St. John Lutheran church hits milestone, looks to future
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

St. John’s church, dedicated in 1875, as it stood on Hickory Street in the City of Buffalo.

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church is known as the mother church of Buffalo Lutheranism - a confusing moniker, as the church is located at 6540 Main St., in Amherst.

But it's only confusing for those who don't know the church's 175 years of history.

The church was first organized Feb. 10, 1833 and found a home on Hickory Street in Buffalo, where services were held in German. As the community of Buffalo grew over the years, so did St. John's membership. The only Lutheran church that's older than St. John's is St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Eggertsville.

"Seven other churches came out of St. John's," said Pastor Peter Breitsch. "A few started by expanding, and some started because of dissent."

One of the most noted churches in Buffalo to break off from St. John's is Holy Trinity Church at 1080 Main St.

"Some younger people wanted to worship in English, and other people at St. John's wanted to keep services in German," Breitsch said. "So they went against the church council."

After World War II, St. John's parishioners began moving to the suburbs of Buffalo with their families. In order to serve their congregation better, St. John's moved as well.

The fellowship hall, as it stands today, was completed in 1965. Though now a suburban church, St. John's still has senior members who were baptized in the old church on Hickory Street. Those members who have been with the church for many years, along with new suburban members, create the congregation that St. John's enjoys today.

St. John's Lutheran Church, as it stands today at 6540 '' Main St., Williamsville.

Breitsch recalled looking at photos of the old days in the church and the numbers of parishioners who attended Bible studies and events at the church.

"We don't have those kinds of numbers anymore, but it still has a sense of history," he said. "That's exciting to be part of that."

But the church is always looking for ways to attract new members, including holding a contemporary service and a traditional service and having a user-friendly Web site at stjohnamherstny.org.

"Twenty-five years ago, we would never have even thought of a Web site," Breitsch said. " But once we get them through the door, it's our responsibility to keep them there."

"When people walk in and say they found the church online, that's a thrill," agreed church historian Conrad Sorenson.

To celebrate the church's anniversary, former pastors and their families have been invited back throughout the year, and a celebration is set for the fall for all parishioners and their families.

Pastor Peter Breitsch

"It's going to be some kind of meal with music showcasing the talent of the kids we have," Breitsch said, noting that the event will probably be held at the church. "We want it to be as inclusive as possible, and we don't want money to be an issue."

As for the future, the church is looking forward to more growth in members and becoming an even more modern mainstay in the community.

"In the past 10 years, the church has gone from more traditional, where the pastor controlled everything, to leading more by consensus," Breitsch said. "Now there's more a sense of community and unity, where it was once more aloof."

More families with young children have also started attending the church, and Breitsch and Sorenson hope they'll stay around to create long legacies of St. John's churchgoers. According to Breitsch and Sorenson, the members, both new and old, are what the church has been about from the beginning.

"Pastor Hoppener used to say, 'St. John's didn't abandon its city, it just followed its members.'"