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Congregations - St. John's
St. John's West 8th and (701) 225-5026
The first Christian services in Dickinson, North Dakota, were conducted by Rev. Charles E. Dobson in a granary owned by Guy Dickinson, a member of the family for whom the town was named. St. John's dates its history from that time. The old church building was dedicated in 1890 and used for regular services in 1891. Many early day ranch families, including that of Theodore Roosevelt, attended services in this building. The church continues to own and display a Bible donated by the Roosevelt family. In 1955, the congregation had its largest active membership. In the early 1980s the general decline of population in the area resulted in declining membership. Thus began the congregation's movement towards Total Ministry. This development increased the activity of lay members of the congregation in leading worship services and undertaking ministries previously limited to ordained, stipendiary clergy. St. John's presently maintains its day-to-day organization and practice through the efforts of about a dozen people, who are the regular core members of the Vestry, the Worship Committee, and Bible Study. There are as many as thirty or more members who participate in services and church life. There are still representatives of local families whose ties to the congregation began as early as the 1920s and 1930s, other second generation members of St. John's, and individuals and families who are recent participants.
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