Church History

St John United Church of Christ was established in 1862 near present day Granite City, IL, and was named the German Christian Church of the Six Mile Prairie.  By the late 1860's an additional three acres had been purchased for use as a cemetery. In 1863 the church was renamed St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Nameoki, IL, an independent congregation. 

In 1920 the congregation applied for membership in the Evangelical Synod of North America and the name was changed to St. John  Evangelical Church of Granite City. Around 1917, English was gradually introduced as the language of worship replacing German for one service a month, likely due to anti-German feelings at the time.  

However, full transition to all services in English didn't happen until 1940.  The name was changed once again in 1962 to St. John United Church of Christ following the merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Church.  In 1993 the congregation voted to develop a second cemetery on Maryville Rd in Granite City.  The sanctuary building has been rebuilt multiple times due to damage from fire and a tornado.  The current building was built of Wisconsin stone and dedicated in 1935.  The Education Building was completed and dedicated in 1955.  The St. John congregation has been served by sixteen Pastors and Senior Pastors, six Associate Pastors, and six Interim Pastors.