County of church: St. Louis County
Location of church: St. John Church Rd. & S Towne Square, Mehlville
Architectural Style: Gothic Revival
Phone: (314) 892-0848
The bricks are a single row on each side of the side walk in front and side of the church main entrance. Each brick has a dedication of a personal nature from the purchaser.
"A group of newly arrived German immigrants came together with Rev. Louis Nollau to found St. Johns in 1838. They had left a rigid and restrictive social system in Germany, where their “place” in community was determined by rulers and customs. They were among a flood of German Immigrants arriving in this region in the 1830s. They brought with them an extraordinary faith. They built a new community, sharing God’s love with all people.
"At a time when most religions placed carefully defined expectations on their followers, our German Evangelical predecessors brought with them a radical living faith. Their faith was not based on doctrine and rules; it was based on living out the gospel. It was of the heart.
"Our official name is St. Johns Evangelical United Church of Christ. The “Evangelical” of St. Johns is NOT the “Evangelical” currently used in mass communications. It is much closer to the original meaning, which is “of the gospel.” Our predecessors in the faith set an example of living one’s faith, promoting peace, and seeking conciliation.
"Rev. Nollau also founded the Evangelical Synod of North America, here at St. Johns, in 1840. This association between sister congregations lead to the cooperative support of many mission and outreach organizations. It was later joined with the Reformed church to become the Evangelical and Reformed, and is now United Church of Christ, a united and uniting denomination.
"Our Church Structure is organized around mission and ministry through the work of Staff, Church Council, Commissions, Committees, Aspirational Goal Teams, Organizations, Informal Groups and Individuals. Each works to live out our vision statement.
"The Church Council serves as the governing board of St. Johns. It is comprised of 12 members, including the church officers, all elected by the Congregation. Its duties are to set policy, review the work of the church, transact the business of the congregation, and to hire non-clergy staff. Ordained Clergy are called by the congregation." ~ St John Evangelical United Church of Christ
"St. Johns is one of the earliest churches in the area. First known as the Deutsche Evangelische St. Johannes Gemeinde Zu Gravois Settlement (German Evangelical St. Johns Community at Gravois Settlement), St. Johns was organized by German settlers who built a small white frame church in the rural area south of St. Louis. In 1840 this church founded the local Evangelical Synod, then known as the Deutsche Evangelische Kirchenvereindes Westens (German Evangelical Society of the West.) They worshiped in the frame building until 1868 when a new building opened. In 1922 the congregation built a third, larger, red brick church to which they added in 1955 and 1970. As mergers occurred, in 1934 the church became known as St. Johns Evangelical and Reformed Church of Mehlville and in 1957 St. Johns Evangelical UCC." ~ St. Louis Genealogical Society
"I always figured St. John Church Road, just off Lindbergh Boulevard in the Mehlville area went to a church, and I finally went up and investigated. A short drive up the road, and there’s this nice English Gothic Revival church with a lot of history." ~ St. Louis Patina