Founded in 1874 by German settlers in the area of the now-defunct town of Siegel.
The church has been in continuous operation and remains active, although the membership has declined from its high in the 1920s.
When differences arose either over a conflict concerning the burial of one of the members of that church or due to dogmatic differences between adherents of the Lutheran church and those of the German Evangelical Synod of North America, 18 members under the leadership of Reverend P. Hagemann broke away to form St. John's Church of Siegel on February 22, 1874.
[1] The founding members secured a 5-acre (20,000 m2) plot in Douglas Township in Bremer County on which they proceeded to build a church with living quarters for the minister in the rear and cemetery.
St. John's Church has about 80 members and an active Christian education program.