St. John's Church - Tanunda

 

The coming about of the St. John's congregation was caused by arguments within the congregation of Pastor Kavel and his worships.

54 of the members were unhappy and as a result decided to form their own congregation in 1860.

They found it very difficult to purchase land initially, resulting in the purchase of a wheat store, to which they renovated into the new church.

This building later became a manse.

The present day church was built larger then they had originally intended.

This is rumoured to be because one of the brethren thought that the church would not be large enough for the expanding congregation, so late one night he rearranged the pegs to make the church larger then planned.

This was not realised until the walls where more then partially built.

In 1887 two bells where donated for the bell tower.

St Johns has some very unique customs that are still practiced to this day.

• The larger of the two bells is rung at sundown every Saturday night to remind the congregation of the lord’s service to be held the next morning.

• The same bell rings a half hour before the sun day service begins and as it begins big bells will chime.

This is a ‘Wurttemberg custom’ that was introduced by pastor R Held.

A two manual Dodd pipe organ was installed in 1922.

Also unique to the church are the life size wooden statues of Christ, Moses and the Apostles Peter, John and Paul that were donated in 1892.

 

 

Sources:

TEXT: Beyond 1960, St John's Church Tanunda (1960 - 1985)

TEXT: Churches of the Barossa Valley, Roger and Myrene Teusner.