Our History
The first Lutheran worship service in Clinton, SC, was held on July 21, 1912 at the Methodist Church. On July 11, 1920, St. John's Lutheran Church was organized. In the fall of 1920, St. John's was received into the SC Synod of the United Lutheran Church in America as a part of a parish with Immanuel, Greenwood. Services were held in parishioner's homes in addition to the community assembly room and later years at the Masonic Hall and Copeland's Hall. Their first building was constructed in 1926 on Hampton Avenue. The parish alignment with Immanuel ended on December 31, 1938. In the early 60's there was a growing interest in improving the church's facilities and additional property on Hampton Avenue was purchased. However, no construction took place at this time. In July, 1964 as a memorial to their son, church members gave four acres of land on Broad Street for a new church site and a building committee was formed. A new building was constructed and the first service at 1009 Broad Street was held on October 13, 1968. On January 1, 1988, the Lutheran Church in American joined with two other Lutheran churches to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The people of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church have continued to serve faithfully in God's mission for eighty eight years in the Clinton community.
Pastors
| 1912-1918 | The Rev. James D. Kinard, pastor of Immanuel Greenwood, led the first Lutheran service in Clinton and conducted services from time to time. |
| 1918-1923 | The Rev. Dr. A. J. Bowers, Pastor of Immanuel Greenwood continued to lead services. |
| 1924-1938 | The Rev. Muller R. Wingard, Pastor of Immanuel, Greenwood continued to lead services |
| 1939-1943 | The Rev. J. LeGrande Mayer, first full time Pastor of St. John's |
| 1944-1946 | The Rev. J. Shelton Moose |
| 1946-1952 | The Rev. James C. Dickert |
| 1953-1955 | The Rev. J. Marion Rhoden |
| 1956-1959 | The Rev. L. Allen Wertz, Jr. |
| 1960-1964 | The Rev. J. Gordon Peery |
| 1964-1969 | The Rev. Dr. E. Bryan Keisler, Interim Pastor |
| 1969-1971 | The Rev. John L. Setzler |
| 1971-1987 | The Rev. Marion W. Clark |
| 1988-1992 | The Rev. Lewis A. Groce |
| 1992 | The Rev. Hugh E. Baumgartner, Interim Pastor |
| 1992-1998 | The Rev. James Addy |
| 1999-2003 | The Rev. Deborah Wood |
| 2004- | The Rev. Denise Seymour |
This history was condensed from a longer history presented at the 75th Anniversary Celebration of St. John's on July 26, 1995 by Carl Wessinger, Dottie Brandt, and Elaine League.