History

The first Lutheran minister who preached in this neighborhood was Rev. Henry Weygandt who preached in private homes and schoolhouses as early as 1827. According to Wayne County records the Lutheran and German Reformed Church purchased one acre of land from Henry and Anna Magdelina Kope in 1839. A smaller parcel of land from Demas Sommers was added later. Money was collected to build Kope’s Church. Language preference caused dissension so there was a compromise with German spoken on one Sunday and English the next. All members attended both services. In March 1855, a reorganized church was named Evangelical Lutheran, and German reformed congregation of Canaan Church in Canaan Township, Wayne County, Ohio. In April of 1865, the church treasury had .30 cents.

In 1867 the church purchased property about one and a half miles north of Kope’ s Church from Bethel English Lutheran. Demas Sommers was the chief carpenter. The cornerstone was laid in 1869, and the church council members were Andrew Whonsetler, Jacob Snell, Jacob Whonsetler, RD Tobias, David Whonsetler, Philip Whonsetler, and Demas Sommers. The parsonage was at Canaan Center. Since Salem Lutheran and Canaan Lutheran were in the same parish, they shared ministers and many church functions.

Near the turn of the century, a fire destroyed the parsonage and nearly all of the church records. A new one was built at the cost of $800. Canaan congregation furnished the building materials and George Snell and Elmore Metz dug a new well. During the pastorate of J H Busch, fire once again destroyed another parsonage. The next one was built in Madisonburg.

On September 17, 1944 a new cornerstone was laid to replace the old one, which had been damaged. Members of the church council present for this event were Elmore Metz, William Tegtmeier, A D Baker, Clarence Hemming, A W Pamer, Glenn Dorland, Harold Tegtmeier, John Parmenter, Clyde Myers, Verda Dorland, and Adam Pamer. The remodeling committee were Glenn Dorland, John Parmenter, and AD Baker as the supervisor. The basement with a kitchen supplied space for meetings, banquets, and Sunday school classes. In the sanctuary, art glass was put in the windows, and an electric organ replaced the old pumped instrument. Eric Muekenheim, a furniture maker, who learned his craft in Germany, made and donated a redecorated choir loft, sacristy, alter, pulpit, lectern, and baptismal font.

In 1957 the church constitution was revised and the congregation incorporated under the State of Ohio. In 1957 five acres of land south of the church site was purchased from Mr. & Mrs. Harry Wilson. Ground was broken for the new parsonage on Christmas Day. The new building was dedicated in May 1958.

January 1, 1958, the parish relation with Salem Lutheran was terminated and Rev. William Fritz was the first full-time minister to Canaan Lutheran congregation. The building committee for a new church was formed, they were, Dr. Arthur Wolf, Herbert Wertzler, Reed Seiberling, Courtland Kent, and James Fetzer. The finance committee was, Luther Frase, Raymond Tegtmeier, and Clyde Leatherman. The president of council, John Pamer, also participated in ground breaking for the new church. However, when it was discovered that the space available would not accommodate the new building, the site was moved to the comer of Steiner and Friendsville roads. Dedication was on November 22, 1964. The baptismal font built by Eric Muekenheim was taken from the old church and placed in the new church. Eight years later on November 12, 1972, a mortgage burning ceremony was held for the $50,000 loan and on the same day a new cornerstone was placed.

In 2004 a kitchen donated by Dan Hilson was installed and dedicated on October 10, 2004.

Over the past 20+ years the church has participated in multiple softball clubs, group trips, youth activities (Easter egg hunt, fall festival, trips to Ark) and community events. We support many local charities and volunteer organizations through the congregation. We had an active choir and regularly invite guest musicians to perform. We are constantly looking towards the future on ways to improve our reach while preserving our past.