In the years after WW II many families settled on the escarpment, particularly the east mountain. However, there was no church, of any kind, east of Upper Sherman. The closest United Church was Burkholder's little white chapel on Mohawk Road. Rev. John Witzel of Mount Hamilton United and Rev. John Mutch of the Presbytery Expansion Committee began to lay plans for a new church to fulfill the needs of this expanding community.
Volunteers from Mt. Hamilton, and some of the local people, began canvassing and by April 1951 started a Sunday School in Peace Memorial School. Encouraged by this response, the two men pressed on and in October 1951 an unofficial church meeting was held at the same school. Hamilton Presbytery asked a young student minister named Earle Leslie to help get things underway. A building fund was organized. Although the congregation was small and not wealthy, they raised $10,000. With a further $26,000 donated by Presbytery, building was begun and on November 1, 1953 the new Parish Hall was opened. Plans began immediately to raise additional funds for the building of an adjoining sanctuary and manse. By February 1958 the sanctuary was finished at a cost of $220,000.
Growing from a beginning list of 11 adults in attendance, by 1967 St. John boasted 1,400 members and a staff of 60 trained Sunday School teachers. There were so many children in Sunday School that a complete baseball league was organized.
Membership in most churches declined in the ensuing years, but St. John continued its faithful witness under the capable leadership of John Witzel, Earle Leslie, Dr. H.B. Duckworth, Bob Bartlett, Bob McLauchlin, Ralph Waugh, Eric Drakeford, John Allsop, and Bob Rennie. Now, fifty years later under the leadership of Rev. Glen Wells, St. John is a growing congregation, reaching out to the people of the east mountain community and beyond. Two morning worship services each Sunday morning bring young and old to a variety of styles of worship.
Throughout the years some wonderful ministerial associates have also led the church: Rev. Colleen McKecknie, Joyce Boyd, Dale Cowley, Mary (Hunter) Seabrook, Cathy Erb and Lance Wright.
Rooted in Christ, Growing in His Spirit - is reflective of the mission of St. John - to enable people to experience Christ and grow spiritually. True to its roots, St. John's continues to be a Christ - centered congregation with an emphasis on prayer, discipling, and reaching out to others.
Pastors 1952 - Present
1952-1954
1954-1955
1955-1959
1959-1969
1969-1982
1983-1991
1992-2005
2005-2006
2006-Present
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Rev. John Witzel
Earle Leslie (ministerial student) Rev. Dr. H.B. Duckworth
Rev. Robert Bartlett
Rev. Robert McLauchlin
Rev. Ralph Waugh
Rev. Eric Drakeford
Rev. Dr. John Allsop
Rev. Robert Rennie
Rev. Glen Wells
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