The history of St. John's dates back many years before Bedford County was formed.  This part of the state was purchased from the Six Nations Indian tribes in 1754 and 1768. In the beginning, Pennsylvania had three counties: Bucks, Chester and Philadelphia.  Cumberland County was then organized in 1750 and stretched to the Ohio line.  In 1771, Bedford County was formed out of Cumberland County and more than 10 present counties were divided form Bedford County.

As a town, the history of Bedford properly began in 1758 with the building of Fort Bedford, erected by the advance guard of General Forbes Army.  The road south to Fort Cumberland was opened and the great military route, via Carlisle, Raystown (Fort Bedford) and Ligonier, continued to Fort Pitt.  Many people came with Forbes Army and remained permanently.

The town was surveyed by John Lukens in 1761.  A square of lots was set aside for a church and burial ground for the Reformed and Lutheran families.  Some members of our church are descendants of families who settled in what is now Bedford County as early as 1710.

We do not know how early the German Reformed Congregation was organized, but we know they held services in the old fort as early as 1758.  Between 1764 and 1768 Rev. John Conrad Bucher, from Carlisle, traveled as far west as Fort Pitt, visiting German families, baptizing their children, catechizing and confirming the young and preaching in such buildings as were available.  He regularly included Bedford.

Given permission by John Penn, a log church was erected on John Street where the Reformed and Lutheran Congregations worshipped jointly form 1769 on.  From 1770 to 1783, there were intervals when traveling missionaries came and held services.  One of these was Cyranius Spangenberg, (a Hessian who came to America in 1776), who ministered a short time in Bedford during 1790.  He was hanged in Bedford's Public Square by Jacob Bennett, then Sheriff of Bedford County, for stabbing Elder Jacob Glessner of Berlin on October 10 , 1795. Wolves in sheep's clothing would sometimes slip in, enjoying the hospitality and confidence of the early settlers because news traveled slowly.

After this sad experience, the church in Bedford received a true pastor in Rev. Henry Geisy, born in Upper Saxony on April 15, 1757.  He arrived in America in 1776, was ordained in 1782 or 1783, and moved to Loudoun County, Virginia, serving a number of congregations for 12 years.  After a number of his members moved to Bedford County, he paid them a visit in 1794 and remained here, taking charge of the area comprising Berlin, Bedford and Salisbury.  He served here until 1797, when he moved to Somerset County where he ministered for 38 years.

In 1803, John Dietrich Aurandt, a traveling missionary, preached in Bedford.  He was ordained in 1809, and had a large group of congregations, carrying the precious gospel by unfrequented mountain passes and wide forests to this and other communities.  He died in Huntingdon County on April 24, 1831.

Rev. John Henry Gerhart, who was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, was ordained April 27, 1812.  He had a call from the Bedford charge.  He came to Bedford single, then on June 5, 1813, he married Elizabeth Leidy, sister of Rev. George Leidy.  He preached in the little log Church until it was unfit for a place of worship.  He then preached in the old stone courthouse until the two congregations were able to build a new Church.

In 1823, the Lutheran and Reformed Congregations built a brick church where St. John's stands today.  This building was marked by a spire of colonial design in the center of the building.  The interior was similar to many churches of that period with a balcony on two sides and in the back.  In front was the typical high pulpit with stairs up to it on either side.

Rev. Gerhart preached all over the county, some in German and some in English.  He was also a gifted musician.  He was the first regular pastor in Bedford and Schellsburg.  He left Bedford in 1830 for his earlier home.  On November 11, 1836, he was crushed to death by his frightened horse.

Rev. Gerhart's successor was Rev. Solomon K. Denius, who labored in Bedford from 1831 to 1834.  He was succeeded by  Rev. George Leidy, who took charge here until 1839, when he moved to the Friends Cove field where he remained until 1843.

Pastor's until present day:

1839 -1850  Rev. Jacob Zeigler
1850 -1871  Rev. Henry Heckerman
1873 -1887  Rev. Ellis N. Kremer
1888 -1895  Rev. R. Leighton Gerhart
1895 -1903  Rev. Irwin W. Hendricks
1903 -1907  Rev A.T.G Apple
1907 -1939  Rev. J. Albert Eyler
1939 -1944  Rev. Russell Eroh
1946 -1954  Rev. Thomas Garner
1954 -1960  Rev. Harry Carolus
1960 -1979  Rev. Melvin Walper
1980 -1985  Rev. David Grant
1986 -1999  Rev. Roger L. Stine
2000 - 2001 Rev. William & Mary Hendricks
2003 - 2005 Rev. Steve Voelker
2006 -           Rev. Joe Puleo