"We have heard with our ears, 0 God, our fathers have told us, what work Thou didst in their days, in times of old." (Ps 44) 

"Unser Anfang geschehe im Namen Gottes des Vaters, Gottes des Sohnes, Gottes des Heiligen Geistes."  (Our Beginning Be in the Name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost.)

With these simple, but prayerful and blessings-beseeching words, spoken on April 22, 1849, our fathers founded and organized St John Lutheran Church, Chester, Illinois. 

Already in the fall of 1848 a few Lutherans occasionally were gathered, under the leadership of a Lutheran book-agent, for prayer meetings.  (At the time, about 30 Lutheran men, women and children were reported living in Chester and community.)  In these prayer meetings the Lord's Prayer was explained to the small group.  Shortly after this a Methodist missionary by the name of Boeshenz, who was very active in mission work in Southern Illinois, (and whose mission activities in this part of the state were reported in Der Lutheraner of January 12, 1849) came to Chester from time to time and preached to the group.  The content of his sermons, as reported by a then well-known citizen, in many respects “did not seem quite right,” but since no one knew much of the Lutheran Doctrine nor of the Reformation, and they were acquainted only with the name of the Reformer, Dr. Martin Luther, they could not defend themselves against false doctrines, neither could they point with any definiteness to any false teachings because of their meager knowledge of the Truth.  But his sermons did awaken a hunger for the true Word of God.

1. Pastor C. H. Siegmund Buttermann, 1849.

In the fall of the year 1848, a young resident of Chester, Mr. Frederick Allmeyer (Grandfather of Mrs. Nellie Crisler of our congregation), reported to have been but 19 years of age and a fruit dealer, made a business trip to St. Louis, and on this occasion heard Dr C. F. W. Walther, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Louis, preach.  Greatly inspired and filled with a holy zeal, he returned to Chester and told his associates and Lutheran friends that he had met that great theologian of the Lutheran Church, Dr. C. F. W. Walther, and had heard him preach.  He had heard altogether different things and teachings than they had heard thus far from their Methodist missionary.  This report inspired and enthused his fellow Christians.  They immediately resolved to send a committee of two to St. Louis to make an appeal to Dr. Walther to aid the Lutherans in Chester in securing a pastor.

In the spring of the year 1849, Dr. Walther was happy to send them the candidate, C. H. Siegmund Buttermann, who had completed his colloquy.  He had previously been educated for the ministry in Germany and had come to America.  Candidate Buttermann was a young man of 29 whom Dr. Walther had learned to love and respect while in St. Louis as a student of theology.

Pastor Buttermann immediately proceeded to organize the congregation.  The first minutes, dated April 22, 1849, record the organization as follows: “The following constitution was this date accepted and St. John Congregation of Chester, Ill., organized herewith.”  This constitution was essentially that of Trinity Congregation, St. Louis, accepted in 1843, and with but a few minor changes, served St. John Congregation for over a century.                                                  

Immediately under this constitution the following 16 signatures of the charter members appear: Jobst H. Allmeyer (brother of Frederick), Fredrich Gericke, H. Goehrs, Louis Dettmer, Heinrich Runge, Friedrich William Allmeyer, Fredrich Brinkman, Jurgen Dettmer, H. Bode, Heinrich Schrader, Chr. F. Wegner, C. H. Allmeyer, Christoph Wiebusch, Heinrich Roeder, Heinrich Kipp and Jacob Pick.  Soon after this meeting, according to a recorded note, the following names were added: Chr. Hirte, H. Kaufmann and Zacharias Jostmann.

The organizational meeting was held in the home of Henry Goehrs, which was on High Street just west of the present 'Scout House' (the old parsonage and near the future site of the first church).  Worship services and meetings were held there for some time.  The pastor also lived there and taught school in his study.  On May 13, 1849, Pastor Buttermann was duly inducted into office as pastor of the congregation, upon order of the president of Synod by Pastor Loeber, assisted by Pastor Gruber.

One must wonder whether these men ever expected their efforts to culminate in the large congregation that has remained faithful to their ideals and serves God in many ways to this day.

Pastor Buttermann was very active and diligent in his service of the Lord and his congregation in Chester, and the joy of his flock was great.  Although his teachings were bitterly attacked by the aforementioned Circuit Rider Missionary, this did not discourage him, but caused him to be all the more faithful and sincere.  He defended his teachings clearly and definitely from God's Word, as is to be seen in the printed editorials he wrote for Der Lutheraner of May and June 1849.

However the great joy of this little flock was soon turned to bitter sorrow when their beloved pastor became the victim of cholera, then raging in our land.  After a very short illness of only seven hours, he fell asleep in Jesus, his beloved Savior, whom he was permitted to serve but two months in the Chester congregation.  He was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery, near the Lt. Governor Bond monument.  On the simple tombstone is found the inscription: "Here rests in Jesus, Siegmund Buttermann, first Evangelical Lutheran pastor in Chester; born September 13, 1819, in Werferlinger, Prussia, died July 12, 1849.  Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.  Ps 90,1"

2. Pastor Michael Eirich, 1849 - 1866

After a vacancy of not quite two months, the congregation again turned to Dr. Walther in St. Louis for advice and aid.  He recommended to them another candidate of theology, Michael Eirich, who had just graduated from the practical theological seminary at Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Pastor Eirich was ordained and installed in Chester, September 10, 1849, by Pastor Lehmann, assisted by Pastor Strasen.

For a while Rev. Eirich occupied the same quarters in the Goehrs home that his predecessor had used.  The building of a new frame church, 36 feet long, 24 feet wide, and 13 feet high, which had been decided on already on Trinity Sunday June 3, 1849 (in the last meeting Pastor Buttermann attended) was not completed until late in the fall (on the site of our old parsonage, the current Scout House).  Mr. Goehrs and Mr. Wiebusch were appointed trustees and building committee, and on June 18th, actual building was to be begun.  Mr. Kipp had offered to furnish all the lumber for the building.  No record is available of the date of dedication of this first church.

