OUR HISTORY

The area around what is now St. Lucas United Church of Christ was originally settled by the family of John Sappington, who served at Valley Forge alongside George Washington, and later with Daniel Boone in Kentucky. The community was increased by German immigrations to Missouri between 1830 and 1850. In 1838, a group of these immigrants founded St. John’s Evangelical Church in Mehlville (now on Lindbergh Blvd. Near I-55). Within 40 years, the congregation was large enough to gather another church. St. Lucas Evangelical Church was formed at our present location. 

Our founders first met on March 1, 1880 in an old stone schoolhouse near Grant’s Farm, where they formed committees to solicit funds for a church and schoolhouse, to formalize the congregation and to call a pastor. On March 29, 1880, a Constitution and by-laws were adopted and the congregation was officially organized. Five acres of land were purchased on Denny Road were the new church was dedicated on July 24, 1881.

 The first church building was a wood frame structure. The new stone church was erected in 1905, and dedicated on the 25^th anniversary of St. Lucas Evangelical Church. A German inscription over the chancel: “Blessed are they that hear the word of the Lord and keep it.” An education building was completed in 1955 to accommodate our growing programs. The sanctuary was expanded and remodeled in 1971.

 Our 30+ acre campus now includes St. Lucas Cemetery, two full-sized softball fields with a neighboring picnic pavilion, a parsonage and sexton’s home, an enclosed playground for our Pre- School and a maintenance shop. Together, these facilities contain the activities and ministries of a large, suburban church. We have come far from 1880 and the era of the faithful German immigrants who built this church. They are still present with us, however, in many of our traditions and in the community identity, which is St. Lucas, part of a traditional faith for contemporary living.