''There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God."" - Psalm 46:4
Thus spoke the Psalmist concerning the church and its contributary congregations. May we not in a very literal sense say that there are in nature ''rivers and streams whereof make glad the city of God?"" Here in historic Tuscarawas County is a stream of the Tuscarawas River which has truly "made glad the city of God." For in the Valley of Oldtown, tributary of the Tuscarawas, years ago, a parcel of the Kingdom of God, St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Now known as St. Peter's Church of Oldtown Valley.
The Oldtown Creek flows almost north and enters the Tuscarawas River at a point nearly opposite the site of the Moravian Mission, Schoenbrunn, the first civilized settlement in Ohio, from which historians agree Oldtown derives its name.
In the beginning the Lutherans and reformed of Oldtown united and in 1815 erected the first log church. Some years later a young and energetic minister, Rev. Emmanuel Greenwald, was called to the growing believers in New Philadelphia at "Grim's School House "on October 31, 1832. Then in 1837, the first log meeting house was erected on the current site of the current St. Peter's Church. The site being donated by Philip Grim. The building served for ten years during which time the infant church outgrew its cradle and more convenient and commodious facilities were required. Accordingly, in 1848 a new and more commodious building was erected and in 1912 added onto which is the present church building today.
In 1954 a tornado hit St. Peter's Church during a council meeting with considerable damage. The congregation never stopped meeting in the name of Christ. They began meeting in the Union Grange until the church had been repaired. The following year in 1955 they held a dedication for the newly repaired church. Currently, the alter displays one of the original stained-glass window pieces that was saved among the debris.
Church resumed every Sunday as normal and still the congregation grew, needing more room to fellowship. In 1976 a new fellowship hall was added on. Since then, we've updated the church by adding an elevator for easy access to the sanctuary in 2003, new siding in 2004, parking lot enlarged in 2005, air conditioning in 2006 and the most notable change of St. Peter's Church is becoming nondenominational in 2023.
Today, under the leadership of Pastor Randy Stull, we encourage you to become part of our spiritual family and part of the history of this great church!
Thus spoke the Psalmist concerning the church and its contributary congregations. May we not in a very literal sense say that there are in nature ''rivers and streams whereof make glad the city of God?"" Here in historic Tuscarawas County is a stream of the Tuscarawas River which has truly "made glad the city of God." For in the Valley of Oldtown, tributary of the Tuscarawas, years ago, a parcel of the Kingdom of God, St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Now known as St. Peter's Church of Oldtown Valley.
The Oldtown Creek flows almost north and enters the Tuscarawas River at a point nearly opposite the site of the Moravian Mission, Schoenbrunn, the first civilized settlement in Ohio, from which historians agree Oldtown derives its name.
In the beginning the Lutherans and reformed of Oldtown united and in 1815 erected the first log church. Some years later a young and energetic minister, Rev. Emmanuel Greenwald, was called to the growing believers in New Philadelphia at "Grim's School House "on October 31, 1832. Then in 1837, the first log meeting house was erected on the current site of the current St. Peter's Church. The site being donated by Philip Grim. The building served for ten years during which time the infant church outgrew its cradle and more convenient and commodious facilities were required. Accordingly, in 1848 a new and more commodious building was erected and in 1912 added onto which is the present church building today.
In 1954 a tornado hit St. Peter's Church during a council meeting with considerable damage. The congregation never stopped meeting in the name of Christ. They began meeting in the Union Grange until the church had been repaired. The following year in 1955 they held a dedication for the newly repaired church. Currently, the alter displays one of the original stained-glass window pieces that was saved among the debris.
Church resumed every Sunday as normal and still the congregation grew, needing more room to fellowship. In 1976 a new fellowship hall was added on. Since then, we've updated the church by adding an elevator for easy access to the sanctuary in 2003, new siding in 2004, parking lot enlarged in 2005, air conditioning in 2006 and the most notable change of St. Peter's Church is becoming nondenominational in 2023.
Today, under the leadership of Pastor Randy Stull, we encourage you to become part of our spiritual family and part of the history of this great church!
Continuing The Story...
Most recently the congregation approved replacing the old 1900's slate roof with metal and repainting the red doors to continue the country church aesthetic. Due to the steepness of the roof and its age
St. Peter's took multiple bids on replacing the roof eventually contracting the difficult $52K task to WM Commerical Roofing company out of New Philadelphia.
Through the contributions & volunteers this project has been fully funded. Praise God!
St. Peter's took multiple bids on replacing the roof eventually contracting the difficult $52K task to WM Commerical Roofing company out of New Philadelphia.
Through the contributions & volunteers this project has been fully funded. Praise God!
Becoming apart of our story!
With new faces coming every week we can only imagine what God, the author of our story has planned for us! From week-to-week God continues to bless this church, providing ways for every person to grow closer to Him, feeling accepted and loved.
Whether it's through our local efforts such as Feast & Fellowship free will donation dinners to feed the locals or our supported abroad missions in Bangladesh spread the gospel far and wide, God continues to use St. Peter's Church of Oldtown Valley to bring His children to salvation and help cultivate God's purpose for them.
This church is here for your story to become God's legacy, we invite you to join this amazing family of God!
Whether it's through our local efforts such as Feast & Fellowship free will donation dinners to feed the locals or our supported abroad missions in Bangladesh spread the gospel far and wide, God continues to use St. Peter's Church of Oldtown Valley to bring His children to salvation and help cultivate God's purpose for them.
This church is here for your story to become God's legacy, we invite you to join this amazing family of God!