Rev. Eirich taught school in the basement of this modest structure, while in the upper room church services were held.  Eight years later, in 1857, a 20 foot addition was added to the church.

Besides preaching in Chester Rev. Eirich also served a flock at Bremen and another at Wine Hill.  His school at Chester had a reputation of being the best in town, and it attracted pupils not only from Lutheran families, but from other homes as well.

Although money was scarce in those days, the congregation was self-supporting from the beginning.  The members could not promise their pastor a fixed salary but only agreed to give him what they could collect.  He agreed to this and never suffered want.  In 1854 the first parsonage was built.  It was frequently enlarged after that.  After 1920 it also served as a meeting place for the Ladies Aid for a while.  In 1858 Pastor Eirich’s salary was increased to $300 per year.

Rev. Eirich was relieved of his work in the school in 1856 when Mr. F. Schachemeyer of St. Louis was called to take charge of the school which he did until 1863.  That year he was called to Logansport, Indiana.  Under his able management the enrollment rose to 110 pupils.  Mr. Schachemeyer’s successor was Mr. H. W. Hoppe, who was installed in September 1863.  On June 2, 1865, the congregation resolved to call a second teacher, Mr. Dietrich Meibohm.  Because of the increased enrollment on July 2, 1865 it was unanimously decided to build a brick school next to the church in order to relieve the overcrowded condition.  It was to be a 36 x 24 x 12 building, at a cost of $1,150.  It was completed in November of the same year.

On June 24, 1863, not long before President Lincoln made his Gettysburg Address, a group of St. John's Lutheran women met in the home of Mrs. Henry C. Eggers to organize "St. Johannes Frauen Verein,” the forerunner of our Ladies' Aid.

In January, 1866, Rev. Eirich accepted a call in 1866 to New Minden, Illinois, after 16 ½ years of faithful service in Chester, during which time, by the grace of God, the congregation became ever more firmly grounded in the Word of God and was privileged to experience a large external growth as well.  Having served the congregation in New Minden for more than 37 years, Rev. Eirich retired.  He died in August 1910 and was buried in New Minden, having attained the age of 84 years, 2 months, and 28 days.

3. Pastor Martin Stephan, 1866 - 1875

In February 1866, Rev. Martin Stephan, of Wolcottsville, New York, was called to Chester and began his ministry here in the beginning of May of the same year.  The Rev. Doermann, of Bremen, inducted him into office early in May.  Rev. Stephan was born in 1823 in Dresden, Germany, where his father was a minister.  In 1838 he came to America to attend the first Lutheran College in Perry County, Missouri, as a theological student, but after three years, in 1841, he returned to Germany to study architecture in Dresden.  He returned again to America and continued his theological training in St. Louis, graduating in April 1853.  He served several congregations in Wisconsin, he accepted a call as assistant pastor to Dr. Sihler in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he also taught English and drawing at our college in Fort Wayne.  He was called to Wolcottsville, New York, then to Chester.

In 1866, Teacher Hoppe was released to a call to teach in Milwaukee.  Thus our school was left in charge of but one teacher, Mr. Meibohm, who left in August, 1867, for St. Charles, Missouri.  In January 1868, Teacher Fehlhaber was called, but was dismissed from office in June of the same year.  After repeated unsuccessful attempts to secure an experienced teacher, the congregation finally decided to call a graduate from our teachers' seminary at Addison, near Chicago.  Mr. J. W. Hild was assigned to Chester in May 1869.  It does not appear from the minutes how the school was temporarily supplied with a teacher before Teacher Hild took charge.  He was given an assistant in April 1871, when Teacher Bewie, who had resigned because of ill health and was living in Chester, agreed to teach the lower grades three hours every morning.  This he did until the end of September 1871, when he had to be relieved due to increased physical weakness.  In April 1873, the congregation resolved to call a second permanent teacher, Mr. C. Waschilewsky, a graduate of our Normal School who had received the greater part of his education in Germany.

On Ascension Day, 1875, Rev. Stephan preached his farewell sermon, having accepted a call to a congregation in Bremer Township, Warren County, Iowa, where he died on June 16, 1884, at the age of 60 years, 5 months, and 23 days.  He had faithfully served that congregation for nearly nine years.

Rev. Stephan was a diligent, self-denying pastor, true to his sacred trust.  He was appreciated most by those who knew him best.  Originally trained as an architect, he often served congregations by designing their churches for them, and he was engaged in such a labor of love when he died.

While the congregation in Chester was busy trying to secure a successor to Rev. Stephan, Teacher Hild received a call to Aurora, Illinois, and in a meeting on July 4, 1875 he was released “with the best recommendations” and a vote of thanks for his faithful six-year service.  During the vacancy Teacher Waschilewsky also received a call, which he returned.

4. Pastor J. A. F. W. Mueller, 1875 - 1900

Finally, after several calls had been returned, on September 19, 1875, the Rev. J. A. F. W. Mueller of Johnsburg, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, was called and accepted.  He was inducted into office on the second Sunday in Advent, 1875, by Rev. J. F. Koestering, of Altenburg, Missouri, assisted by Pastor Pennekamp, of Bremen, and Pastor Liebe, of Wine Hill.  The congregation requested that Pastor Koestering’s sermon on Matthew 13:47-49, delivered at this installation, be printed.  A copy is preserved in our archives.

The 25 years of Rev. Mueller's ministry were a time of peaceful spiritual upbuilding and of external expansion.  When Teacher Waschilewsky's school had reached an enrollment of 80 pupils, a second teacher, Mr. Lohmeier, of Bremen, was called and he served the congregation for a little over six years.

