Today in Wheeling History: December 17—The congregation of St. John's United Church of Christ called the Rev. Mr. Ronald C. Riggs as their pastor (1972).
St. John's United Church of Christ, originally known as St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church, has a rich history dating back to 1835. The congregation was formed by German-speaking pioneers who initially held services in a frame building on Main Street in North Wheeling. The first resident pastor, Rev. Andreas Schwartz, led the congregation in acquiring property at Eighteenth Street and Alley F in 1836, where they built their first church. This building's cornerstone, inscribed "Erste Deutsche Lutherische Kirche in Wheeling, 1836," is now part of the 1907 building. Over the years, the church experienced growth and changes, including a merger with a smaller German-speaking congregation around 1870, leading to the name St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church. In 1872, a larger church was built at 17th and Market Streets. However, in 1906, the property was sold to the B&O Railroad, prompting the construction of the current building at 41 22nd Street. The cornerstone for this new building was laid on May 26, 1907, and it was dedicated on September 20, 1908. On December 17, 1972, the congregation called the Rev. Mr. Ronald C. Riggs as their pastor. Rev. Riggs brought renewed energy and vision to the church, leading various community outreach programs and fostering a spirit of inclusivity. The church became St. John's United Church of Christ in 1961 after denominational mergers. In 2006, it disaffiliated from the UCC and returned to its former name, St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church, before becoming Centre Wheeling Fellowship in 2019.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/HHswO); Centre Wheeling Fellowship Facebook Page (https://shorturl.at/V4sSf), Centre Wheeling Fellowship (https://shorturl.at/ufF4Y)
Photo caption and credit: St. John's United Church of Christ, View from Chapline Street, Wheeling, WV, 2002, (Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV)
St. John's United Church of Christ, originally known as St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church, has a rich history dating back to 1835. The congregation was formed by German-speaking pioneers who initially held services in a frame building on Main Street in North Wheeling. The first resident pastor, Rev. Andreas Schwartz, led the congregation in acquiring property at Eighteenth Street and Alley F in 1836, where they built their first church. This building's cornerstone, inscribed "Erste Deutsche Lutherische Kirche in Wheeling, 1836," is now part of the 1907 building. Over the years, the church experienced growth and changes, including a merger with a smaller German-speaking congregation around 1870, leading to the name St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church. In 1872, a larger church was built at 17th and Market Streets. However, in 1906, the property was sold to the B&O Railroad, prompting the construction of the current building at 41 22nd Street. The cornerstone for this new building was laid on May 26, 1907, and it was dedicated on September 20, 1908. On December 17, 1972, the congregation called the Rev. Mr. Ronald C. Riggs as their pastor. Rev. Riggs brought renewed energy and vision to the church, leading various community outreach programs and fostering a spirit of inclusivity. The church became St. John's United Church of Christ in 1961 after denominational mergers. In 2006, it disaffiliated from the UCC and returned to its former name, St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church, before becoming Centre Wheeling Fellowship in 2019.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/HHswO); Centre Wheeling Fellowship Facebook Page (https://shorturl.at/V4sSf), Centre Wheeling Fellowship (https://shorturl.at/ufF4Y)
Photo caption and credit: St. John's United Church of Christ, View from Chapline Street, Wheeling, WV, 2002, (Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV)
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