Windfall....What does it mean?

Beautiful Ohio, in the early 1800s, was a vast forest of ash, beech, elm, and oak trees. In about 1827, a group of German immigrants came to a placed they called “Windfall.” It was a place where a great wind fell, possibly a tornado, and it had blown down timber. All the immigrants had to do was work the timber already on the ground to build their homes.

 About six miles south of the this area that came to be known as “Windfall”, in Marlboro Township, better known as Water Hill, and many years later as the Delaware Reservoir area, lived a man whose name was Henry Klein. Mr. Klein operated a sawmill, but this was not his only interest however. He was concerned about bringing the good news of Jesus Christ and His saving grace to settlers establishing their homes in the area. He would walk from his home to an area about two miles west of where the St. John Church was later built. There, a church was built known as the Berringer Log Church. That was the start of the Windfall congregation.

At first, Mr. Klein came only every two weeks to preach the Gospel, and was paid whatever was in the offering plate that Sunday. The first baptism was on a Sunday, September 5, 1833. The following is a newspaper quote, “The Lutheran Church formed a society in Richland Township in 1835, holding the first meetings in private residences, barns, and groves.” In 1838, the Lutherans and the German Reformed together erected a house of worship, and the Lutherans continued to worship there for many years.

On March 6, 1836, a special bill was passed to incorporate Jacoby’s Evangelical Lutheran and the German Reformed Church in the County of Marion. By May 1836, Pastor Klein had instructed 12 people whom he felt were eligible for confirmation. Apparently, there was no distinction between the Reformed and the Lutherans as one minister served both congregations. On one Sunday, the Reformed would meet in the morning, and the Lutherans in the afternoon. The next Sunday, it was reversed with the Lutherans meeting first.


1860 – 1904
It was just a year before Lincoln was chosen President that the Lutheran Congregation began thinking about building their own church. The dreaming and planning went on for seven years until they reached their goal and the cornerstone was laid in 1867. Situated on an acre of ground at the corner of Newmans Cardington Road and Claridon-Westfield Road, worshippers entered the building where the pews were quite close together, starting at the back of the wall and extending right up to the windows on each side. A year later, in 1868, the parsonage was built on a five acre lot that is across the road from the current church building that was built in 1967.

One story that has been passed down tells of a member whose habit it was upon entering the pew to choose his place next to the wall. He would take a knife which he always carried in his pocket, thrust it into the window sill and proceed to hang his hat on the knife handle.  Another story tells of ladies sitting on one side and the men on the other. On the back bench was a bucket for “watering the children” when they became thirsty during the service.
1905 – Today
During the 20th century, as with the rest of the world, the Windfall church underwent changes as the congregation expanded. A couple of remodels in 1905, 1916, and 1941, provided room for the growing congregation. However, years later it came time to build a brand new building. The current church that is in use today held its first service on March 24, 1968. 

This is just a brief history of the community of Windfall. This community is a place where people take care of each other. There were many instances where a family fell on hard times. One was when a farmer broke his arm while cranking a tractor. His crops were planted, harvested and supply of wood for the winter was laid in by his family and neighbors. If there was a sickness in a family, the wheat was cut and shocked and threshed, also by neighbors and friends. This love and care has been happening all through the years and it is still happening today. Those who come to St John will find comfort to those in need and the promises of a loving, living God….”I am with you always.” At this day and age, it becomes clear how a windstorm in the late 1700s is responsible for us being here in this place. God planned it this way!
  First Church Building 1867 - 1905        
Second Church Building 1905 - 1967
                  Current Church Building

Drawings by Joanne Mathews