One source indicates that St. John United Church of Christ was started as a German Evangelical church by Reverend Jacob HOSTO of Breese Township in 1868.1 Another source adds that it was infrequently served by Rev. A. STARK of Breese and Rev. H. HOLKE of Summerfield, Illinois but provides no date for this activity.2 However, both sources agree that a regular pastor, Reverend William STOFFEL, was in place by 1870. The date of the erection of the first church building was either 1868 or 1870 depending on which source one refers to.
St. John joined the Evangelical Synod of North America in 1891. St. John UCC has also been known as St. John Evangelical & Reformed Church before becoming a United Church of Christ.
| St. John UCC of Trenton list of
Pastors |
| 1868 – 1872 |
Rev. Jacob HOSTO |
| 1870 – 1875 and 1877
– 1889 |
Rev. W. STOFFEL |
| 1875 – 1877 |
Rev. Dr. SCHRAMM |
| 1889 – 1901 |
Rev. Dr. Rudolph JOHN |
| 1901 – 1914 |
Rev. E. F. SCHMALE |
| 1914 – 1927 |
Rev. Daniel BUCHMUELLER |
| 1928 – 1937 |
Rev. John J. MERZDORF |
| 1937 – 1950 |
Rev. Elmer L. KOCH |
| 1951 – 1959 |
Rev. Harry H. RING |
| 1959 – 1978 |
Rev. George A. SCHUETTE |
| 1979 – 1988 |
Rev. Samuel E. ROETHEMEYER |
| 1989 – 1993 |
Rev. Loraine A. TUENGE |
| 1995 – 1999 |
Rev. Steven J. BOORSMA |
| 2001 |
Rev. Melodee SMITH |
| 2002 – 2006 |
Rev. Thomas P. PERL |
| 2007 – Present (2008) |
Rev. Linzy COLLINS Jr. |
In 1881 the church had between fifty and sixty "most excellent German families" and was comparatively debt free. The church officers were John RIEMANN, Adam EMIG, Jacob SAUTER (Secretary), John WEBER and H. TIPPET.2 Through the leadership of its pastors, the church membership continued to grow. There was a flourishing Sunday School by 1881 and by 1890 the Sunday School was supporting two orphans in India.2
In 1881 the large brick church building, which measured approximately 50 by 30 feet, sat on a double lot with a steeple and a fine bell.
| Building highlights:2 |
| 1868 - 1870 |
Church edifice erected |
| 1889 - 1901 |
a large parsonage was built at the cost of
$2,300.00 |
| 1901 |
Central heating added |
| 1905 |
A parochial school building erected |
| 1907 |
Electric lights added by the Ladies Aid
Society |
| 1930 |
Church building damaged by fire and
repaired with addition of hardwood floors |
| 1963 |
New parsonage built |
| 1967 |
New church building erected with
dedication on 28 Apr 1968 |
| 1969 |
New educational building erected;
dedicated 8 Mar 1969 |
The church does not have its own cemetery probably due to its close proximity to the Trenton Cemetery. However, there are burial records, which survive from 1890.
Current (2008) organizations include the Ladies Aid Society, which was organized in 1886, Youth Fellowship, Chancel Choir, Youth Choir and the J.O.Y. Society (Evening Guild). Each of these organizations is equally mission oriented.
In the community, St. John is a member of the ecumenical group of Trenton. This group works in union with other churches on holy days and holidays such as Good Friday, Easter and Thanksgiving. The church also runs a Vacation Bible School in the summer.
Sources:
- "History of Marion and Clinton Counties, Illinois, 1881," Brink,
McDonough & Co., Philadelphia. Corresponding Office,
Edwardsville, Illinois. Page 165
- Graesser, Marie & Wilma Graesser; "St. John UCC, Trenton,
Celebrates 125 years," 1995; Illinois South Conference,
Highland, IL. Page 3.