From Lake Erie's Yesterdays: Grace Lutheran, Castalia

http://0-dmc.ohiolink.edu.roc.rodmanlibrary.com/cgi/i/image/image-idx?rgn1=ic_all;c=ley;q1=Lutheran;back=back1244779953;size=20;start=1;type=boolean;view=thumbnail
Across the top of this row of old postcards, are four photos identified simply as "German Lutheran Church" (imagine that!). This is Grace Lutheran in Castalia, in its early days. The congregation is still active. Their website: http://www.gracecastalia.org/index.html And while that photo in the upper-right hand corner is small, I swear that's still the same building that's been expanded in the front and had an addition built on in the back and even a little steeple popped onto the tower ... is anyone familiar with this church?

Thanks to Kevin Hammer for the contribution!

St John Lutheran, Williston

These lovely photos were graciously supplied by Penny Timm, who was at the church last weekend for a wedding (note the bridal "limo"!). I have never seen this church, although I knew that the church was instrumental in starting the Luther Home of Mercy (to be exact, Pastor Max Schleicher, who served the church from 1913 to 1934, founded the home in 1928 and became its full-time director after resigning from the pulpit). http://www.lutherhome.org/history.htm The church's timeline is literally woven through their buildings. Three cornerstones are visible here: The one from their original church, built in 1884 (at the time, Salem's pastor would either ride or WALK the 15 muddy miles from Toledo to Williston!). This can be seen on their history page. The stone from 1915 marks when their current sanctuary was first built. In 1966, the rear of the sanctuary was reconstructed with the beautiful amber window seen here, as well as the entranceway, bell tower, and Sunday school wing to boot! Around the corner is another stone, dated 1951; at which time the building was extended, and a quintessentially-early-50's chancel was built on (was that entire cruciform built on at that time?).
http://www.stjohnwilliston.org/History.htm

View of the apse and transepts from the back ...

The right-hand side of the building, lovely old windows visible ...

An impressive view from the balcony ...

... and the bride's-eye view from the back of the nave.

These marvelous windows and ornate beams mark the earliest parts of the nave, while the chancel is pure early-50's neogothic. I'd love a closer look ...

This is some of the most unusual modern stained glass I've seen (which, I've been informed from two different sources, is not stained glass at all but is probably onyx) ...

Thanks, Penny, for the photos!

Blade article: St. John's Lutheran in Oak Harbor celebrates German roots

OAK HARBOR - St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church will celebrate 140 years of ministry this weekend with services that include prayers and hymns in German ... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090606/NEWS10/906060331

OMG, this place is gorgeous! ... This photo is from their website. Take a look at the unfortunately small photo of their sanctuary on their extensive history page ... this one's on the must-see list!
http://www.oakharborchurch.com/

Blade article: West Toledo church organ resurrected - again

In 30 years of restoring and repairing pipe organs, Steve Emery had never seen a case as bad as the one at Augsburg Lutheran Church ... http://www.toledoblade.com/Religion/2009/06/06/West-Toledo-church-organ-resurrected-again.html

The concert is tomorrow evening, Sunday June 7th, at 7 pm.

St. Matthew's Lutheran, Cridersville

This picture is from their website:
http://userpages.bright.net/~stmatt/altar.html
In checking into my family tree (seems I'm related to half of Allen County and the other half of Auglaize County), I discovered that quite a few of my ancestors (they're like the grains of sand!) are in the church's historic cemetery that dates back to the 1830's. So I will be planning a trip down there to pay my respects, and at the same time, I hope to get into the church itself for more pictures. It was built in the 60's, and the sanctuary was renovated in 2001-02.