On New Year's Day, 1878, it was unanimously resolved to build a new church on the same side of the street as the school.  In order to avoid a burdensome debt, the building was erected by installments, proceeding about as far as the funds on hand permitted.  In October 1878, the cornerstone was laid.  The Rev. W. Achenbach and the Rev. C. G. Kleppisch preached the sermons.  In 1879 the structure was roofed, and on November 2, 1880, the building was dedicated.  Pastors Leppisch, Demetrio, and Frank were the preachers in the dedicatory services.  The building site opposite the old church had a cost of $600, the church itself $11,586.80. There was a cash balance of $49.05 in the church treasury besides some unpaid pledges.  The church was built of brick, 44 X 76 feet including the chancel, and seated about 550 persons.  The steeple had a height of 120 feet.

While the building of the church was progressing, Teacher Waschilewsky was given a peaceful dismissal on July 14, 1878.  The next month Teacher George Allmeyer, of Buffalo, New York, a son of F. Allmeyer, was called.  He served the congregation until early in 1883 when ill health compelled him to resign.  He died May 9, 1883, and was buried two days later, mourned and lamented not only by his loved ones, but by the entire congregation and by his fellow citizens who respected him for his many sterling qualities.

Teacher Allmeyer's successor in office was Mr. J. F. Herman Zastrow, a graduate from our Teachers' Seminary at Addison, who was installed in the summer of 1883.  He was active in the service of the congregation although he had received many calls to other fields.  With the exception of one year's vacation on account of illness, Teacher Zastrow served this congregation faithfully and efficiently from August 1883 to 1925 (a remarkable 41 years of teaching!).  His silver jubilee was celebrated in the summer of 1908.

In the beginning of August 1883, Teacher Lohmeier was dismissed with thanks "for his faithful service."  But it soon became apparent that the school needed two teachers, and consequently, Mr. Herman Lanemann, a member of the congregation with public school teaching experience, was employed as assistant.  He served until July 1890.  He was succeeded in that year by Mr. Paul Arndt, a graduate from our Teachers' Seminary.

A new pipe organ, built by the Jackson Organ Co. of Chester, was installed about July of 1887.  On September 3, 1893, it was resolved to build a 15 foot addition to the brick school at a cost of $721.38.

In June 1891, the congregation felt the need of having their own burial ground.  A committee of F. Allmeyer, C. Wegener, and L. H. Gilster was appointed to study the matter.  Acting on the recommendation of this committee, a three acre plot was purchased from Charles Eberhardt for $300.  This property is located just north of the present site of the Chester Greenhouse.  On September 6, 1891, F. Bueckman, C. Weinrich and H. Buenger were added to this cemetery committee.  On September 20, 1891, the City of Chester informed this committee of a regulation passed in 1887, limiting the location of cemetery land to one mile from the city limits.  The old committee was replaced by a newly elected committee on December 6, 1891.  This new committee consisted of Henry Herschbach, Sr., Sig. Brinkman, H. Bode, William Brinkman, and C. Weinrich.  The congregation granted this committee permission to purchase the present cemetery plot from Mrs. Mary Stumpe for $433.  On January 29, 1892, the Eberhardt property was sold at public auction to H. Kipp for $330.  On July 22, 1892, the congregation set aside a lot for the free burial of pastors and teachers.

Recently an old brown sheet of paper was found in a closet listing some sentences from the first constitution of our choir.  The constitution was dated January 11, 1894.  The sentences stated as follows:

The name of this choir is Concordia.  The threefold purpose of the choir is: 1. To beautify the worship service 2. To appreciate good music 3. To promote fellowship.  Only members of St. John church are eligible for membership.  The choir may enroll honorary members who are interested in the well-being of the choir.  A monthly fee of 5 cents is to be paid by the members.  This does not entitle them to own the music.  If a member quits he is required to return all music to the director.

The following officers are to be elected annually: 1. President 2. Vice President 3. Secretary 4. Treasurer
5. Director 6. Librarian.

Every member is required to give an excuse for missing practice.

Sickness by the member or the members of his family are good excuses.

If a member misses practice for one month, he terminates his membership.

Any member of the choir found in dance halls or the theater automatically terminates his membership.

During practice, especially when practicing with one voice, all members should remain quiet so as not to disturb the practice.

Smoking will only be permitted during the free period.

The first president of the choir was William Herbst; the first director was Mr Zastrow; the first instructor was Mr. Arndt; the first treasurer was Rudolph Welge.

Preserved in our archives is a sermon, in German, based on 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 and delivered by Pastor Mueller at the 14th convention of the Illinois District, 1894. 

On the third Sunday after Easter, 1897, the Golden Jubilee of the congregation was celebrated.  Prof. George Mezger, of St. Louis, and Pastors Dorn and Stephan preached the anniversary sermons.  In November of the same year the Golden Jubilee of Pastor Mueller's ordination was celebrated by the congregation.  His friend, Prof. George Stoeckhardt of St. Louis, preached the sermon.  Congratulations from many quarters were received, including the mayor and city council of Chester.

Three years after this celebration, December 26, 1900, at 11 p.m., Rev. Mueller died suddenly of heart failure, at the age of 75 years, 1 month, and 27 days.  He was buried on the Sunday after Christmas, December 30, in the congregation's own cemetery which he had been instrumental in founding in 1892.  The Rev. F. Brust, of Horse Prairie, Illinois, preached the funeral sermon from Luke 2:29-32 (“Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace . . . “).

Rev. Mueller was born in the town of Planena in Saxony, Germany, which country he left with his parents when he was a boy.  The family had joined the immigrant company of Lutherans who settled in Perry County, Missouri, and at St. Louis, in 1839.  Rev. Mueller attended our first College and Seminary at Perry County, and left it as its first graduate in theology in the fall of 1847, the year of the founding of our Synod.  From Manchester, St. Louis County, his first charge, he went to Chicago, then to Pittsburgh, and from there to Johnsburg, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, where he was called to Chester.  Rev. Mueller was a man of sound learning, firm convictions, commanding eloquence, and amiable character.  His popularity was not due to false leniency, but because his people respected him for his God-given qualities of mind and heart and for his faithful labors among them.  He was, indeed, their spiritual father.  God’s blessings continued to rest upon the congregation in a special manner during his ministry.  Besides his work in Chester and at Ste. Genenvieve, and Jonesboro, Illinois, he served Synod in a literary capacity and as Vice-President of the Illinois District.

