In the beginning, groups of Lutherans migrated from various sections of Pennsylvania, to live in the town of Sparrows Point and work for the Pennsylvania Steel Company . They decided they needed a church of their choice. A school building was offered at 4th and D Streets, and the first services were held in the classrooms. That year was 1892. Sometime thereafter, a Constitution and By Laws were drawn up. Records show that the Rev. Herman Kroh officiated with A.W. Kirk, Martin Mitchell, John Peck, Aaron Reist, B.W. Romberger, and William Uhler as church officers. Rebecca Gerhart, great aunt of John Strasbaugh, Jr. was the first church organist. The year 1892 was also a big year in the history of St. John's as the cornerstone was laid and St. John's English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sparrows Point was built and dedicated to the Lord's service. The first recorded events in 1892 were the baptisms of Edna Florence Wolf on March 7; Alfred Henry Zeiter and Gertrude Parsons on May 31, Herbert Fred Kirk on August 21, John Sam MacClay on October 26 and Lucy Estelle Hoover on October 27 . There were also two marriages in that year. Richard Graf (from Austria) and Millie Drake on August 2 married at the parsonage at 1522 N. Wolfe Street in Baltimore, and John Luchting (from Germany) to Minna Weis also from Germany were married in Sparrows Point on December 4.

 In 1894 the church was registered at the State Office building; and in 1898 the Rev. C. Stork Jones accepted a call to St. John's . He was followed by the Rev. Sam J. Miller in 1900. During that year a new parsonage was built to accommodate the Miller family. In 1902, Rev. George Uhler came for a ten year period. During that time the Luther League was formed. In 1913 the Rev. Albert Bell accepted a call lasting until 1917 when he resigned due to World War I. At this time Rev. William Bare accepted the pulpit from 1917 to 1921, and it was during this time the congregation felt the need for a larger building. During the renovation, the building was raised with a basement constructed underneath which could be used as Sunday School rooms, and to have for church plays, dinners and meetings. The building stood in that form until December, 1971.

 During the Depression and those trying times, Rev. Fred Steck served from 1922 to 1936. On October 15, 1936, Rev. Howard H. Ritterpusch became our pastor. He remained until January 31, 1948 and during his service, after 45 years of mission status, St. John's became self supporting. In March 1938, the mortgage for the church was burned and adding to the joy and festivities was St. John's first vested choir.

 The new parsonage was built on 7th Street in 1941 for the Ritterpusch family and its mortgage paid in only one year. The Ritterpusch 's occupied the parsonage for the next seven years as part of St. John's family until Pastor Ritterpusch's resignation in 1948. Pastor Hightman served as interim until a new pastor could be called. 

Another chapter in St. John's history began on June 15, 1948 when Rev. Charles Birx was called to become our pastor and served until February 1, 1959. In 1952 a new parish hall was built and paid off in less than a year. December, 1953 saw the installation of a new electronic organ costing $4,399.

 Looking to the future of the growing congregation, a building fund was established in 1955 followed by the purchase of a tract of land on North Point Road in September of that year. Due to the lack of facilites for Sunday School in 1956 classes were held at Laskey's Restaurant.

 Rev. Fred Witmer was called to St. John's in September, 1959. At that time Bethlehem Steel gave St. John's use of an annex building on "C" Street to act as a Sunday School building. The time was coming when St. John's would have to relocate and five acres of land were acquired from Bethlehem Steel Corporation in exchange for the lease to the Sparrows Point land and church property.

 Next came Rev. John Naegele, fresh from seminary in 1962. Pastor Naegle served four years and resigned on July 31, 1966 to be followed by Rev. Roy Consiglio on November 27 of that year. Rev. Consiglio was the last pastor to live in the parsonage in Sparrows Point and his resignation was accepted in February of 1970. He was followed in October, 1970 by Rev. Russell McIntyre, a supply pastor, who incidentally, conducted the ground breaking ceremonies for the new St. John's Church in Edgemere. The old & dear church in Sparrows Point was torn down on December 28, 1971.

 New construction began in Edgemere, but first the land had to be cleared. This was done by volunteers, especially Augie Zadera who had contributed much to the Sparrows Point church and went into action again. Augie cleared the grounds, which consisted of thick trees and rocky dirt. When this was completed, the new construction was able to begin on November 27, 1970 by the Lardner Henkel Company. The building was completed in September, 1971. Late in the summer of 1977 the shrubbery was purchased and planted by Mr. Pabich. The cross from the former church was salvaged and found to be in poor condition. The four priceless stained glass windows were re-leaded, restored, boxed and framed with lighting installed behind them and hung on the walls of the new church. New Advent candles, an Advent wreath, coat racks, and new upholstery for the altar chairs were purchased.

