St. Paul Lutheran Church2860 E.
Market St.
Warren, Ohio 44483
Ph: 330-394-5741
Fax: 330-392-5162
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
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St.
Paul Lutheran Church
