St. John’s Adds Family Heritage Center to Church Museum, Open to Public June 14  

BRIGHTON - A giant church founders’ family tree is now featured on a wall at the new St. John’s Church Museum and Family Heritage Center in Brighton. The church was founded in 1870 by German immigrants living in the Brighton area. The public is invited to visit the museum and heritage center on Sunday, June 14, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Some of the surnames included in the new wall display for the church family founders’ tree are Bohn, Bott, Brummer, Geisler, Heidemann, Lauck, Oertel, Schafer and Schroeder, along with many others.

In addition to a variety of artifacts and documents representing the 156-year history of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Brighton, the “family heritage” of the church’s congregation is a focus of the museum. Church records for baptisms, confirmations, marriages and deaths dating back to 1870 are available to search for anyone doing genealogy research. Many obituaries are also available, including some from the 1870s, 1880s and 1890s. The earliest in the church’s collection is a newspaper report from 1873, regarding the death of Rosina Schneider and her son Heinrich who were killed when their horse-driven wagon was hit by a train. The collection of obituaries is an on-going project of the family heritage center.

The museum also has information available about the 24 settled pastors who have served the church since 1870, along with photos of the pastors. Other photos, documents and items are on display representing various church organizations and activities.

A variety of ornately decorated church baptism, confirmation and marriage documents, dating as far back as the 1870s, have been framed and are on display. One area of the museum includes the wooden altar, candelabras and communion chalices and plates used in the church sanctuary in the early to mid-1900s.

There is much more church and family history for visitors to see on June 14, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., when the St. John’s Church Museum and Family Heritage Center is open to the public.

St. John’s UCC is located at 216 North Street in Brighton. The museum is on the second floor of the church’s education building. A stairlift is available for anyone who may need assistance to the second floor. For more information call the church at 618-372-3737.

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