Saint John Lutheran Church (State Center, Iowa) Records

Saint John Lutheran Church was organized by Rev. F. Doescher, a circuit riding missionary, on April 17, 1865. It was also known as French Grove Lutheran Church. At that time, the charter member families worshipped in the Old Center School House. That Fall, the piece of ground was bought on which later a church building with annex for school purposes, and a parsonage was built. This building served the congregation until 1874, when a new building was dedicated in October. The building was enlarged in 1917 and renovated in 1943. A full basement was added in 1944. This building was destroyed by fire in 1945. Immediate planes for a new church and school were discussed and adopted in April 1946. The new building was then dedicated in 1950, along with the celebration of the congregation's 85th anniversary. As of 1965, the church building stood on the same land. Meanwhile, by 1870, the first parsonage was destroyed by fire, also causing the loss of church records. The Christian Day School had its beginnings in the parsonage, in the annex of the church. A school building was built in 1880 and was used until the school annex was built in the new church in 1947. This school closed in January 1962, after 97 years. The congregation closed in 2020.