5. Pastor C. Strasen, 1901 - 1908

The successor of Rev. Mueller was Rev. Charles Strasen, of Wine Hill, Illinois, who was Rev. Mueller's nephew, his sister’s son.  He was unanimously called and was installed by Rev. George Link, his father-in-law, on the fifth Sunday in Lent, 1901.

Shortly after his installation the congregation decided to improve the interior of its church by having the walls and ceiling decorated.  This was done at an expense of $835.  Two years later Mother Allmeyer (Anna, Nellie Crisler's grandmother) presented the congregation with two new large bells for the tower.  Hitherto it had contained but one small bell.  Nellie's father told her "When you hear the bells you'll know your Grandma's calling you to church."

Owing to the missionary activities of Rev. Strasen, it became necessary to introduce English services in 1901.  Rev. Strasen also began a mission at the Southern Illinois Penitentiary at Menard, near Chester, where he soon gained the confidence and esteem, not only of the inmates, but of the prison authorities as well.  His work is still remembered there, and the mission begun by him has been continued since.

For more than seven years God continued to bless this ministry, after which time He caused Rev. Strasen to accept a call as superintendent of the Lutheran Home-Finding Society of Michigan.

In April 1902, owing to the growth of the school, Miss Dora Zastrow, daughter of Teacher Zastrow, was employed to teach the beginners' class.  She continued in that capacity for nearly six years.

In September 1903, Teacher Arndt accepted a call to Steeleville, and was succeeded in October 1903, by Teacher Lehmann who had to be released in September 1904, due to a pulmonary infection.  Rev. Strasen taught during the interim while various unsuccessful attempts were being made to secure another teacher.  Finally, January 8, 1905, Teacher Otto Schroeter, of Farrar, Perry County, Missouri, was called.  In him the congregation secured a faithful and skillful teacher and a fine musician who soon had the respect and love of pupils and parents.  On March 22, 1908, Teacher K. Hoffmann of Seward, Nebraska, was called, but in January 24, 1909, he was released to accept another call, much to the regret of his pupils and of the congregation.  Miss Zastrow was again employed to teach the beginners' class.

6. Pastor W. H. Behrens, 1909 - 1924

After a number of unsuccessful calls had been sent, Pastor W. H. Behrens of Portland, Oregon was called in January 1909.  He was installed April 25, 1909 by Rev. J. Nickel of Wine Hill, assisted by Pastors Erdmann, Hartenberger, Wilk and Haertling.  Pastor Behrens was born December 6, 1870 in St. Louis Missouri.  He graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in 1893.  After a period of pastoral and missionary work in Salt Lake City, Utah, he was called to Tacomah, doing missionary work from that location in practically the entire state of Washington.  Pastor Behrens then served a congregation in Portland for a number of years and was elected president of the Oregon and Washington District.  He set aside that office to answer the call to Chester.

On September 2, 1910, Mr. Martin H. Grefe, a candidate from our Teachers’ Seminary at Addison, was installed as teacher of the first two grades, succeeding Miss Dora Zastrow.  Teacher Grefe stayed with us 55 years, until his retirement in 1965, though he too, received repeated calls from other fields.  He at all times gave the congregation faithful and diligent service.

On November 19, 1912, the congregation felt obliged to give Teacher Schroeter a peaceful dismissal to the congregation at Staunton, after many previous calls from other quarters had been returned by him.  He left with the good will and best wishes of the entire congregation.  Teacher Grefe became his successor and Miss Dora Zastrow again took charge of the lowest grades until a teacher was once more called to succeed her.

Candidate Arthur Buescher from our Teachers' Seminary at Addison entered upon his duties at the beginning of the school year 1913 -14.  He served the congregation faithfully and well for three years in the two lowest grades.

Owing to the fact that the old frame school of the congregation was greatly in need of repairs, the basement being no longer suitable for school purposes, and also because there was no confirmation classroom nor a hall for assembly purposes, the congregation resolved to build a new school.  A plan was finally adopted, and building operations were begun April 15, 1913.  The cornerstone was laid July 6, 1913.  Rev. F. Wenger, of Frohna, Missouri, preached a German sermon and Rev. J. Nickel, of Wine Hill, an English sermon.  The building was completed in May, 1914, and dedicated on the 10th of that month.  Prof. F. Streckfuss, of Springfield, preached a German sermon in the morning, Rev. F. Melzer, of Steeleville, preached another German sermon in the afternoon, and Prof. Theo. Graebner, of St. Louis, preached an English sermon in the evening.  The school was a substantial brick structure with three classrooms on the lower floor and a confirmation classroom and a hall, seating 300, on the upper floor.  The building site, diagonally across from the old school, was 140 X 240 feet and cost $11,800.  The building itself was erected at a cost of $14,486.95 on the location of our present school.

Because of the violent prejudice against the German language after our country's entry into the World War I (1914), German was entirely eliminated from the school and eventually from church services.  To have failed to do this at that critical time might have led to a serious and dangerous situation.  After the close of the war the congregation decided to reinstate German in the school only as an optional language study and to confine it to the teaching of reading and writing at the end of the school day in grades 3 - 8.  This change and the consequent confirmation of catechumens only in English obliged the congregation to introduce more English services, so that the number of them equaled that of the German services, one service in each language being conducted every Sunday.  Gradually in the course of years, only one German service per month was conducted, and finally entirely eliminated.

In July 1916 Teacher Buescher accepted a call to Trinity Lutheran Congregation at Portland, Oregon and was released.  After repeated failures to secure a successor the congregation employed Miss Esther Gilster for three successive years and was well pleased with her services.  Then Miss Ernestine Richter, another girl from the congregation, taught the first and second grades faithfully for two years.

