The Catholic community in Hocking County began in 1837 with just six families--50 people in total--traveling from what is now Germany (Illingen near Saarbrucken). After reaching the Hocking Hills, they began to clear and till the land, build their homes, and make provisions for their spiritual welfare.

Two years later, in 1839, Father Young began to ministery in the area from St. Mary Church in Lancaster, celebrating Mass with the German Catholics of Marion Township every seven weeks.

During this time, property that would become the Old Catholic Cemetery and church site just two and a half miles of north of Logan was purchased by the Bishop of Cincinnati on Sept. 7, 1841 from John and Margaret Ucker for a single dollar. Although the church building is gone, the cemetery still exists on what is now Walnut-Dowler Road.

Work on the 56 by 38 feet building began in 1842 and was completed the following year. However, the building and cemetery weren't dedicated until 1848 by Bishop Purell and placed under the patronage of St. John the Evangelist. With the pastor residing in Lancaster, the parish celebrated the Eucharist every six weeks at St. John.

On January 31, 1859, property was purchased on North Market Street. By 1861 a frame church, built by parishioner Francis Joseph Krieg, graced the hilltop on the site of the present-day rectory.By this time, th eoriginal colony of six families had grown to 300 people residing in Logan, and the Catholic population in the county was over 2,000.

Still expanding, ground was broken on Sept. 28, 1896 for a new church building--our present church home. Built from stone and brick, the 97 feet by 55 feet sanctuary included a tower. Church societies and parishioners donated the funds for a stained-glass windows, which can still be seen around the building.

The bell that hangs in the church tower first hung in the first St. John Church. This bell, made of cast steel, was made in Sheffield, England by the Vickers Naylor Company in 1862, was set in the steeple of the old church in May 1864, and finally came to rest at the top of the 96-foot high tower of the new church in 1904.

St. John the Evangelist Church is a member of the National Registry of Historical Places.