuary and expand the undamaged
portion of the building. Mr. F.E. Sydow, a member of the congregation and
a contractor, was hired to do the building, the first of a number of building
programs in which he would be involved. While work was progressing on the
expansion, a larger tragedy befell the community and the congregation. A
school fire in Collinwood killed 172 children, ten of whom were from the
congregation.
THE 1910's
"My heart which in the Lord rejoices"
Expanding school enrollment dictated an addition to the school in 1910. Not
unlike today, the congregation struggled with its finances. For instance,
total receipts for the month of January 1915 were $206.69. From that they
had to pay the pastor's salary of $79.16 and a teacher's salary of $40, and
of course, there was the $0.81 East Ohio Gas bill.
The middle of the decade saw great celebrations. In 1916 the silver anniversary
of the first church was celebrated. Many participants in the original dedication,
including Pastor Schwan, were involved in the anniversary celebrations. Members
Rolf and Kulow were honored for their 25 years of service to the
congregation.
Yet in the midst of celebration, the work continued. Four lots on Holmes
Avenue were purchased. A portable classroom was erected and a third teacher
hired to educate a continually growing school population.
On Palm Sunday 1917, the congregation held a silver anniversary confirmation
service. That same year the 25th anniversary of Pastor Ilse's ordination
was marked.
Sunday School was added to the church's mission in 1918. Its impact encouraged
the congregation to begin English language services on Sunday morning. And
in a true testimony to the blessing of God, the church that began as a mission
started evangelizing in Willoughby and around 222nd Street in Euclid.
THE 1920's
"The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want"
Like the rest of America, St. John's was "roaring". The decade was marked
by an expanding number of social organizations. A Men's Club, two youth groups,
a Ladies Sewing Circle, a girl's choir, and the Women's Missionary Endeavor
all were born during the 1920's. The congregation continued its
mission-mindedness, contributing nearly $3,000 to a fund to help incapacitated
pastors, widows and children.
The decade was also one of transition for the congregation. In 1922, Pastor
Ilse was released to accept a call to serve an institutional missionary and
missionary-at-large in Cleveland. But God quickly provided a new shepherd
for the growing congregation, when Theodore Dannenfeldt accepted the call
to St. John's. The congregation voted to build a new parsonage on one of
the Holmes Avenue lots. Two years later, Christoph Kulow stepped down as
deacon and William Rolf was called to be with his Savior, and so the congregation
began preparation for its 35th anniversary with new leadership.
In 1924, the congregation adopted a new constitution in both German and English.
They also sold the three remaining lots on Holmes Avenue and purchased property
on the corner of East 176th and Nottingham. The purchase price was $20,400.
The need for expansion was evident; Sunday School enrollment exceeded 200;
the day school students numbered nearly 150; and the congregation consisted
of 700 souls.
THE 1930's
"On Christ the solid rock I stand"
In 1931, the Dorcas society was organized. Today it is the oldest, continually
active organization in the church.
The congregation began the decade with high hopes for a new church and school,
but God's time was not at hand. Restrictions on the new property would not
permit the kind of building the congregation wanted and the financing was
made difficult by the banking problems accompanying the depression. At the
depth of the depression, the pastor and teachers took a voluntary 10% pay
reduction, although it was quickly restored by the congregation.
By 1935, the congregation's financial picture improved and plans were adopted
for the new Parish House. Ground was broken for the $60,000 project in late
July of 1936 and it was dedicated in January the following year. Over 3,000
people attended thirteen festival services. The ten pastors that participated
included Pastor Ilse, Pastor Dannenfeldt, and three sons of the congregation.
During 1937 the congregation began to do the liturgy in English.
The school's portable classroom was sold, as was the former church. The Holmes
Avenue parsonage was sold and replaced with a house on East 176th. At the
end of the decade the congregation voted to dispense with German minutes
at voters meetings and plans were made to celebrate the congregation's 50th
anniversary.
THE 1940's
"Yet all are one, in Thee for all are Thine"
In 1940, the congregation celebrated 50 years of God's grace. Six special
services were held throughout the year. The choirs performed a month long
music festival. A thirty page anniversary booklet was published. The church
had much to be thankful for. In the three years since the dedication of the
new parish house school enrollment had more than doubled and the staff consisted
of four teachers. The congregation grew to 870 souls. Already stretching
the limits of the new parish house, two new classrooms, a stairwell, and
a basement storage area were added.
In 1943, Pastor Dannenfeldt, only the second minister to serve the congregation,
was called to his eternal rest. Reverend Walter Luecke was called and accepted
the charge to serve the Lord's people at St. John's.
With the larger congregation, more services to members were provided. Boy
Scout and Brownie Troops were organized during the decade. A kindergarten
was added to the school. To expand its educational offerings to its young
people, St. John's became a founding congregation in the Cleveland Lutheran
High School Association. Pastor Luecke and principal Alfred Fricke were members
of the original committee that culminated in the establishment of a Lutheran
High School.
