https://www.fepl.ca/localhistory/files/original/ab800d40e15b69067f72d34033c5d375.pdf 2f88fbfa35dac0769757f0d66a683f9c PDF Text Text Sl'. JOHN'S UNITED CHURCH Sodom Road, has th� distinction of being the oldest in Willoughby Township. The congregation was orga.nize� in 1834 .by a Rev. George Keller who was serving a church in .}3Uffalo itJld did mission work among German immigrants who began to arnve in. Willoughby and Bertie Townships in 18.30. These immigrants brought very •,little yv()l'ldly goods with them, however, their religion was a possessfort'Yhioh they did not leave behind. They were an easy group to organize info '.a congregapon, partly beeause many were related to each 'oth�t, Three groups of people were drawn together, the Evangelical Ref�� fhe Lutheran� .. a.nd the Pennsylvania butch. : St. John's, on existing congregation ,•," : . � ., ! >'." l .·", • • < , _ 0 • • « ,• . • :Tite •site chosen for· the church Cetlnany· (Shydet); This.toad, although on Sodom Road north of New built of logs, was the best and mostJmpol'tant road in the township. No pictures exist of this first church except those mentally recorded by folk long since passed on. In -1934, the .cent.ertnialyear of the:church,.there were still four members living \vho had f)ee,n C()nBnrted in the .old church Thev .had these vivid mem9ries. The logs w�s filled with clayand the windmvs had shutters, i �Ti:ick Y17et_e;Cosed.except•at servic� time; The floor and ceiling were con­ strimb'!d with wide tmfinished boards. A smaHtable served as an altar. ·� The cruqe b�ricbes, siX of.':Vhich can �till be seen in the balcony The services were in German aJ1d w�re held every . of� pres��t:churcK secQ#d week. Livjng conditions· in tqe ·area were not good. Dense forest o�v�i�d li;lo�t of the township beyond the second concession inland from PMple came to ch�rch from distances up to 10 miles . the 'Niagar';l River. b:I w�go:gs;drawn over the log roads by horses and ·oxen. The ministers Buffalo for mapy years, Us'ually serving about two years each. by boat tq Black Creek or ferry to Fort Erie and Jater by fj-aitI; ; :'flley W!:;� always; met with transportation by church members, .. sometime$ this being horseback. was · sp�:be�eenthe Pews.were ·. 'came;.frotil' theyJt�elled: ·. ' : lri, M:yl845, under the leadership of Rev. J. Althaus, an acre of land '.v,as. pUl'chased on - flw. easf side of Sodom Road for a cemetery. This .. c�metery, lJilc;}l c With �u:rials,;Jies adjacent to. the one presently used. Rev. Runk laid th�. corn,er8;tone for the present brick church in Aprii 1861. The clnntcli'w� c!;Jmplet�i! anti!dedicated. that year. The pulpit Bible used by thl$ p�stoi: alb�g With tli�.:oid Communion Service set is retained in the preset).t �totj�l c�5e. of �h�. church. In 1866, during the excitement of ·the Fe);lia� Raid, a regiment of soldiers marched through the area. One of . ,. fJi,.,; .,,:;l.;�t ,....� ;J:,.;Jt L�-�> �--t'::. · _ _ _ �Hev. Schornstein b�came a resident pa,stor in 1868. A new house was purchased and moved to church property. to serve , as � parsonage. Rev: Kottler, an energetic pastor� served in the 1890's. , During this period the church tower was built, in which \Vas installed a four face clock built hy the pastor. It was motivated by .400 lbs. of weight, The ti me w:as stnl:ck A shed was erected. f<>r. protection of the on the three foot wide bell. horses and the present cemetery was also purchased . .. English services were held part time in 1900 and after 10 years, Gennan w.as completely elimin­ ated. Erv. Oberkirher came iri 1914, serving firsfin Buffalo, then as St. John's resident pastor. A new parsonage was moved to chrrrch property ' and t11e old one torn down. . · Rev. J. S. Huebschmann became pastor in 1922 and serv:ed � aithfully for 33 years. The one hup,dredth anniversary was observed in a week of celebr;ition in June. 1934. Following the retirement of Rev. Huebschmanh in 1956, the c)ong:rega.'.'. chose to join with the United Church of Canada. A pastoraLcharge .. ; .·-�''": was established with Peoples United Church of Crystal Beach and�a manse " .• ,The was . purchased jointly on Elmwood Avemie' in. Cryst;tl ,Beach parsonage adjacent to the church with an acre of lm1d was then sold. . 'I'he'_,.) { first minister called was Rev. W. H. Martin. During his service a ,Phrfatian '}·'.. Education Building was erected as an .addition to t:he church. A i\lemor�al ·),'.,·· window was installed in memory 'of Rev. Huebschmann. }\ second window .. R.ev. Martin sezyed was also dedicated to relatives by six othetJamilies. from 1956 to 1961. During . 1962 and 1963 Rev. Alan Barnes was ministe:r for the charge. tion · ' . . . -\·_, .• . .· ! ' ,\. . · - ' - -� /,, - , '. : '- • The present pastor, Rev. G. Howard Pace came in 1964. Tire pa�tort and church offer a full. program and opportt.m il)' for service to God and His work. < ' •• ' ' ' ' • · · � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louis McDermott Collection Subject The topic of the resource Local history, Fort Erie and surrounding area. Description An account of the resource A collection of historical documents, photos, news clippings, letters, and writings, assembled by local historian, Louis McDermott, and donated to the Fort Erie Public Library. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Louis McDermott Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived FEPL-LH -Louis McDermott Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Included in this collection are writings, historical documents, news clippings, images, maps, and more. They were written and compiled by Louis McDermott into a series of binders. The digital collection has been scanned from these physical copies. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fort Erie Public Library and Louis McDermott Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource St. John's United Church Description An account of the resource Listed here is a document pertinent to St. John's United Church, Willoughby. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Louis McDermott Collection Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Undated Louis Mcdermott Collection undated willoughby