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Saint John United Church of Christ

301 South Market
618-475-2947


History

On April 14, 1871, a citizen's group decided to found an Evangelical Church in New Athens. The young congregation, officially named "German Evangelical St. John Church," moved into its new sanctuary on December 2, 1878. Soon after, the Frauen Verein (Ladies' Aid) and church school were organized.

The physical facilities of St. John Church have seen numerous changes. A new sanctuary was built in 1905 after the original building was damaged in a storm. That facility still serves the congregation today, having been both expanded and remodeled several times, most recently in 2005.

About Us

Our congregation is part of the United Church of Christ a community of faith that seeks to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. The UCC was founded in 1957 as the union of several different Christian traditions. From the beginning of our history, we were a church that affirmed the ideal that Christians could live together in communion even if they didn't agree. Our motto "That they may all be one" is Jesus' prayer for the unity of the church. The UCC is one of the most diverse Christian churches in the United States.