St. John's History

Beginnings

St. John’s Lutheran Church began in 1899.  In the preceding year Carl Nemitz, the 20-year-old son of Carl and Wilhelmina Nemitz, had become ill.  The Nemitz family held membership at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Rochester, and the Rev. John Nicum of the church ministered to the young man, as did the Rev. Ernest Reissig of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Farmington.  Both pastors officiated at Carl’s funeral after his death in 1898.

Pastor Reissig, viewing the number of German families in the Victor area, felt the need for a congregation in this vicinity.  The congregation began by meeting every other Sunday, in the afternoon, because of Pastor Reissig’s responsibilities at the Farmington church.  Some services were held at the Nemitz home (known then as the Brown place and now owned by the North brothers at 7191 Boughton Hill Road) including service on Christmas Day 1898.

Pastor Reissig requested and received permission from the Synod in 1899 to do new mission work in Victor.  At that time the Farmington church was a member of the Ministerium of New York.  On April 16, 1899, the mission congregation’s first recorded service was held in the First Presbyterian Church in Victor.  The congregation continued to meet there until 1901.  All services were in German at that time.  Pastor Reissig performed al the pastoral duties for the congregation, including the first baptismal service for a boy named Herrity Frank Zobel on April 23, 1899.  Naria Louise Bertha Chadzeck was the first girl to be baptized – on July 9, 1899.

There were two confirmands that first year also: Ema Raffold and Friedereka Raffold, confirmed October 29, 1899.

On May 28, 1899, the first church council was formed.  Members of that first council were Carl Guelzow, William Mahnke, Carl Nemitz, August Nowack, and John Zobel.  (Mr. Nowack served continually on the council until his death on August 18, 1946.)  A communion set was purchased, and the first Holy Communion was celebrated on November5, 1899, with 33 communicants.  The first recorded congregational meeting was held at the Nemitz home on January 4, 1900.  At that time the congregation’s first constitution and bylaws were written.

At a congregational meeting the followed year (held at the Nemitz home January 15, 1901) the congregation decided to erect its own church building, with the debt to be no more than $500.00 There were nine voting members.  The number of votes was small because only men were allowed to vote.  With a building fund of $925.00 in cash or pledges available, a decision was made in March to proceed with the purchase of a property on Andrews Street and construction of a church building.

On Jun 24, 1901, it was voted to incorporate.  The following day, before Justice of the Peace Theodore Norton in Canandaigua, New York, “The Evangelical Lutheran St. John’s Church of Victor, New York” was incorporated for the fee of $10.

The Andrews Street Years

The day of the dedication of the building on Andrews Street dawned bright and summer-like.  It was October 29, 1901. The dedication took place on a weekday to make it possible for visiting pastors to attend.  The congregation assembled at the Presbyterian Church to prepare for a procession to the new building.  There was a hymn and a prayer.  Then they gathered their articles of worship and, with Pastor Reissig leading the procession, headed toward Andrews Street.  Behind Pastor Reissig walked the councilmen carrying the Bible and communion set, followed by the Sunday School members and the rest of the congregation.  The key to the new building was turned over to Pastor Reissig by the builder, Theodore Norton, and the congregation delighted in their new church home replete with a newly purchased organ and two stoves for heating.  In the afternoon a children’s service was conducted.  It was a very proud and thrilling day for this congregation!

In April 1903, council minutes were recorded for the first time; previously only congregational meetings had been recorded.  In October of that year William Mundt took over from Pastor Reissig the job of keeping council meeting records.  Pastor Reissig left both the mission church in Victor and the Farmington church in 1903 to go to Potter, N.Y., and Pastor Erich Saul was received.

Victor was a mission area for Farmington until 1905, at which time “Die Evangelusch Lutherischen Saint Johanned Gemeinde zu Victor, New York” applied for admission to the Synod.  The church is listed as a regular congregation in 1906 Synod records.  On the fifth anniversary of the dedication of the Andrews Street church (celebrated October 28, 1906) the final payment was made on the structure.

In the years that followed, several pastors served St. John’s congregation in addition to their responsibilities elsewhere.  While at first the pastor came from Farmington, through the years pastors from Pittsford and Potter (and possibly other churches) served in Victor.  The congregation continued to worship every other Sunday afternoon, and all regular services were in German until 1914.  In 1919 the Ministerium of New York, of which St. John’s was a member, became the United Lutheran Church in America (which combined with other churches in 1960 to form the Lutheran Church in America and in 1987 combined with other Lutheran Churches again to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.)

Records indicate that at least as far back as the late 1930’s the congregation wished to obtain a full-time pastor.  Church membership suffered because of the limited schedule of services.  Dr. Knubel, then Synod President, was contacted in 1947 regarding the matter.  Finally, in 1949, the congregation’s wish was realized.  The Rev. Christian Krahmer, who had served St. John’s from 1915 to 1923, returned to Victor as a “stated supply” pastor.  Now, for the first time in the history of the church, it was possible to have a worship service every Sunday and to hold the service in the morning rather than the afternoon.

Pator Krahmer retired in 1955, his successors also were “stated supply” until September 22, 1963, when The Rev. Edward Von Borstel was installed as St. John’s first, regular, full-time pastor.  The parsonage on Hillcrest Drive was built for his occupancy.  For a glimpse of the activity at St John’s during the years 1901-1964, the following items were gleaned from church records:

March 22, 1901 – A decision was made to present each confirmand with a Bible, a tradition that continues to date.

Oct. 3, 1903 – It was decided to build wagon sheds and rent them to the congregation until the sheds were paid for.  (The sheds remained until 1948.)

March 22, 1905 – The Ladies Aid Society was organized.

Oct. 8, 1907 – The first furnace was acquired.

