Details for St. John's Lutheran Church, "the Rooster Church"

Historical Marker — Atlas Number 5029005045

Data

Marker Number 5045
Atlas Number 5029005045
Marker Title St. John's Lutheran Church, "the Rooster Church"
Index Entry Saint John's Lutheran Church
Address 502 E. Nueva St.
City San Antonio
County Bexar
UTM Zone 14
UTM Easting 549524
UTM Northing 3254755
Subject Codes Lutheran denomination; churches; German immigrants/immigration
Marker Year 1962
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark Yes
Marker Location 502 E. Nueva St., San Antonio; MARKER REPORTED MISSING 5/2011
Private Property No
Marker Condition Missing
Marker Size 27" x 42"
Marker Text The 64 charter members of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church included families who migrated to Texas from Germany in the 1840s. Organized on Dec. 26, 1857, by the Rev. Phillips F.Zizelmann (1824-1902), a native of Wurttemberg, Germany, this was the first Lutheran Congregation in the San Antonio area. Worship services were originally held in a schoolhouse. Pastor Zizelmann, who also founded a day school, served the congregation until 1860 and participated on March 5, 1860, in laying the conerstone for the first church building. The Civil War (1861-1865) delayed completion of the structure, but in 1871 a pulpit and an altar were acquired. A tower was added in 1875 and topped by a gilded rooster weather vane, which inspired the affectionate nickname, "The Rooster Church". In 1886, when a new edifice was built around the existing structure, the tower was extended and the rooster, which had earned more amusement than respect, was replaced by a cross. Because of street widening in 1927, the old church building was razed and a larger one erected. It was completed in 1932 to coincide with the congregation's 75th anniversary.

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