Our History
A historical essay on the 215 years of St. John’s Lutheran Church
The early beginnings of this congregation date back to 1787. In those days, pioneers of all backgrounds were just starting to establish their farms and homesteads in this part of the Shenandoah Valley. Several found work at the nearby iron-ore smelting furnace; which was begun about 1769 - after the end of the French and Indian War (1760s). Iron smelted from the “Old Furnace” was used to make various items in support of Virginia’s economy and the Continental Army. “Old Furnace” closed circa 1795 but the congregation of the “Old Furnace Church” (as called by our first known pastor) remained together; guided onward by the Holy Spirit, and thus 1796 became the time-honored year of the founding of our congregation. (Psalm 127, v.1)
Our oldest records have dates of 1793 & 1820 and our 1st official record book was instituted in 1825. The oldest book in our library dates to 1813, which of course, was used for Catechism. It is a notable item of our Church Heritage as it is from among the first Lutheran books printed in English by a settler’s press right here in the Shenandoah Valley.
In the era of our 2nd church building, 1825 to 1873, our Sunday School held its first class in 1859. Classes are still held here every Sunday before worship service, 152 years later. Nearby, a second ore-smelting furnace, named after Zachary Taylor of Virginia, operated from 1844 to 1855. Our church was therefore often referred to as “Taylor Furnace Church” after its nearest well-known landmark and employer. Our congregation also formally became a part of the Virginia Synod in that period, around 1838.
The Lutheran churches of this area merged together in the mid-1800s to form a rural parish. The vineyard was originally begun in 1849 with the congregations of St. James (Cedar Creek) and Gravel Springs (Dry Run); our St. John’s (Old Furnace) joined the vine in 1850 and Bethel (Albin) came into the vineyard next in 1851. It was in 1860 that this rural pastorate was first known as the (then named) Gravel Springs Parish. Luckily, none of these fine churches were damaged during the Civil War that was fought throughout Virginia just a decade later. A fifth congregation, Fremont, was formally added as parish member in 1875. Today, the now named Gravel Springs-St. John’s Lutheran Parish has just two (but very flourishing) congregations in the old vineyard. But historically speaking, since the establishment of a parish we have often benefited from lengthy periods of pastoral leadership―with the services of Rev. J. Summers (22 years), Rev. W.J. Smith (26 years), and the Rev. E.B. Smith (21 years) as wonderful examples.
Our third & present church building was built in 1873. Dedicated as “St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church”, we think the first photo of it was taken in 1892 when it had been freshly repainted. Sunday School lessons continued to be taught in the sanctuary (with several classes all ongoing at the same time) until the classroom & social hall annex was added onto the church in 1954. The 1890s era white-washed picket fence around the churchyard was replaced by a stonewall and arched gateway in 1947/1948 - a renovation that was modeled after churchyards seen in Europe by our returning WWII heroes.
The custom built Allen Organ was acquired in 1999 thanks to a bequest from a dear organist who had begun playing for this church at the age of 15 (on the old pump organ that’s been here since 1891). However, the lessons she gave as a Sunday School teacher for over 50 years were her sweetest melodies of all.
A historical essay on the 215 years of St. John’s Lutheran Church
The early beginnings of this congregation date back to 1787. In those days, pioneers of all backgrounds were just starting to establish their farms and homesteads in this part of the Shenandoah Valley. Several found work at the nearby iron-ore smelting furnace; which was begun about 1769 - after the end of the French and Indian War (1760s). Iron smelted from the “Old Furnace” was used to make various items in support of Virginia’s economy and the Continental Army. “Old Furnace” closed circa 1795 but the congregation of the “Old Furnace Church” (as called by our first known pastor) remained together; guided onward by the Holy Spirit, and thus 1796 became the time-honored year of the founding of our congregation. (Psalm 127, v.1)
Our oldest records have dates of 1793 & 1820 and our 1st official record book was instituted in 1825. The oldest book in our library dates to 1813, which of course, was used for Catechism. It is a notable item of our Church Heritage as it is from among the first Lutheran books printed in English by a settler’s press right here in the Shenandoah Valley.
In the era of our 2nd church building, 1825 to 1873, our Sunday School held its first class in 1859. Classes are still held here every Sunday before worship service, 152 years later. Nearby, a second ore-smelting furnace, named after Zachary Taylor of Virginia, operated from 1844 to 1855. Our church was therefore often referred to as “Taylor Furnace Church” after its nearest well-known landmark and employer. Our congregation also formally became a part of the Virginia Synod in that period, around 1838.
The Lutheran churches of this area merged together in the mid-1800s to form a rural parish. The vineyard was originally begun in 1849 with the congregations of St. James (Cedar Creek) and Gravel Springs (Dry Run); our St. John’s (Old Furnace) joined the vine in 1850 and Bethel (Albin) came into the vineyard next in 1851. It was in 1860 that this rural pastorate was first known as the (then named) Gravel Springs Parish. Luckily, none of these fine churches were damaged during the Civil War that was fought throughout Virginia just a decade later. A fifth congregation, Fremont, was formally added as parish member in 1875. Today, the now named Gravel Springs-St. John’s Lutheran Parish has just two (but very flourishing) congregations in the old vineyard. But historically speaking, since the establishment of a parish we have often benefited from lengthy periods of pastoral leadership―with the services of Rev. J. Summers (22 years), Rev. W.J. Smith (26 years), and the Rev. E.B. Smith (21 years) as wonderful examples.
Our third & present church building was built in 1873. Dedicated as “St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church”, we think the first photo of it was taken in 1892 when it had been freshly repainted. Sunday School lessons continued to be taught in the sanctuary (with several classes all ongoing at the same time) until the classroom & social hall annex was added onto the church in 1954. The 1890s era white-washed picket fence around the churchyard was replaced by a stonewall and arched gateway in 1947/1948 - a renovation that was modeled after churchyards seen in Europe by our returning WWII heroes.
The custom built Allen Organ was acquired in 1999 thanks to a bequest from a dear organist who had begun playing for this church at the age of 15 (on the old pump organ that’s been here since 1891). However, the lessons she gave as a Sunday School teacher for over 50 years were her sweetest melodies of all.