St. John’s Windish Church, Bethlehem, PA. [In progress]

Due to a diminishing congregation, St. John’s Windish Evangelical Lutheran Church at 617 E. Fourth St., South Bethlehem sold its land comprising one city block to Lehigh University in 2023. At the same time St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at 474 Vine St., South Bethlehem also for the same reason sold its land to Lehigh University. Together these two congregations reformed to become Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church along with Light of Christ Lutheran Church in Bethlehem’s northside at 2020 Worthington Ave. St. John’s and St. Peter’s congregation merged in February 2023 with Bethlehem’s Rosemont Lutheran Church at 1705 W. Broad St. becoming the Rosemont Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church. Light of Christ Church at 2020 Worthington Avenue also with a dwindling congregation sold its property to Lehigh University who in turn sold it to the Pennsylvania Youth Theater. Light of Christ Church originated in 2019 at the merging of St. Matthew’s and Messiah Lutheran churches congregations. It also joined the Rosemont Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at 1705 W. Broad St., Bethlehem. St. John’s Windish Evangelical Church first began its ministry in 1909 to the Slovenian immigrants who came to South Bethlehem to work in the steel mill, cigar and dress factories but splitting from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church founded in 1863 which had ministered to both the German and Slovenian Lutheran immigrants. Around 1910 the Slovenian immigrants decided to have their own church. A church edifice of brick located at 617 E. Fourth St. built circa 1911 was dedicated in 1916. The term “Windish” was applied to these Slovenian people who spoke a distinct dialect from others in eastern Slovenian region. Originally the term “Windish” was meant to be derogatory, however the congregants of St. John’s Windish Evangelical Lutheran Church became proud of the designation. St. John’s Windish Evangelical Lutheran Church was the only one in the United States. St. John’s building footprint from circa 1910 expanded in 1944 and again in 1955. The parking situation in south Bethlehem and Lehigh’s expansion program motivated the $3.75 million dollar purchase of the three properties. Lehigh had outbid the City of Bethlehem’s offer of $3.5 million dollars