During the school year 1921 - 22 when Teacher Zastrow was given a year's leave of absence on account of ill health, a student from Seward, Nebraska, Mr. William Ahlemeyer, taught grades 3 - 5, while Teacher Grefe took Mr. Zastrow's class and Miss Lydia Wiebusch had charge of Grades 1 and 2.  When Mr. Zastrow returned, he was given the middle grades at his own request, and Teacher Grefe was retained in charge of the three highest grades, while Mr. Ahlemeyer taught the two lowest grades.  In the school year of 1923 - 24, Miss Wiebusch was again teaching the lowest grades and doing good work there, while Teachers Grefe and Zastrow continued their work in Grades 6 - 8 and 3 - 5, respectively.  Miss Wiebusch would continue teaching until 1947, 25 years.  The total enrollment at the close of 1923 was 140, about the figure which had prevailed for the past few years.

On Sunday, August 11, 1918, the congregation observed Pastor Behrens’ 25th anniversary of ordination.  The Rev. E. Koch of Wine Hill and Rev. J. H. Hartenberger of Red Bud were the guest speakers.  After a banquet in the school basement, prepared by the Ladies’ Aid, the rest of the day was spent in fellowship.

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After the close of World War I, peace having been declared, the congregation entered into a building program from the summer of 1919 to 1924.  The parsonage, a frame building, was erected on the site of the former schools in 1919 and 1920 at a cost of $8,500.  In March 1923, the congregation again began to discuss the renovation of its church building, which had been decided once before, but had not been carried out for want of funds.  The subscriptions at the time did not prove quite sufficient for the building of the parsonage alone.  Now, however, considerable enthusiasm was aroused, and the final plans included much that had not been previously thought of.  In fact, a pretty radical change of the chancel end of the church building was effected.  A new addition, to form a cross was added.  A new roof was placed over old and new sections.  The exterior was covered with stucco; the interior newly decorated; and hot air furnaces with blower system were installed; new pews, new windows, new lighting fixtures, a rebuilt organ, an altar with carved figures of Christ in the center and the four evangelists, two on each side and a pulpit from old Immanuel Church, St. Louis were installed; and the balconies were rebuilt.  Also installed were acousticons for those with defective hearing.  About $28,000 was expended.  The result was pleasing to the congregation, and great was the joy of the congregation when the people could reoccupy their remodeled and beautiful house of worship.

The dedication of the renovated church took place on the fourth Sunday in Lent, 1924.  A brief valedictory service in German was held in the temporary place of worship, in the school hall.  Rev. John Deye, of Bremen, made a short address on Ephesians 2:22.  The church was then formally opened in accordance with the new English agenda of our Synod.  In the first service on the church Rev. Carl Strasen, of Plymouth, Michigan, former pastor of the congregation, preached in English from Psalm 84:1,2,10-12.  In the afternoon Rev. J. H. Hartenberger, formerly one of our members, preached in German on Exodus 20:24, and in the evening Prof. Walter A. Maier, of St. Louis, preached an English sermon on I Chronicles 29:5.  Mr. Walter Wismar, of Holy Cross Church, St. Louis, gave organ recitals after the German service in the afternoon and preceding the English service in the evening.  The church was filled to overflowing at each service; many were turned away for lack of room.  The ladies' society, with the aid of the young ladies of the church, worked strenuously and successfully to serve meals to the large gathering.

Of interest is the fact that Marie Allmeyer (Nellie Crisler's mother) died shortly after spending much time at helping with cleaning up the church after the completion of the 1924 remodeling.  Also, Christian Stallman (Paul C. Stallman's grandfather) hauled the large iron cross that is on the steeple of St. John up from near the river, where it had been brought either by train or by barge.  It was brought up to the church on a flat-bedded farm wagon pulled by a team of horses.  The large sandstone rocks that were used for the steps of the church came from the Stallman farm bottom-land near Gravel Creek.

The Ladies’ Aid and the young people's society were also active in raising funds for the building treasury and in providing some of the church furnishings.  In short, there was a willingness all around to take a hand in carrying the whole project to a successful completion.

Mention should be made here of the building committee.  Mr. John Herschbach was chairman, Mr. Fred Eilermann was recording secretary, and Mr. Herman Gilster was financial secretary.  The trustees were Henry Diefenbach, Oscar Fey, Edward Mueller, Sr., Adolph Eggers, and Rudolph Welge.  They were rewarded for their arduous labors by a result far exceeding the expectations of the congregation.  Mr. Wm. Bartels, a member of our church, was superintendent of construction, and he also worked hard for the success of the undertaking.

A month following the dedication of the renovated and remodeled church, the congregation observed its 75th (Diamond) Anniversary.  Three services were held on the day of dedication, April 27, 1924.  Preaching for the first German service in the morning was Pastor Gustav Mueller of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, a son of the former Paster Mueller of St. John; for the second German service in the afternoon was Pastor J. G. F. Kleinhans of Staunton, Illinois, President of the Southern Illinois District; and for the third service, conducted in English, was Pastor Richard Eirich of Baltimore, Maryland, a son of the former Pastor Eirich of St. John.

Pastor Behrens continued to work producing great blessings within the congregation.  It was with sincere regrets that in July of 1924, he was granted a peaceful release to accept the call to be professor of Practical Theology and teach Biblical Hebrew at Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois.  Pastor Behrens was called to his eternal reward on March 29, 1943. 

7. Pastor H. C. Schreck, 1924 - 1948

Rev. H. C. Schreck came to St. John from Pinckneyville in 1924.  After having been called twice by the congregation, September 25th and October 9th he accepted and was installed on the first Sunday in November by Pastor J. Deye of Bremen, Illinois, assisted by Rev. Duenow of Steeleville, Rev. Hartenberger of Red Bud, Rev. Glahn of Evansville, and Rev. Wessel of Sparta.  He served St. John congregation until his death in 1948.

