Records of baptisms, marriages, communions, and burials have been recorded since 1869 when the first regular church service was conducted by traveling missionaries. By 1870 the pastors of St. John Lutheran Church, Wrightstown began to conduct services in De Pere in the old Lawtontown public school building and later in a frame church on North Sixth Street. A new church was built in 1872 because of increasing membership.

April 4, 1877, the congregation adopted a constitution and became an incorporate organization.

By 1891, the congregation of St. John Lutheran had outgrown its facilities once again. A building was purchased from a Baptist congregation that had built a church at Third and Grant but, was unable to pay for it. The building was dedicated as a Lutheran church on September 27, 1891.

St. John Lutheran Church after construction.

On Sunday, March 13, 1932 a spark from the chimney turned to flames and within one hour, the church was destroyed. The only items saved were the organ, piano, bell and altar fixtures. By November of the same year, the church had been rebuilt by the members of St. John and a neighboring congregation.

During the next two decades, a number of plans for enlarging the church were considered but never adopted. Finally, in 1961 three acres of land at Third and Scheuring were purchased. Plans for the new church were made, and put underway. This facility served the congregation well, until a handicapped accessible building was needed.

St. John as it is today.