AREA HISTORY:  St. John’s German Evangelical Lutheran Church, York County, PA

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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St. John’s German Evangelical Lutheran Church – Page 540

On October 27, 1873, a number of German Lutherans resolved to organize a church.  At a meeting held at the residence of John 
Palmtag, on West Philadelphia Street, the resolution was signed by the following-named gentlemen, each of whom, at the same 
time, subscribed a certain sum of money for the erection of a church:  Henry W. Grothe, Frederick Ottemoeller, Carl Schmidt, 
Frederick Strathmann, John Palmtag, Henry A. Boesch, William Becker, Frederick Carls, Will Ottemoeller, Frederick Pape, John 
Eimerbrink, Henry Kuhlmann, Carl Dempwolf, Sr., Henry Schlueter, Sr., and Louis Plitt.  The principal cause which led to this 
step was the introduction of more English services than had previously been the case, in the Christ Lutheran Church, to which 
most of the above named members belonged.  Another reason was the dissatisfaction among the German Lutherans with the 
mode in which the services were conducted in the old church, it being, in many respects, different from the customs in the 
fatherland.  A third reason was the desire of German Lutheran parents to have their children educated in the German language.  
On December 15, 1873, it was resolved to hold public services, and to invite a minister of the German Evangelical  Lutheran 
Synod of Missouri.  The father of Frederick Carls, after having resided in York for a number of years, removed West about ten 
years previously.  He there joined a congregation in connection with the synod of Missouri, and subscribed to the Lutheraner, the 
official organ of the said synod.  Mr. Carls sent the paper regularly to York to his son, Frederic, who was pleased with its 
contents, likewise a few others to whom he handed it.  The first services were held in the court house on January 4, 1874, 
conducted by Rev. C. Schwankovsky, of Harrisburg.

Rev. C. Starken of Baltimore, visitator of this district, saw that the appointments for preaching were filled.  E. C. Grevemeyer, 
translated the church constitution into the English language, and had the congregation incorporated by the court.

A lot of ground on West King Street was bought for $9,000.  Rev. H. Walker of Patterson, N. J., who had been pastor of a 
congregation there for seven years, was called to York.  The call, however, was returned by Rev. Walker, his congregation not 
being willing to let him go.  At a subsequent meeting the call was renewed.  On April 24, Rev. Walker arrived in York, and on 
the Sunday following was installed as pastor by Rev. Starken.

The plans for the new church were prepared by J. A. Dempwolf, architect.  N. Weigle was chosen master builder.  The church 
was to be 102 x 57½ feet.  The building committee were Frederick Greimann, Henry W. Grothe, Carl Hiffmeyer, William 
Oerman, H. A. Boesch, Louis Plitt, Henry Wagner and Carl H. Schmidt; elders elected were Frederick Strathmann, Frederick 
Westerhold and Peter Breeswine; trustees, William Becker, E. C. Grevemeyer, John Palmtag; deacons, Henry Dollmeyer, Henry 
Kuhlmann, Henry Müller, John Henry Ottemoeller, Henry Hiffmeyer and Frederick Meyer.

On July 12, 1874, the corner-stone was laid, and on October 17, 1875, the church was dedicated.

The cost of the church, with bell and organ, was nearly $25,000.  The cost of ground, church, school and parsonage, and other 
improvements, approached $40,000.  Of this sum a little over $15,000 was unpaid at the time of dedication.  Considering that 
nearly all the members were, and still are, working men, they have done well.  In the year 1878, the debt was reduced $3,000.  In 
1881, $3,000 were paid off.  The year 1883, being the fourth centenary of the birth of the great reformer, Martin Luther, was a 
great jubilee for the Lutheran Church throughout the world, and was everywhere marked by increased activity and zeal in church 
work.  The pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church of York proposed to avail himself to this opportunity to induce his people to 
make a final effort to cancel the debt, and he was successful.

It is one of the leading features of the Missouri Synod to have their children educated under guidance and direction of the church, 
and it has been successful in this respect since its organization in 1847.  There are now about 1,000 such schools under the 
charge of this synod.  Frederick Rünzel, a graduate of the Teachers’ Seminary or Normal School of this denomination, at Allison, 
Ill., was called as teacher of the school connected with this church.  The pastor also taught for two years.  G. A. Schwankovsky 
was afterward called, and is the present assistant teacher.  In 1883, A. F. Bröuhahn was installed as teacher and organist of the 
school and church.  The school is under the special care of the pastor.  This church has this year (1885) 451 communicants; 
including children, there are 734 members.