St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
4260 Hessen Strasse, Wellesley Township
The church is located southwest of St. Clements, one concession south of Lobsinger Line and west of Moser-Young Road.
Begun: 1852 - present
A log church, located on Hesson Strasse or Hessian Road south-west of St. Clements and north of Bamberg (9 miles southeast of Linwood), was built in 1850 and dedicated in 1852 - one of a joint charge with St. Peter's, Heidelberg and First St. Paul's of Wellesley Village. Rev. F.A. Peifer (1852-1856), who organized the congregation in 1852, was the first pastor. He was followed by Revs. F.V. Wunderlich, F. Hildebrandt, Jacob Werth and Daniel Stahlschmidt (1860-1872). Destroyed by fire in early 1870, the church was replaced immediately with a new stone building across the road (on the south side) which was completed and dedicated in June, 1872. The church was associated with Heidelberg from 1860 until 1907 when it was joined with the Linwood Parish. In August 1991 the church appeared to be in good condition, with the grounds well kept. Four services are held each year. The marker above the front door reads: Deutsche Ev. Luth. Kirche 1872.
Records:
Baptism dates: 1852-1909 Location of records: Wilfrid Laurier University*
Marriage dates: unknown Location of records: unknown
Burial dates: 1853-1909 Location of records: Wilfrid Laurier University*
*Records, which include Confirmations 1852-1898 and Communicants 1860-1909, are in the Eastern Canada Synod Lutheran Church Archives at Wilfrid Laurier University. Some church records are also at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Linwood.
References: Cronmiller 1961:161; Dick & Longo 1984:26-27; Eylands 1945:81; Maple Leaf 1983:84; R. Taylor 1986; WHS 1972(60):77.
Information excerpted from: Waterloo County Churches, A Research Guide to Churches established before 1900, by Rosemary Willard Ambrose © Waterloo-Wellington Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, 1993. It is reproduced by permission.
For a complete list of resources mentioned above, please click here.
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In 1973 the church was threatened with closure due to declining membership. The dozen or so members were advised to attend nearby Lutheran churches. Neighbours were petitioned and urged to support the church so it could remain open. It was designated in September 2003 by the Wellesley Township LACAC and is open for four services per year.
The church is architecturally and historically significant. It is listed on the Canadian Regsister of Canada's Historic Places which "provides a single source of information about all historic places recognized for their heritage value at the local, provincial, territorial and national levels throughout Canada."
The church is located southwest of St. Clements, one concession south of Lobsinger Line and west of Moser-Young Road.
Begun: 1852 - present
A log church, located on Hesson Strasse or Hessian Road south-west of St. Clements and north of Bamberg (9 miles southeast of Linwood), was built in 1850 and dedicated in 1852 - one of a joint charge with St. Peter's, Heidelberg and First St. Paul's of Wellesley Village. Rev. F.A. Peifer (1852-1856), who organized the congregation in 1852, was the first pastor. He was followed by Revs. F.V. Wunderlich, F. Hildebrandt, Jacob Werth and Daniel Stahlschmidt (1860-1872). Destroyed by fire in early 1870, the church was replaced immediately with a new stone building across the road (on the south side) which was completed and dedicated in June, 1872. The church was associated with Heidelberg from 1860 until 1907 when it was joined with the Linwood Parish. In August 1991 the church appeared to be in good condition, with the grounds well kept. Four services are held each year. The marker above the front door reads: Deutsche Ev. Luth. Kirche 1872.
Records:
Baptism dates: 1852-1909 Location of records: Wilfrid Laurier University*
Marriage dates: unknown Location of records: unknown
Burial dates: 1853-1909 Location of records: Wilfrid Laurier University*
*Records, which include Confirmations 1852-1898 and Communicants 1860-1909, are in the Eastern Canada Synod Lutheran Church Archives at Wilfrid Laurier University. Some church records are also at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Linwood.
References: Cronmiller 1961:161; Dick & Longo 1984:26-27; Eylands 1945:81; Maple Leaf 1983:84; R. Taylor 1986; WHS 1972(60):77.
Information excerpted from: Waterloo County Churches, A Research Guide to Churches established before 1900, by Rosemary Willard Ambrose © Waterloo-Wellington Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, 1993. It is reproduced by permission.
For a complete list of resources mentioned above, please click here.
-----------------------------------------------------
In 1973 the church was threatened with closure due to declining membership. The dozen or so members were advised to attend nearby Lutheran churches. Neighbours were petitioned and urged to support the church so it could remain open. It was designated in September 2003 by the Wellesley Township LACAC and is open for four services per year.
The church is architecturally and historically significant. It is listed on the Canadian Regsister of Canada's Historic Places which "provides a single source of information about all historic places recognized for their heritage value at the local, provincial, territorial and national levels throughout Canada."
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Kitchener-Waterloo Record Photographs
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Cemetery
The cemetery is located across the road from the church. The tombstones have been transcribed by the Ontario Genealogical Society and recorded in pamphlet #CC4537. This can be accessed in the WTHHS Historical Room or purchased from the OGS. A CD of all the cemetery transcriptions in Wellesley Township is also available for purchase from the Waterloo Region Branch of the OGS for $30.00.
The cemetery is located across the road from the church. The tombstones have been transcribed by the Ontario Genealogical Society and recorded in pamphlet #CC4537. This can be accessed in the WTHHS Historical Room or purchased from the OGS. A CD of all the cemetery transcriptions in Wellesley Township is also available for purchase from the Waterloo Region Branch of the OGS for $30.00.