By Mark W. Olson

Grapevines, a praying angel, the hand of God.

There are many details to absorb at St. John’s Lutheran Church – before even entering the front door.

St. John’s is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, with special events throughout the year, culminating with a Nov. 14 commemoration.

The historic Chaska church, at the corner of Fourth and Oak streets, has been with the parish through most of its rich history. “We’re standing on the foundation of generations before. Through their struggles, their heartbreaks, joys … through their faith,” said the Rev. Greg Snow.

Snow and church volunteer Adeline Kohman recently gave a reporter a tour of the church to highlight its architecture. About 10 years ago, Snow spoke to a Bible study group about its design. Since then, he’s paid attention to the details, often discovering something new.

This red brick church is not the parish’s original building. It replaced a 36-year-old church that burned down on Aug. 23, 1921.

Within three weeks of the fire, work began on a new church, which was dedicated on July 8, 1923. It had been built for $89,000, “excluding local labor and many materials,” notes a 1975 church history. “They built it with their own hands,” Snow said.

And considering how much people made in the 1920s, “they didn’t skimp on anything,” Snow said. “This was the lord’s house, and they were going to build it fit for a king.”

Three

“Three is the number of the day,” said Snow.

He notes how most of the repeating designs, such as window frames or white oak wall paneling, are divisible by the number three – reflecting the holy trinity of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost.

Symbolism appears throughout the church.

Snow notes the grapevine and oak branches carved in stone above the front door, and repeats the Biblical passage from John 15, “I am the vine, you are the branches.”

The vines and branches, as well as symbols representing the holy trinity (a triangle and hand for God; cross for Jesus; dove for the Holy Spirit) are repeated in carved wood at the front of the church, around the altar.

Another repeating design is the quatrefoil, a clover-shaped design of four overlapped circles that resembles the cross. The design repeats itself in door paneling, stained glass window frames, the altar and the trim. It’s so popular, it worked its way into the church’s 125th seal, developed by parishioners Tim and Joan Bode.

The church was constructed of Chaska brick and an “Oriental rug texture face brick,” noted a 1922 Herald article.

The interior of the church is shaped like a cross, and its ceiling is shaped like the hull of a boat, Snow notes. Wood carvings with symbols representing the 12 apostles can be found on the trim wrapping around the interior of the church. Many of the symbols represent how the disciples were martyred while spreading the Gospel (clubs for St. James the Minor, a lance for St. Thomas).

Artifacts that survived the 1921 fire, including a statue of Jesus and a cross, grace the altar.

Windows

Arguably the most beautiful craftwork in the church is reserved for its stained glass windows, which were donated by the parishioners, including families who lost sons in WWI. The largest of the windows represent the birth, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. The smaller windows symbolize biblical teachings.

The windows were designed by Thomas Gaytee of the Gaytee Company in Minneapolis, according to a September article by Alice Siewert in St. John’s monthly newsletter “The Messenger.”

Gaytee was a French immigrant, who studied with Tiffany in New York before moving to the Midwest in 1918, Siewert reported.

The windows are made of imported glass made by the Franz Mayer Stained Glass Company in Munich and assembled in Minneapolis. They were restored in the late 1990s by a Red Wing craftsman.

“The new church is a splendid building and a credit to the city, and the whole community takes pleasure in having such an undertaking come to such a successful conclusion in their midst. May this church serve the purposes for which it was erected for a long time to come,” opined the Herald for the church’s 1922 dedication.

While Snow ponders previous generations of St. John’s parishioners who built the church, what does he hope church members will think of this parish in 100 years? “That we were faithful,” Snow replied, adding that’s how he sees the parish 100 years ago. “They weren’t perfect,” he said. “But they were faithful.”

Even with all the stunning things in the church, “This is just a shell,” Snow stressed. “It’s beautiful and great, but that’s not important. What’s important are the people that are in here – here to see Jesus.”