This Sunday Local History Shared with “Simple Service”

This Sunday, September 16 some important local history is shared and celebrated as has been done for the past 113 years.

St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church will open their doors to celebrate a short worship service and hymn sing to honor those settlers who founded this tiny congregation in 1850 and closing in 1905.

The last remaining of the log church in Darke County, was built in the forests north of Webster, Ohio known to locals as Dutch Roost by the locals, the German immigrants who first settled here in the 1830’s and desired a church, like they left at home built this tiny church in the woods to worship and celebrate God’s gifts.

The Church whose beautiful pewter communion service is now on display at the Versailles Area Museum is still filled with many artifacts from the Church’s founding including the original German Pulpit Bible and plain hand carved pews, pulpit and Altar table.

The 1890’s pump organ is used for the this service and the quaint, coved hair plastered room illuminates with the feelings of years gone by.

The Church will be open one hour before the “Simple Service”, led by Rev. Brian McGee of St. John’s Greenville to allow for browsing the building and cemetery grounds. The service will begin at 2:00 with hymns played on the pump organ. Light refreshments will be served on the lawn following the service.

This piece of our area’s history is truly a local treasure listed on the National Historic Register and it is maintained by the descendants of the original Congregation and gifts by the Community during the Open House.

This year St. Peters continues to participate in the Ohio Historical Society’s “Open Door Initiative”; a celebration of Ohio’s hidden gems that are rarely viewed or open to the public.

Your contributions are the only financial support this historic church receives and are vital to keeping her doors open, once a year and maintaining the property for future years to come. St Peter’s like our Museum is a 501c.3 and would welcome your support. A contribution may be made by check to: St. Peters Evangelical Lutheran Church c/o J. R. Kelch at 105 Greenhaven Drive Greenville, Ohio 45331.

Please join us as we once again open our doors wide and welcome you home to St. Peter’s.