St. John Lutheran Church at Crabapple

Church Snapshot

Quick details for visitors

Location 14689 Lower Crabapple Road
Established 1897
Church Type A Lutheran Church
Access Grounds open; building open during events (when scheduled)
Directions Open in Google Maps
Open Houses View upcoming dates

Our schools are available be rented for private functions, weddings, and other social gatherings at a nominal fee of $25 per school.

All visits and tours are by appointment only. To make rental arrangements or request additional information, please contact the church’s designated rental representative by phone or submit your request through our Contact Us form. When using the form, be sure to select the school(s) you wish to visit and include your preferred date and details.

For the Cave Creek School, please contact Valerie Reeh Nimitz Stokes at 210-912-5783 or Susan Lillibridge at 830-998-6703.

You’re welcome to explore the school grounds and surrounding property even when no official open house events are scheduled. These historic settings offer opportunities for leisurely walks, bird watching, geo-caching, and quiet reflection.

If the school building is locked, feel free to look through the windows to glimpse the interior. Should a private event be underway, we kindly ask that you respect the occasion and avoid interrupting activities.

To schedule a guided visit or tour of the Cave Creek School, please contact Valerie Reeh Nimitz Stokes at 210-912-5783 or Susan Lillibridge at 830-998-6703, or submit a request through our Contact Us form. When using the form, select St. John Lutheran Church at Crabapple from the dropdown menu and include your preferred date, time, and any additional details.

St. John Lutheran Church and the Sunday School Building are available to rent for weddings, reunions, family gatherings, and other special events. To schedule a visit, tour, or rental when the church is not open for a scheduled event, call the St. John Lutheran Church at Crabapple rental contact person, or complete the Contact Us form and select St. John Lutheran Church at Crabapple from the dropdown menu. Please include the requested date and time, along with details about your visit or event.

Many families living in the Crabapple community were originally members of Zion Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg. Because of the distance and difficulty of travel, they began meeting for worship in Mathias Schmidt's home.

When the first Crabapple school building was constructed in 1877–1878, the Lutheran families met there for services. Pastor Weiss served this devoted group of worshipers. On April 3, 1887, Palm Sunday, the first confirmation of six children took place, and they were accepted as members.

In 1888, another school building was constructed, and church services continued to be held there. On April 22, 1890, the congregation joined the American Lutheran Church Synod of Texas and signed a constitution, formally organizing as St. Johannes Evangelische Lutherische Kirche zu Crabapple, Texas.

At the annual congregational meeting on December 26, 1896, the members approved the purchase of six acres of land from August Bruns and voted on the type of church building to be constructed. The cornerstone dedication service was held on June 18, 1897, with Pastors Glatzle, Krienke, and Haag participating.

With the help of many volunteers, the church building was completed in 1897. On November 21, 1897, after the final Sunday service in the old church, the new St. John Lutheran Church building was dedicated.

Worship services were discontinued in 1962. The St. John Lutheran Community Association was organized in 1963 to help preserve and care for the church property. Annual Homecoming worship services and celebrations have been held since 1977, and the Association welcomes new members.

Today, the St. John Lutheran Church and Sunday School Building are available to rent for weddings, reunions, and family events. Donations and rental fees help maintain and operate the church, Sunday School Building, cemetery, and grounds owned by the Association.