 A new church steeple was placed on the peak of the roof in memory of the deceased parents of Dorothy Ludwig. During the holidays, a nativity scene of wooden figures covered by paste-over was made and donated by Herbert Rotan and are still used each year.

The building of cream, baked on enamel corrugated steel, built on five acres of land featured a kitchen, robing room, rest rooms, and six Sunday School rooms that divided into ten sections. First services in the new location were on the second Sunday in September, 1971, with the worship lead by Rev. Claud Noel. Pastor Noel, brother of Dot Snively, was and is the only member of St. John's to become an ordained minister. Dedication of the new church building took place on April 30, 1972. This was the 80th year of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church . On October 3, 1971, Rev. Bradley Gaver was called as pastor and installed on January 30, 1972. Rev. Gaver had retired from a Lutheran church in Columbia, Pennslyvania after many years of service there. However, he could not ignore the call from St. John's and came to serve. He and his wife, Esther, became a much loved part of the congregation with Mrs. Gaver often filling in as organist. Pastor Gaver resigned from St. John's on June 6, 1983 and enjoyed his last years of retirement in Columbia, PA and his farm in Myersville, MD.

 The first requiem service for a deceased member was for Elvira Wilman on November 3, 1971. The first new members received into the new St. John's church by Rite of Confirmation were John Frye, Mitchell Francis III, and Bryan Shirk on November 28. A birthday party was given for Henry Kyllonen, the church's oldest active member on January 9, 1972 for his 88th birthday.

 At the time of the relocation to Edgemere, the church council consisted of Lester Foster, President, Sam Snively, Vice President, Ralph Wolfe, Secretary, Christian Ludwig, Treasurer. Council members were: Miles Meyer, Raymond Rudacille, John Welsh, Fred Wronowski, John Fry, Emory Deardorff, John Strasbaugh, Sr. and Walter Griggs. Superintendent of the Sunday School was Doria Mercer. Alma Edwards was serving as the current president of the Ladies' Aid Society. The Ladies' Guild was headed by Evelyn Jackson and Altar Guild by Margaret Lewis; Claude Noel was director of acolytes, Hilda Felty headed Lutheran Church Women. The building committee consisted of Les Foster, Ralph Wolfe, Miles Meyer, Sam Snively, Richard Mouzon, Ray Rudacille, Chris Ludwig, Idris Lewis, Walter Griggs, Emory Deardorff and John Welsh.

 Knowing the time was approaching for Pastor Gaver's retirement, the congregation decided to build a parsonage to accommodate future pastors. Building began in the spring of 1982 and was completed for the most part in June, 1983. Through the efforts of many of St. John's members, the parsonage was built. All costs of building were taken care of through the Building Fund resulting in a mortgage-free property. 

Rev. John Douglas accepted a call to become pastor of St. John's in June, 1983. This was his first parish after being ordained at Gettysburg Seminary. Pastor Douglas brought a lot of zeal to his first parish and initiated twice monthly communion, a monthly newsletter to every family, began active visitation to the shut-ins, and had an active youth group. He raised our awareness of homelessness and poverty, including sleeping on the church parking lot with the youth group one cold April evening to raise money for a homeless shelter. He also started the church library and purchased the first copier. Pastor Douglas served St. John's until July 3, 1987 when he accepted a call to Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Pasadena, MD. St. John's gave Pastor Douglas a life-long connection, however. He married Susan Frances, a member of St. John's, while he was serving this parish.

 The Rev. Frank Lampe served as interim minister for St. John's as the call committee searched for a new pastor. Although Pastor Lampe served less than a year, he initiated the updating of the church records.

 The congregation was delighted to welcome Pastor Edward Donnald on March 8, 1988. Rev. Donnald formerly served a two church parish in Frederick, Md. Along with Pastor Donnald, his wife Dolly, and sons Edward, Creig and Heath joined our church family. Pastor Donnald is a graduate of Gettysburg Seminary. His hobbies include sailing, scuba diving, and woodworking. He is directly responsible for computerizing church records, promoting a church photographic directory, and further enhancing the format of the monthly newsletter. He is primarily responsible for the building of the new parsonage garage, and his woodworking talents helped design and produce the beautiful chandeliers hung during the Christmas season.