History of St. John's Lutheran Church
Historical Perspective
In 1804, the followers of the George Rapp (1757-1847) immigrated to America from Iptingen (near Stuttgart) in southwest Germany seeking religious and economic freedom.
In 1824, the Harmony Society returned to Pennsylvania, this time settling in
Beaver
County along the
Ohio River. There they founded "Oekonomie," now better known as
Old
Economy
Village, part of present day Ambridge. It was here that the Society gained worldwide recognition for its religious devotion and economic prosperity.
The Harmonists developed a simple, pietistic lifestyle based upon the early Christian Church. They turned over everything they owned to the Harmony Society when they became members. Everyone worked together for the good of the Society and received, in turn, what he or she needed to live simply and comfortably.
The Harmonist Church
The Harmonists' church was the center of their community’s spiritual life.
The church was designed by Frederick Rapp. Construction of the church started in 1828, and was finally finished in 1831. Today it is considered one of the premier examples of neo-Georgian church architecture in existence. It was made of bricks produced by the Harmonists. The worn slab steps with the original hand rail and boot scrapers lead into the narthex with walls 36 inches thick made of horsehair and mud. The outside construction of the tower is made of sandstone up to the second floor level where the brick construction continues up to the belfry. The floor and ceiling are both of wood that came from the forest around the outlying sections of the village, and was cut and planed in the Harmonist sawmills. A beautiful chandelier, originally lighted by oil, is suspended in the center of the room.
The plastered walls of the sanctuary rise 20 feet to the arched wooden ceiling. Eight massive wooden columns, each 20 feet high, support the ceiling. Metal rods support the beams and provide for expansion and contraction when the weather changes. The ceiling is 27 feet 8 inches from the floor at its peak.
The church tower rises 100 feet from the ground and is topped by a cross and weathercock. The balcony is 50 feet from the ground and affords a beautiful view of the gardens across the street, the
Ohio River, and surrounding towns. The stairs to the tower are the original steep steps similar to a library ladder. The tower contains a mechanical clock that has four faces, each having only the hour hand, that can be seen for blocks around the church. The tower also houses two bells that were cast in
Pittsburgh in 1825-1832.
St. John’s
Lutheran
Church
The Harmonists continued to worship in their church until they numbered only three souls. In 1905 the Harmonist Society dissolved, and its property and assets were later sold to the Liberty Land Company on May 10, 1905.
St. John's congregation was organized on November 6, 1907. A charter was granted by the Commonwealth on April 15, 1908. The church building was purchased by
St. John's congregation on February 21, 1912 for $5000.00. It has been in continuous use as a Lutheran congregation since then. 