St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Corning, Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church and Parochial School
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St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church circa 1894
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | 112 Walters Street, Corning, Missouri |
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| Built | 1893 |
| Architect | Rev. John Proft; Peter Thull |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001339 |
| Added to NRHP | January 4, 2008 |
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church is a very old church in Corning, Missouri. It is a Lutheran church, which is a type of Christian church. When it started, it followed special beliefs called the Augsburg Confession. Later, it joined a larger group called the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS).
This church is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 4, 2008. It was listed as St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church and Parochial School. Sadly, a big flood in 2011 badly damaged the building. Now, a group called the St. John's Historical Society is working hard to fix it up.
Contents
The Church's Early Days
The church began in the spring of 1860. It was started by German immigrants who moved to Northwest Missouri. They called their group "Deutsch Evangelish Lutheraner St. Johannes."
Building the First Church
In October 1860, the first church building was finished. It was made of wood and was called the "Church in the Timber." It was located near the Missouri River, about two miles from Corning. By 1872, the church had grown too big for this building. So, the members bought land in Corning where the church stands today.
Building the Current Church
The brick building you see now was built in 1893. A builder named Pete Thull from Rock Port, Missouri constructed it. It has been used ever since. A small, wooden schoolhouse was built behind the church in 1912. It taught classes in German until 1917. Later, in 1953, a parish hall was added to the church.
Surviving Floods
The church has been through a lot! It survived big floods in 1951 and 1993. However, a very severe flood in 2011 caused a lot of damage. The church is now waiting to be restored so it can be used again.
What the Church Looks Like
The church building is made of brick. It was designed in a style called Gothic Revival. This style often has pointed-arch windows, which you can see on the church. The building is shaped like a Latin cross, which is a common design for churches.
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
Inside the church, there are amazing stained glass windows. They were put in in 1943. The blue glass for these windows came all the way from Czechoslovakia. The windows show many important symbols. These include the Luther rose, an eagle in a boiling pot (symbols for St. John), a crown of thorns, a throne, a Bible, and the Ark of the Covenant.
Inside the Church
The church also has its original pipe organ. This organ was decorated by hand. There are three large paintings, called murals, inside. One shows Christ the Good Shepherd. Another shows Jesus teaching by the Sea of Galilee. The third shows a picture of Heaven. There is also a tall, white wooden altar and pulpit. It has a large, handmade picture of the Kingdom of Heaven that reaches 24 feet high!