1911 – A bell was installed and a cross erected on the steeple.  The cross was made by Paul Bandimer and erected by members of the congregation.

1920 – Electricity was installed by the Young People’s Society.

Nov. 1, 1920 – The Ladies Aid Society disbanded.

March 19, 1925 – The Luther League was formed.

1930 – Pastor Brandt translated and revised the constitution, which went into effect February 3, 1930, upon Synod approval.

September 1931 – Luther League disbanded due to lack of attendance.

February 1939 – Held first formal installation ceremony for a pastor.

1939 – New roof put on building.

1939 – Church interior painted through efforts of the women of the congregation.

1940 – The Ladies Aid Society reorganized. (It continued through the 1950’s.)

May 7, 1940 – Luther League was re-formed.  (Disbanded again in 1942 due to war conditions.)

1942 – Church exterior painted.

March 8, 1942 – Dedication ceremony for flags donated: The Christian flag was donated by the Luther League, the stand made and donated by Edward Damaske.  The American flag and stand were donated by Mr. and Mrs. John Damaske.

1946 – Oil burner installed.

1947 – Church exterior painted.

1955 – New organ purchased through efforts of Lutheran Workers Society and through special gifts of members and friends of the congregation.  (The interior of the church had been redecorated, choir stalls built, and the Sanctuary remodeled.)

Nov. 19, 1955 – Special service held to dedicate the following donated items: altar vases, altar candelabra, altar cross, communion candlesticks, altar dossal, altar retable and cresting, offering plates, candlelighter, communion rail, credence bracket, flags, pulpit lamp, memorial book, processional cross, guest book, and choir rails.

On July 26, 1964, the congregation voted to relocate and construct a new church building.  Synod granted mission status to St. John’s so the relocation could be achieved.  The Andrews Street property was sold to The Church of Christ (now Willowbrook Church) for $7,500 and the 6.3 acres of land where the church now stands was purchased from Ralph Hawkins for $7,500.  The Architects Todd & Gireaux  were hired to prepare plans for the new building.

The Andrews Street property was vacated September 1, 1966, in accordance with the agreement with The Church of Christ.  During the ensuing year the congregation worshiped at St. Patrick’s School of Religion while the new church was being built.

St. John’s at 888 Victor-Egypt Road

The dedication of the current building took place on September 11, 1967.  From the time the new building was occupied, it has been known as “the church that always has cars in its driveway.”

1967 – Wee Wonders, a community nursery school, began using the church each day during the school year.  (The nursery school began as a church project, but is now separate from the church organization.)

1971 – 1979 – The Thrift Shop was housed in the church school wing.

1975 – The constitution was amended lowering the voting age for the congregation from 18 to 16 years of age.

December 1975 – First live nativity scene.

1976 – Outdoor chapel completed, providing a setting for communing with God and nature on warm Sunday mornings.

February 1. 1987 – Approval of an updated and rewritten constitution by the Synod.  One of the changes made was raising the number of council members from 12 to 15.

February 25, 1979 – Began to use the Lutheran Book of Worship (green hymnal).

1979 – Sponsored a Southeast Asian family.

1979 – Monthly newsletter to congregation started.

1979 – At the 89^th anniversary of St. John’s the membership included 310 confirmed and 464 baptized members.

1980 – St. John’s no longer has mission church status.

1980 – Constitution amended to have officers of the Council and the congregation to serve no more than six consecutive years in one office.

1982 – Two services begin – 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

1982 – Lutheran Church Women’s organization disbands.

1983 – Handicapped parking spaces constructed.

September 11, 1984 – Groundbreaking for Fellowship/Education Wing.

May 5, 1985 – Dedication of the Fellowship/Education Wing.

1987 – Sunday Raiders (Youth Group) disbands after 23 years.

September, 1988 – Church School returns to Sunday morning after being on Tuesday nights for 18 years.

September 10, 1989 – 90^th anniversary of St. John’s is celebrated by walking from the First Presbyterian Church to St. John’s with St. John’s banner and an old fashioned picnic after the church service.

1989 – Handbell choir begins.

1990 – First set of three stained glass windows designed, assembled and installed by member Carl Phelps.

September 29, 1991 – Congregation votes to sell parsonage at 31 Hillcrest Drive.

May 3, 1992 – Congregation votes on the following changes to the constitution:

1. All officers, except the treasurer, shall not serve more than 6 consecutive years in the same office.

2. The number of council members is reduced from 15 to 12.  Council may incur obligations for more than $3000 only after approval by a Congregational meeting.
3. One annual meeting will be held before January 31^st.

1993 – Public Address system for Sanctuary installed.

Fall of 1993 – Upholstered chairs replace folding chairs in the Sanctuary and the choir begins wearing robes.

1994 – “Families with Young Children” organized.

1994 - Second set of three stained glass windows designed, assembled and installed by member Carl Phelps.

1995 – Congregation begins using the supplemental hymnal “With One Voice”, (Blue Book).

January, 1997 – Handicapped bathroom is completed

1997 – Hand made door for Sanctuary designed, built and installed by member David Wetter.

1999 – The church celebrates its 100^th anniversary with year long festivities including: a special worship service led by Bishop Lee M. Miller, the making of a centennial quilt, an old fashioned picnic, Sunday School children planting bulbs throughout the yard, a special anniversary banquet at Lakeshore House in Canandaigua, and the publishing of the 100^th Anniversary Cookbook.

2000 – The Green Fields Campaign, a capital funds drive, begins and various improvements are made to the building including: installation of an Allen Digital Organ, painting of the exterior siding, replacement of the church sign, installation of new flooring in the Fellowship/Education Wing and Narthex, and connection to the public water and sewer systems.

September 2000 – The 8:00 worship service was moved to 8:30.

What has happened since 2000? Come join us and see!