The History of St. John United Church of Christ of Bolivar
Around 1819 there was a small community of settlers a short distance south of the present Bolivar. This Zutavern Community, by 1822, had a "Society of German and English Lutherans." The Church Society met in homes until 1833 when a log church was built 2.5 miles southwest of Bolivar on the present County Road 422. Many people traveled from the new town of Bolivar to the Zutavern Church for services. In 1853 a group of members from the Bolivar vicinity left the Zutavern Church and organized and independent congregation known as the German Evangelical Luther Church of St. John in Bolivar which was formally incorporated in 1856. When St. John Church joined the German Evangelical Synod of North America it changed its name to St. John Evangelical Church, the name still visible in large letters in the window over the entrance to the present building.
With the merger of the Evangelical Synod and the Reformed Church in the U.S. in 1934, St. John changed its name to St. John Evangelical and Reformed Church. Another merger came in 1957 with the Congregational Christian Churches and St. John became known as St. John United Church of Christ.
The original church was built in 1871. Later, two Sunday school rooms and a new entrance were added and in 1925 a basement was dug under the church by hand. In 1951, wings were added to the sanctuary and the basement was remodeled. The education wing, offices, additional bathrooms and a vestibule were added in 1968-1971.
Extensive remodeling of the sanctuary, the basement fellowship hall and kitchen was completed in 1986.
With the merger of the Evangelical Synod and the Reformed Church in the U.S. in 1934, St. John changed its name to St. John Evangelical and Reformed Church. Another merger came in 1957 with the Congregational Christian Churches and St. John became known as St. John United Church of Christ.
The original church was built in 1871. Later, two Sunday school rooms and a new entrance were added and in 1925 a basement was dug under the church by hand. In 1951, wings were added to the sanctuary and the basement was remodeled. The education wing, offices, additional bathrooms and a vestibule were added in 1968-1971.
Extensive remodeling of the sanctuary, the basement fellowship hall and kitchen was completed in 1986.