Throughout the decade the congregation was frustrated by city zoning laws
that would not allow an addition of a church sanctuary to the parish house.
Once again God blessed St. John's as negotiations on acquiring 11 1/2 acres
across East 176th began in 1949.
THE 1950's
"What God ordains is always good"
St. John marked its 60th anniversary in 1950. Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
President Dr. J.W. Behnken was the featured speaker at the special service
that began a year long celebration. The congregation continued to grow, now
numbering 1,302 souls, with 195 students in the school.
In 1950, the congregation had been in the Parish House for only 13 years
and a plan to spend as much for a parcel of land as they had paid for a complete
building project was not unanimously supported. After considerable discussion
and prayer the decision was made to purchase the land, complete with its
creek, barbecue stand, bushes and weeds.
Work was begun on clearing the new property for eventual construction of
a worship sanctuary. A ball diamond was installed, horseshoe pits dug, and
plans made for tennis courts (?). The property was used for parking as well,
drawing the anger of a neighbor who also happened to be a member of the zoning
commission. An eight foot high chain link fence was installed to separate
the school property from the annoyed neighbor, who then complained about
the height of the fence. Plans were made to build a masonry wall to replace
the fence, but the project was never needed with the building of the new
church.
Ground was broken for the new sanctuary in September of 1953. Nearly a year
and $220,000 later the church dedicated our present house of worship. A week
long celebration included five worship services. The dedication service featured
a procession of 700 people who marched from the parish house across the street
to the new church and entered the sanctuary after Pastor Luecke said "O eternal
God -- graciously look upon us and let us enter this Thy house with Thy
blessing."
The congregation was served for the first time by assistant pastors: Arthur
Dey from 1951-53 and Merton Jannusch beginning in 1959. Pastor Jannusch had
vicared at St. John's in 1958.
THE 1960's
"Our God, our help in ages past"
Anniversary celebrations highlighted this decade. In 1965 special worship
services commemorated Pastor Luecke's 40th year in the Holy Ministry. Later
the same year, the congregation celebrated its 75th anniversary. Reverend
Bertwin Fry, then head of the English District, was the featured speaker.
The following year a worship service honoring three of the school's teachers
were held. Principal Hugo Lohrmann, and teachers Alfred Fricke and Herman
Teske had served the Lord for a combined total of 1 10 years. Mr. Fricke
had been at St. John's since 1943; Mr. Teske since 1952.
In 1968, the 75th anniversary of the school was celebrated. Among the honored
guests was State Representative George Voinovich.
In every decade of its history St. John's had a building project. This period
would be no different. In 1966, the church added office space, the parlor,
other meeting rooms, and additions to the organ. The construction cost $104,000.
Some funding for the project came from the Mary and Martha Quilters, who
were cranking out beautiful blankets about every six weeks.
Initial discussions were also held with the Army Corps of Engineers about
a flood control involving the creek that bordered the church property. An
important participant in those discussions was the Reverend Walther P. Marcis,
who became associate pastor of the congregation in 1964. Pastor Marcis had
previously served a congregation in West Frankfort, Indiana.
THE 1970's
"For He is Lord of all"
In 1970, Reverend Walter J. Luecke was called to his eternal rest. The
congregation's third resident Pastor had served the Lord at St. John's for
27 years. Pastor Marcis assumed the burden of shepherding the congregation
without assistance until 1974 when Norm Koy was called as a Director of Christian
Education. Mr. Koy would remain with the congregation for a decade, when
he would leave to enter the pastoral ministry.
St. John's remained one of a few congregations in the area to continue German
service. In 1976 Pastor Bernard Loeschen assumed primary responsibility for
Sunday morning German services.
One of the church's expanding ministries through the decade was Vacation
Bible School. The week long summer program had begun earlier in the
congregation's history, but enrollments of 200 + children were not unusual
during this decade.
Again the congregation was building. In 1978, the school wing was added at
a cost of $128,000. No longer would any students in the school be taught
in double grades. The addition afforded the congregation greater flexibility
for meetings and other functions. Negotiations with the Army Corps of Engineers
continued throughout the decade with no final agreement concluded.
The school program also benefitted when the congregation decided to add a
nursery program. Mrs. Elsie Cavanaugh was hired to teach the little ones
the love of Jesus and would do so for seventeen years, until her retirement
in 1991.
THE 1980's
"Forever with the Lord! Amen, so let it be"
The creek which runs through the property never posed much of a problem for
the congregation, but our neighbors on the opposite bank were no so lucky.
In heavy downpours, debris that cascaded down the creek would lodge against
the center span of the bridge and often cause considerable flooding. In about
1983, the Army Corps of Engineers reached an agreement with the congregation
for an easement as part of the flood control plan. The congregation lost
several parking lot spaces and a two car garage, but its treasury gained
$150,000.
The building done in this decade was necessitated by the creek improvements.
The current garage was built and the parking lot rearranged and expanded.