In 1925 the joy of the congregation was again overshadowed by a cloud of sorrow when it pleased Almighty God suddenly to call His faithful servant, Teacher H. Zastrow, out of the Church Militant into the Church Triumphant.  Teacher Zastrow was stricken with a heart attack and called out of this life while he was serving as organist for a worship service.  (At this time the organ console was located in the front left balcony and his being stricken during a service caused a lot of upset for the worshippers.  Some years later the organ console was moved to the right rear balcony.)  Mr. Zastrow's vacancy in the school was temporarily filled by a student teacher.

On June 26, 1926, the congregation called Teacher W. E. Beinke of Cleveland, Ohio, to teach grades 5 and 6.  He was installed August 29, 1926.  In September 1928, the Rev. Gustav Roesener was called as a teacher at our school.  He served in this capacity teaching grades 3 and 4 for several terms, then the 2nd grade, and later several terms of grades 5 and 6 until 1948, a total of 20 years, when he retired from teaching.  During this time he also assisted with ministerial services with Pastor Schreck and served as a part time chaplain at the Menard penitentiary.  When in 1933 the school enrollment had grown, the need for an additional teacher was evident and a call was sent to River Forest for a graduate.  Mr. Adolph Leitz was assigned to Chester where he taught grades 3 and 4.  Mr. Leitz would teach at St. John for 11 years.

Tying in with preparations for the 100th anniversary of the Missouri Synod, the congregation began preparing for the 90th anniversary of the congregation (1939).  The interior of the church was redecorated, two additional stops were added to the organ, and a new steam furnace and city water and lavatories were added to the church.  This was also the time that the city paved West Holmes Street.  Observance of the 90th anniversary began on Monday evening, April 17, 1939, continuing with a series of services each evening through the week, and climaxed with a special Jubilee service on Sunday, April 23, 1939.  All societies aided in sponsoring this program which gave individual emphasis to each phase of work of the church.  The Lord continued to bless St. John congregation and school.

In 1942 an addition to the school was completed at a cost of $42,000.  Again, devoted congregational participation helped.  Gib Crisler (husband of Nellie Crisler) trucked the brick from the brickyard in Pinckneyville that was used for the 1942 school addition.

In 1944 the congregation observed Pastor Schreck's 25th anniversary of ordination and in the spring of the same year, Mr. Lietz accepted a call to Royal Oak, Michigan.

In June of 1945 St. John began a departmentalized Sunday School for children of all ages that met at 9:15 on Sunday mornings.  They also observed special programs such as an annual 'Rally Day', Christmas and Easter programs, pupils' birthdays, and the like.  A special endeavor of the pupils was to support the orphan homes of the church.  According to the notes of the Centennial report, there were an average of 20 classes meeting each week.  Mr. Clarence Nordmeyer and Mr. Elmer Schaardt served as the original superintendents.  Teachers and officers at that time included: Verdell (Beck) Brelje, Lydell Downen, Fern Hartenberger, Dorothy Heinks, Nora Moeller, Ruby (Mueller) Minks, Velma Lee Powley, Mildred Sasse, Elvera (Brelig) Rathert, Florence (Erdman) Heinks, Mildred (Heineman) Amschler, John Kober, Velma (Moeller) Adams, Carl Powley, Nora Powley, Marie Welten, Mary Alice Crisler, Faye (Hartenberger) Magers, Mrs. George Herschbach, Mrs. Edna Lemmerman, Alice Mueller, Edward Powley, Lela Reuscher and Joretta Rodewald.  Although this was the organization of the formal Sunday School, there had been a Sunday School in existence for several years prior to 1916.  This school was conducted on Sunday afternoons for about two hours by the Pastor or one of the teachers.  It had been discontinued during World War I and apparently had not been resumed officially until this time.

In 1946 Mr. C. Berndt was called from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, as principal.  He would serve for 10 years, until 1956.  Mr. John Kober of Bridgman, Michigan, and Mr. Aaron Kopf, a graduate of Concordia Seward, Nebraska, were called in 1948 to augment the teaching staff.

In spring of 1948 Pastor Schreck and the congregation began to prepare for the Centennial Observance.  It was resolved to reface the exterior of the church building with Permastone and to redecorate the interior.  New chancel furniture was installed and the floors were covered with tile.  The front of the church was remodeled by adding two new entrances, all new doors and concrete steps across the entire front.  The organ was again remodeled and large fans were installed in the bell towers for the circulation of air through the church.

Before all the plans could be carried out Pastor Schreck was taken ill.  His last Sunday sermon was delivered on Mothers’ Day of 1948 (preserved in our archives) after which he served in a limited capacity.  The Lord called him to rest on July 8, 1948.  He had served his Lord, and the congregation and community in Chester faithfully for 24 years, and the esteem in which he was held was evidenced when he was laid to rest in the Lutheran Cemetery, July 11, 1948.

8. Pastor O. B. Hussmann, 1949 – 1956

After a six month vacancy God heard the prayers of His people and again gave them a faithful and consecrated shepherd, Pastor O. B. Hussman, called from Topeka, Kansas.  Pastor Hussman was installed on January 9, 1949 by Rev. J. Mueller of Steeleville, assisted by Pastors L. Behnken of Steeleville,  R. Barlag of Sparta, H. C. Welp, President of the Southern Illinois District, O. Jagels of Campbell Hill, and M. Clausen of Red Bud.

Pastor Hussmann graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in 1929.  His first charge was a mission congregation in Eldorado, Kansas, also organizing a congregation in Augusta, Kansas.  He became the pastor of Trinity, McFarland, Kansas in 1937.  In August 1944 he entered the United States Army Chaplaincy and served with the 92nd Field Hospital Unit first in the Phillipines and later in Japan.  He served fifteen months overseas and was discharged in April 1946.  He was pastor of St. Paul, Topeka, Kansas from there being called to Chester.

The distress of the war years drew the people into closer relationship with their God, with their Pastor, and with themselves; and this, by God’s blessing worked to bring the congregation’s 100 years of existence to a worthy celebration of grace in the Centennial Observance.   On April 22, 1949 the congregation began its Centennial – jubilant and thankful – with the rededication of its renovated and remodeled church.  Special historical services were held the second Sunday of each month for a year, finishing in April 1950.  The congregation made prominent use of Psalm 100 in setting the theme:

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.  Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.  – enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.  For the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.”

