Longtime downtown Mansfield church is searching for new home

Mansfield News Journal

St. John’s United Church of Christ (STJ) is moving from its present location on 68 Park Avenue East in downtown Mansfield to a new “shared ministry” location not yet determined within the city.

On Jan. 28 the present membership voted to sell their current church and property for a more affordable location.

St. John's United Church of Christ will soon leave its 68 Park Avenue East home and move to a new "shared ministry" location in Mansfield not yet determined in an effort to save costs.
St. John's United Church of Christ will soon leave its 68 Park Avenue East home and move to a new "shared ministry" location in Mansfield not yet determined in an effort to save costs.

According to a prepared statement from the Rev. Dr. Faith Proietti, the church pastor, "St. John’s is not closing its doors but sharing space with another congregation to carry out their mission and vision in this community, while being good stewards of their resources. St. John’s UCC believes that they will be better served by reducing their overhead expenses and focusing on ministries and services within the community."

St. John’s United Church of Christ began in 1845 and moved to its current location at 68 Park Avenue East in 1912.
St. John’s United Church of Christ began in 1845 and moved to its current location at 68 Park Avenue East in 1912.

One of STJ’s vital ministries is its “STJ Clothing Store,” which has provided clothing at no cost to over 40,000 people in the past 10 years. This ministry will continue at St. John’s. They also support and house the AA (Alcoholic Anonymous) groups which they hope to take with them. Proietti said they are looking forward to reducing facility costs which will "enable the congregation to maintain these ministries and discover new ways to faithfully spread the Gospel message of Christ — love."

St. John’s Church began in 1845 with a small group of Lutheran, Reformed and Evangelical people on First and Mulberry Streets where they built a church twice in the same location. By 1912 they moved to 68 Park Avenue East, where the present church now resides. Over the past 179 years, St. John’s UCC has gone from 40 original members to approximately 800 members in 1935 to its present membership of 150 people. Over time, and with the influx of industry in the 1920s, it allowed for growth in every church in town. Then in the mid-1970s, when major industries began to close and exit the city, the mainline churches — Congregational, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Lutherans, and Disciples of Christ and Reformed — began to decline.

Like many Mansfield churches, membership at St. John's Church began to dwindle in the 1970s. At one point it had 800 members. Its current membership is 150.
Like many Mansfield churches, membership at St. John's Church began to dwindle in the 1970s. At one point it had 800 members. Its current membership is 150.

"Over the last 50 years, most of our mainline churches have either closed, stayed the same or have taken on a 'new face' to invite the current generation to participate," Proietti noted. "St. John’s UCC is in the process of creating a meaningful, spiritual, life-changing, thought-provoking, progressive, challenging and community place to worship. They are moving in a new direction — wait and see what STJ’s will become!"

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Long-time downtown Mansfield church to move to a new location

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