The members of St. Paul Lutheran Church are people
very much like you, who have chosen to become part
of our fellowship.

We believe that part of God's plan for us is to find a
place in a church where we can grow in our faith and
serve others as God has commanded.

We invite you to join us in that plan and become part
of our church family located at 2860 East Market Street
Warren, Ohio 44483.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

Baptized in Christ and strengthened through word and sacrament, we seek to share Christ's
love and forgiveness, to live in the world as God's humble servants, and to be a caring and
welcoming community.

OUR HISTORY

In the mid 1800’s there were many people in the area of German origin who represented
several religious groups. They were Catholic, Reformed and Lutheran. History that’s available
indicates the German Reformed group held services beginning in 1841 but, eventually, lost
their Pastor and ceased to function. He returned later but had changed his views and affiliated
with the English Evangelical Church.

The beginning of our congregation occurred September 7, 1868 when a group of German
Lutherans met in Daniel Bischof’s Hall to organize a separate church and incorporate as the
German Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul’s Church. Subsequently a frame church building, which
still stands today, was dedicated on May 8, 1870. The Joint Synod of Ohio provided pastors until
1908. Around 1900 there arose a controversy regarding recognition of fraternal orders and this
resulted in a split and some members leaving to form The Zion Reform Church which today is
the First United Church of Christ.

In March of 1908, a committee investigated becoming members of the Pittsburgh Synod and this
became reality July 19, 1908. In 1911, under Pastor Frischkorn, half the services were conducted
in English and by 1916, all German services had been eliminated.

On April 11, 1919, a new site was purchased at the northeast corner of High St. and Vine. The congregation continued to worship in the old building under a rental agreement while accumulating
funds to build a new structure. The cornerstone was laid at the new location November 6, 1921
and the new church building was dedicated September 17, 1922 with C. Krauth Spiggle as Pastor.
The property was valued at $75,000 on which a debt of $10,000 remained. In 1928 the congregation withdrew from the Pittsburgh Synod and joined the Ohio Synod.

Whereas prior pastorates were generally short term, 1928 was the start of a period during which
pastors remained at St. Paul’s for more years. There was steady growth under Pastors Howard
Dunmire and Charles Cassel who served from 1928 to 1941 and 1942 to 1958, respectively.
Then Pastor Carl Coad was called in 1958 and stayed until his retirement in 1979, followed by
Pastor Robert Jewell from 1979 until 1994.

Under Pastor Coad, our current property was purchased for $60,000 and subsequent construction
allowed for dedication of the first unit and first service in the completed sanctuary in June 1961.
This was followed by an educational wing with office and parlor, fellowship hall and, later, a bell
tower.

We had more continuity under these four pastors who served a total of 66 years and it shows in
our church facility and ministry today.

St. Paul can be proud of not only its heritage, but also its accomplishments. We spawned the
establishment of St. John Lutheran Church in Champion when 75 people from our congregation
moved to that mission church. We sent three men to the ministry; two have served and retired.
We recently saw the graduation and installation of our two Seminary students. We have a well
respected and fully utilized preschool operating in our facility and, as a congregation, have been
promoting ecumenical programs.

From a meeting above a beer garden to a million dollar facility.

From a predominately German background to a multi-ethnic congregation.

The building in which we reside is great but the people in whom God resides are greater.

It is these people who are the history and the future of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Warren, Ohio