In 1949 the congregation numbered 1,400 souls, 1,080 communicants and nearly 200 voting members.

On May 1, 1949, arrangements were completed and the beginning of radio broadcasting of worship services from St. John was begun over Radio Station KSGM.  At the beginning services were broadcast from the vestry by means of a temporary installation.  During the week of July 3, however, the radio committee, with permission of the trustees built a special radio control booth in the upper room of the narthex and installed a permanent broadcasting system.  Mr. Walter Beinke (St John School’s 5th and 6th grade teacher) served as the first radio announcer for our broadcast services.  Later this year Mr. Leonard Weber volunteered to serve as radio technician.  He served in this task until 1994 (45 years) when he and his wife Fern left Chester for Arizona due to health reasons.  In 1951, Charles Heinks joined in providing technical assistance.  He served with Mr. Weber for about 40 years.  Charles was a dedicated and reliable partner in this service and occasionally served as an announcer when needed.  Other announcers were Mr. Wib Adams, Paul Preusse, Wib Alms and Ted Search along with Steve Egge, Warren Buescher, Mardell Granger and Chris Urquhart.  Mrs. Lynn Rickenberg has joined as one of our radio technicians along with Brian Snider and Dr. Robert Platt.  Over the years St. John has received cards, letters and phone calls from about a 100 mile radius around Chester expressing appreciation for the broadcasts, requesting prayers and providing gifts to the broadcast fund in support of this wonderful ministry.

Several teachers were added to the school faculty during these years.  Carolyn Mahon arrived in 1951 and taught here until 1961.  Mr. George Bargman joined us in 1953 and taught here until 1966.  And Mrs. Mildred Dial arrived in 1956 and taught here until 1966.

9. Pastor Henry F. Gerecke, 1950 - 1961

On July 9,1950, the Rev. Henry F. Gerecke, came to Chester as Assistant Pastor of our congregation and Lutheran Chaplain at the two Illinois state institutions.  Pastor Gerecke was installed by Rev. Harry Welp, president of the Southern Illinois District, Rev. Hussmann of St. John leading the worship and Rev. Henry Rehwald of East St. Louis delivering the sermon.

Pastor Gerecke came to Chester from seven years’ service with the United States Army Chaplaincy.  Prior to his army career he served the Church as teacher at Emmaus Church, pastor of Christ Church, and Executive Secretary of the Lutheran City Mission Association in St. Louis.

Rev. Gerecke had served as a military chaplain during World War II and was one of the chaplains to the Nazi war criminals, including several of the notorious heads of the Nazi government, while they went through their trials for war crimes.  From 1943 to 1950 he served as Chaplain with the 98th General Hospital in England, France, and Germany, with the United States Constabulary at the Nuernberg trials, and with the Army Disciplinary Barracks in Milwaukee.  He distinguished himself particularly in his service to the high Nazis on trial at Nuernberg, remaining with the defendants with the counsel and consolation of God’s Word, and rejoicing to see repentance worked in the hearts of a number of the men by the Gospel.  He attended them with Word, Sacrament, and prayer to their very end, walking the last mile with the condemned men.  Accounts of Pastor Gerecke’s service in Nuremberg are in St. John archives and copies are available.

In 1946 Chaplain Gerecke returned to the States and was assigned Prison Chaplain at the Milwaukee Disciplinary Barracks.  Of his assignments and experiences Pastor Gerecke has said:

“I was in Milwaukee 33 months dealing with men, mostly young men, whom the world wanted to forget.  I feel that some good was accomplished in these seven years in the Army Chaplaincy.  To be sure, I acknowledge this by the grace of God.  With all my blundering, the Holy Spirit used the Word to save some among the Armed Forces and among the enemy.  It is my sincere hope that with all this background of experience I shall be more humble as an ambassador of the Lord and a little better qualified to tell the sweetest story ever told.”

Years after his time in Nuremberg Pastor Gerecke talked about his experiences, but never divulged their confessions.  He told of praying before meeting the men as he walked the long corridor, of becoming physically sick listening to anti-Semitic ravings of one, and of long talks to determine whether those who claimed to be repentant were genuinely so.  Four months before the executions, when Pastor Gerecke was scheduled to return to the states, 21 of them wrote and signed a letter to his wife Alma pleading for Pastor Gerecke to stay on, which he did.

Pastor Gerecke was a very well loved man.  The large white cross with the neon lights on the school roof was a gift memorial from the many men ministered to by him at the prison and Security Hospital.  Orville Hodge, who was once Illinois State Auditor and candidate for Governor, served over five years in the Menard Correctional institution.  During this time he was assigned as a clerk for Rev. Gerecke and wrote an article for This Day, a magazine of the Lutheran Church, giving an account of Rev. Gerecke’s ministry and schedule.  He wrote highly of Pastor Gerecke as a “patient, humble, tolerant and dedicated man of God.”

There was a special “Lutheran Day Communion” offered each last Tuesday of the month, and regular Lutheran services on the first and third Sundays in the afternoon.  This is the Life films were often shared after worship services concluded.  Editions of This Day, The Lutheran Witness, Good News and Portals of Prayer were distributed to every Lutheran communicant in his cell.

Pastor Gereke died of a heart attack on Oct 11, 1961, and the entire community, as well as inmates of the institutions he served, mourned his passing.

10. Pastor Eric Cash, 1957 - 1967

Rev. Eric Cash began his pastorate at St. John on July 28, 1957, when some 800 people attended his installation.  He was installed by Rev. Henry Welp, president of the Southern Illinois District, Rev. Gerecke of Chester delivering the sermon and Rev. Ralph Fessler of Steeleville leading the worship.  Pastor Cash was born October 27, 1920, in Gorton, Manchester, England.  He graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 1947; serving in Maplewood, Missouri; St. Johns, Michigan; and Ionia, Michigan before coming to Chester. 

