THE FOUNDING YEARS, 1868–​1871

In the spring of 1868, five or six interested Lutherans in Slatington discussed the beginning of a Lutheran Sunday School. The discussion led to a decision to secure the abandoned school house on Church and Fourth Streets as a meeting place. The Sunday School opened in the old school house with eighteen scholars, which increased to sixty-four by the second week. Soon the school was too small and permission was secured to hold Sunday School in the two-room school building on Main Street, the site of the former high school building.
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A bible class was organized around this same time by the Rev. J. S. Renninger. It was instructed every other week and met in the First Presbyterian Church. At the same time, the Rev. Samuel Leinback of the Reformed Church was doing mission work in Slatington. Those meeting with Pastor Renninger and those led by Pastor Leinback soon saw the need for a house of worship in this rapidly growing community.

A meeting was called on July 17, 1868 to consider the erection of a Union Church building to accommodate these budding congregations. On July 31, 1868 a subsequent meeting was held, and committees were appointed to secure a site and make plans for building a church. The site that was selected was on the corner of Second and Kuntz Streets, and the cornerstone for the church was laid on June 27, 1869. The church was dedicated on Christmas of that same year.

Meanwhile, on September 19, 1868 the Lutheran congregation was formally organized. A constitution was adopted and a church council was elected. Pastor Renninger served as a minister of Word and Sacrament to this congregation until the election of their first pastor. The Rev. D. K. Kepner was elected to be the first pastor and began his duties on May 12, 1871. He served as the pastor until January 1, 1875.

BUILDING A CONGREGATION, 1875–​1923

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Jesse S. Erb, a student at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, supplied the congregation during its pastoral vacancy. He preached his first sermon on January 6, 1875 in the newly built church (the current building of St. John's United Church of Christ). On June 14, 1876, Pastor Erb was ordained by the Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania and became the second pastor of St. John's Lutheran congregation. He conducted Sunday services in German in the morning and in English in the evening. The population of Slatington at this time was 700.

In 1880, the union of the Lutheran and Reformed congregations was dissolved. The Reformed congregation bought the Lutheran-owned share of the building for $2,000.

Subsequently, at a special meeting, the Lutheran congregation decided to erect a new church building. Mr. and Mrs. David Ross presented the congregation with a deed to a house and lot on South Second Street. Pastor Erb and his family moved into the house and plans were made to build a church on the adjacent lot, located at 40 South Second Street where the church still stands.

Ground was broken in the spring of 1881, and on July 12, 1881 the cornerstone was laid. The basement room of the church was dedicated on November 6, 1881, and the church sanctuary was dedicated on December 2, 1883. The building, including furnishings, cost $12,000. Being debt free at the time of dedication, the people of St. John's Lutheran congregation were grateful for what God had helped them accomplish.

A growing congregation needed more space and an additional twenty-five feet with transepts on either side was added in 1898. At the cost of $11,000, the expenditure was completely paid at the time of the dedication. A Moller pipe organ was added in 1901.

On May 17, 1915, the congregation was officially incorporated and was given the name: St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Slatington, Pennsylvania.

​After serving St. John's for 48 years, Pastor Erb preached his final sermon on September 12, 1923 and was named pastor emeritus of the congregation.

THE PASTORS OF SAINT JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH

1868–1871
1871–1875
1875
1875​–1923
1924–1937
1938–1942
1942–1945
1946​–1974
1975–1985
1986–1988
1988–1999
1999–2000
2000–2019
2020–2021
2021​–2025
The Rev. Josiah Renninger
The Rev. Daniel Kepner
The Rev. Jacob Schindel, D.D.
The Rev. Jesse Erb
The Rev. Corson Snyder, B.D.
The Rev. George Daum, B.D.
The Rev. Mark Lauchnor
The Rev. Earl Kreidler
The Rev. John Newpher, S.T.D.
The Rev. Stephen Kauffman
The Rev. Richard Hinkle, M.S.
The Rev. Robert Schlotter
The Rev. Russell Haab
The Rev. Paul Schoffstall
The Rev. Halle Kluever

SIGNIFICANT DATES IN OUR HISTORY

  • The Lutheran congregation in Slatington was formally organized on September 19, 1868.
  • Pastor Daniel Kepner was elected as St. John's first pastor on May 12, 1871.
  • The cornerstone of the church was laid in the spring of 1881, with the sanctuary being dedicated on December 2, 1883.
  • The Sunday School Association was formed during Pastor Carson Snyder's tenure from 1924–1937.
  • The largest crowd to ever attend St. John's Lutheran Church was at the closing exercises of the Community Vacation Church School in 1924, when 908 people were present.
  • The original Moller pipe organ was replaced during Pastor Earl Kreidler's tenure from 1946–1974.
  • The church's parsonage, located across the street, was purchased during Pastor Earl Kreidler's tenure from 1946–1974.
  • Pastor Halle Kluever was elected as St. John's first female pastor on June 27, 2021.