St. John's United Church of Christ - Otto, TX - Country Churches on Waymarking.com

This beautiful church is located about 2.7 miles northwest of Otto, and 8.5 miles southeast of Riesel. Otto itself dates to about 1901, although there was settlement in the area in the 1850s. By the 1920s, there were maybe a thousand people here, but the population began to dwindle after the Great Depression and World War II. When the railroad ceased operations here in 1967, Otto's population decline continued, down to just a few hundred, and today, there might be fifty people here.

The church sign indicates that they were established in 1886. While the church is listed on the United Church of Christ website, and they have a presence on Facebook, there's otherwise not much to be found in the way of history. Their sanctuary looks to be at least a hundred years old, perhaps constructed between 1890 and 1910, and there is an old well in the back whose cap is dated 1946. Behind it is an active cemetery, with many headstones with German inscriptions; the earliest headstone is dated 1901, and there are nearly 300 burials.

Church Name: St. John's United Church of Christ Church In Use (even only just occassionally): yes Date Church Built: Unknown Rate this church.:

Visit Instructions:
Photo required...prefer photo with church and sign showing church name...if both in one photo terrific.

Pictures required:
1. Church picture
2. Church sign (schedule sign with Church name on it &/or gate with Church name, etc).

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   04/22/2023 WalksfarTX visited it