IN THE BEGINNING

1894-1904

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingomar, Ohio had its beginning on March 18, 1891.  On that date, a small group of Lutherans met at the home of D.W. Summers.  This group decided to organize a Lutheran congregation and to worship in an abandoned old red brick Methodist Church (picture shown) located on the hill across the road from the little cemetery about a half-mile south of Ingomar.  Shortly after this, the building was rented and services were held.  The records show that 24 persons communed on May 17, 1891 at a service conducted by the Rev. G.C. Smith, pastor of Salem Lutheran Church, Lewisburg, Ohio.  For a number of years the congregation was loosely associated in a parish with Salem Lutheran Church of Lewisburg by whose pastors it was served.

At a meeting of the congregation on September 16, 1894 action was taken to purchase the Methodist Church property for $250.

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BUILDING THE CHURCH AT INGOMAR

1905-1906

Early Spring, 1905, the basement was dug by hand by members and friends.  The cornerstone was laid on August 27, 1905.  During 1906, the auditorium of the present nave was constructed. It is 36 feet wide and 56 feet long. Contractor was B. C. Crouse. The cost was $5,400. On December 16, dedication services were officiated over by the Reverend V. V. Christy, pastor at Ellerton and president of the District Synod of Ohio. Membership was 32. Indebtedness, $750.

AN INDEPENDENT PARISH

1950

St. John Lutheran Church of Ingomar decided to become self-supporting and called the Reverend H. F. Hamburger, who had served the parish since 1946, as its full time pastor.  The second set of front doors were added to the church building around this time.