By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lincolnville is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its church building, including its pipe organ.

The church has no organist at present, but David Rankin of Ellsworth, who has serviced the organ for several years, attended a service Sunday and inspired the congregation as he played preludes and accompanied singing of hymns.

The denomination’s Kansas district president will present the church’s weekly sermon this Sunday, and a potluck meal will be served afterwards.

The congregation’s first church was built in 1886, northeast of Lincolnville. A new church was built in Lincolnville in 1894 after a controversial 22-21 vote.

The current church was built in 1925 at a cost of $5,000 (the equivalent of nearly $92,000 today) and was dubbed by one reporter as “one of the finest in the county.”

The brick building can seat 500 people and has a full basement with kitchen. A pipe organ from St. Louis was installed at the same time.

A crowd estimated at 2,000 attended a dedication ceremony May 17, 1925. A morning service was conducted in German, and an afternoon service was in English. The day concluded with a sacred concert on the organ.

The church had no electricity when it was built, but an electric motor for the organ was added later. An elevator was added about 50 years ago.

The building has been well-maintained, according to Pastor Alan Stahlecker, who has served the church for almost 32 years.

A few leaks in the roof recently were sealed, and the interior received a fresh coat of paint.

Attendance at present averages 35.