Substantial improvements were made to the softball diamond. It now regularly
hosts games for the Euclid Church League.
Worship was enhanced with the addition of pew Bibles and new hymnals. A bell
choir, under the guidance of music director Dolores Jagusch, added a new
dimension to the musical aspect of our worship life.
The school was plagued by frequent turnover in the office of principal, but
the equality of education was undiminished.
Pastor Marcis negotiated an agreement with the Cleveland Board of Education
and St. John became the only Lutheran School in the city to offer a learning
disabilities program. School vans replaced a school bus, greatly expanding
the geographic base from which students could come.
Early in the decade, Pastor Marcis was among the outspoken opponents to the
closing of Lutheran High School East, which was suffering from low enrollment.
The decision to close was reversed. A number of graduates from the day school
continue their education there to this day.
In 1981, the Dorcas Society celebrated 50 years of service to God and His
people. The Altar Guild, which began when the new sanctuary was built, celebrated
its 30th anniversary in 1984. The congregation marked the 25th anniversary
of Pastor Marcis' ordination. Presently, he has served the congregation longer
than any other minister.
Pastor Marcis was assisted after the departure of Mr. Koy by the Reverend
Thomas Donnelly, who was here for two years before accepting a call to another
parish.
THE 1990's AND BEYOND
"I am trusting Thee forever and for All"
The centennial celebration began in January with a special worship service
with Ohio District President, the Reverend David Buegler, the principal speaker.
A banquet followed in the afternoon with over 200 people in attendance.
In June, a special fellowship day was held after worship services. The Letter
Carriers band provided the principal entertainment and Pastor Marcis provided
his magic touch on the barbecue grill. The day concluded with a vesper service
led by the Reverend Norm Koy.
In September, a final festive worship service was held. A bratwurst/hot dog
cookout followed in the afternoon with the entertainment provided by the
brass choir from Immanuel Lutheran Church. Once again the day was closed
with a vesper service.
In mid-1990, the voters assembly narrowly rejected a proposal to add a fellowship
hall adjacent to the classroom wing.
Most opponents of the plan feared adding additional debt at a time when the
congregation faced an uncertain financial future.
So much has been left unsaid. There have been vicars and a deaconess who
served St. John's. Dozens of teachers have served the Lord through the teaching
ministry here.
ADDENDUM
"Still trusting into the new millenium"
By the mid-1990s, through the Lord's guidance and blessings several obstacles
confronting the congregation were overcome.
With an improved financial picture, a project to replace the old school windows
was started. By February 1997, the voters again dealt with the question of
a new Fellowship Hall. This time, the project was approved and the congregation
again witnessed a building being built. Only months later, in September 1997,
the new Fellowship Hall was dedicated.
The Fellowship Hall now provides a large convenient meeting place for the
congregation, hosts the adult bible classes, serves the lower department
of the school, and several community functions.
In late 1998, the board of directors approved the development of an official
website for the church. Once the forms were filled and the hosting organization
completed their end, St. John's new website debuted in February 1999.
1999 again saw an attempt to close Lutheran High Shool East by merger into
Lutheran High School West at the westside location. St. John's opposed this
and through the efforts of many LHSE supporters the measure was resoundingly
defeated at the association meeting.
THE 2000's
"Growth and blessings amidst continuing challenges"
In 2001, the congregation celebrated the 40 years of the ministry of Pastor Marcis. 2004 marked both the 40 year anniversary for Pastor Marcis at St. John and the 50th anniversary celebration of the 'new' church building.
In a continuing effort to be good stewards of our campus, investment by the congregation into our old school building and upper department
continued with projects for new desks and lockers. A new computer lab was added to the upper department of the school. In 2006, the beautiful stained glass window in the chancel of the church was restored.
Charter schools offering free tuition became another hurdle in front of parochial elementary and middle schools causing several Cleveland area schools to close. St. John Nottingham continues to provide its school ministry to the community and maintains a full staff.. A guidance committee for Lutheran High School East was formed and the downward enrollment trend was reversed. Through the support of members, the high school association, and student families, both schools remain as a positive ministry to our community.
While the Dorcas Society has become a part of the history of St. John, new organizations have arisen within the church. A development committee exists to support the school . New groups for men's and women's fellowship have been formed. In 2004, Greg Kita, a graduate of our school, returned to accept a teaching position. The youth group has been renewed under his direction. A new church family picnic has again become an annual event in early July while the last weekend in July has become the weekend for the annual homecoming and reunion for former graduates, confirmands, and members of St. John Nottingham..
The 2006-2007 school year will see the introduction of the Before and After Care Program for families to complement the school day and provide supervised care beyond school hours.
The challenges continue, but through God's grace our church remains strong
and, by the grace of God, the congregation continues to plan for its mission into the years to come.
May God continue to bless the ministry of the congregation of St. John Lutheran
here in the Nottingham neighborhood of Cleveland.
Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart. Psalm 119:111 NIV