1957 was a year of change as Roland C. Rehmer became principal of the school and Robert Holste joined the faculty.  Principal Rehmer would serve until 1970, 13 years.  Mr. Holste would teach here until 1967, his wife Betty joining the faculty from 1964 to 1966.  After their time in Chester the Holstes would teach in Evansville, Indiana, until retirement and then serve as volunteer missionaries in Thailand, where they currently are.

Telephone Meditations were begun and the student vicarage program began with Arlan Busse of St. Cloud, Florida, installed on Oct 1, 1961.  Other vicars trained by Rev. Cash included Harvey Kath, David Shoemaker, Ted Dallman, Daniel Clausen and Jerry Klug.  In June 1963, the St. John Ladies' Aid members celebrated their 100th year of service to our Lord at St. John and to the needs of those around us.  To put this in perspective, in June 1863 it was just a few months after President Abraham Lincoln had delivered his famous Gettysburg Address and the Civil War was in the midst of some of its most severe fighting.  It was at this time that several Lutheran women of St. John met to organize the “St. Johannes Frauen Verein,” the forerunner of the Ladies' Aid.  It was speculated by the historian of the Centennial record, that the ladies probably served their Lord and fellowman by making bandages for wounded soldiers.  This has been the oldest society within our congregation and has a long history of service through their sacrifice of time, treasure and talents.

Some of their activities were quilting, serving meals for the local Rotary Club, and rummage and bake sales.  Through these they provided funds for their treasury which were then distributed to Lutheran institutions such as the Bethesda Home, local and national charitable organizations, and Christmas and Easter seasonal gifts.

At the time of the Lutheran Ladies' Aid Centennial there were 75 members.  Officers were Mrs. Gertrude Welge, President; Mrs. Frieda Koopman, Vice President; Mrs. Esther Braun, Secretary; Mrs. Rudelle Welge, Treasurer.  (Mrs. Rudelle Welge served in this capacity for 38 years; truly a devotion to the Lord and the organization that is noteworthy.)  The ladies were also affiliated with the International Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML), sharing regularly through Mite Box donations in the outreach of the International LWML.  One of the major mission activities they were involved in during 1967 was the support of building the Lutheran Student Center at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.  Mrs. Rudelle Welge represented our District LWML by turning the first shovel full of dirt at the ground breaking.

In 1964 a $40,000 renovation program was undertaken at our church and a new organ was installed.

In 1967 Pastor Cash accepted the full-time position as Protestant Chaplain at the prison and five years later he left Menard to serve a congregation in South San Francisco, California.

11. Pastor W. A. Ranta, 1967 - 1981

On August 27, 1967 Rev. W. Arnold Ranta from Chesterland, Ohio, assumed the pastorate of our congregation.  He was installed by Rev. Herman Neunaber, president of the Southern Illinois District, Rev. Reuben Baerwald, first vice-president of the Southern Illinois District delivering the sermon and Vicar Jerry Klug leading the worship.  Pastor Ranta was born in Poplar, Wisconsin July 13, 1928 and graduated in 1951 from Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield.  He began his ministry by serving a parish of five congregations: Bethany, Wakefield and St. Mark, Bessemer, Michigan; and Iron Belt, North York, and Marengo, Wisconsin.  From there he was called to Fort William, Intoca and Lappe, Ontario, serving preaching stations in Murrillo, Mokomon, Sunshine and Kamanistiqua, Ontario as well.  Pastor Ranta was then called to serve as Mission Developer in Chesterland, Ohio, from where he was called to come to Chester. 

The first ten years of his ministry Pastor Ranta served in bi-lingual churches, in the English and Finnish languages.  On one occasion in Chester Pastor Ranta began his sermon with several paragraphs in Finnish.  Prior to the merger of the National Evangelical Lutheran Church with the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod in 1963 he served 8 years as secretary of the Synodical Extension Board; in Canada was president of the Thunder Bay District for 4 years; and in Ohio as president of the Lower Lakes District of the National Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Pastor Ranta’s emphasis was on ministering to youth and the aged.  Under his guidance our school was continually upgraded.  An Altar Guild was formed.  A Ladies' Bible Class was organized.  The Acolyte program was begun.  And the importance of Holy Communion was stressed.    Under his guidance in 1968 St. John made the change from having a special service of Communion held after the regular service, to including Communion as a part of the regular service. 

He also continued the Vicarage training program.  Former vicars of St. John included Alan Bachert, Harold Austerman, Robert Muller, Les Weiser, John Elke, John Sellmeyer Russell Zimmerman, and Fred Campbell, all trained under Pastor Ranta.  Pastor Ranta provided regular services for the Menard Psychiatric Center and occasional services at the General Division of the Menard institution.

The years 1970 – 1974 saw the arrival of seven members of our school faculty who would serve for many years.  In 1970 Mr. Chris Urquhart joined us, having graduated from Concordia, River Forest.  He would become Principal in 1991, and has to this time served 32 years at St. John.

In 1971 four teachers arrived.  Mrs. Pam Sheely is a graduate of Concordia, River Forest and has taught at St. John for 28 years.  Mr. Charles Winterstein, a graduate of Concordia, River Forest taught here until 1985.  Mr. Ralph Granger, a graduate of Concordia, River Forest, had taught in Hamblin, New York and Grand Rapids, Michigan.  He served as teacher and Principal until 1991.  Miss Lydia Homan, a graduate of Concordia, Seward, had taught in Saginaw Michigan and Murphysboro, Illinois.  She would teach at St. John until 1992, when she had to retire for health reasons.  After her retirement Lydia did a great deal of volunteer service, teaching public school confirmation for several years, tutoring many children, and teaching the 6:00 a.m. Bible Study for many years.  That Bible Study decided to study their way through the entire Bible, beginning in Genesis.  Lydia was able to lead them as far as the Book of Psalms before having to quit.  In 2001 her Lord called her to her eternal reward.

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