Before the Civil War, almost all churches in Allentown held their religious ceremonies in German, which was the predominant language in Allentown at the time. It was primarily the returning veterans from the Union Army, who had left Pennsylvania, many for the first time, and had to speak in English during their wartime service. Many were criticized and ridiculed for their German speaking and not using English, which led to them adopting English as their primary language. In Allentown, a petition to establish an English-speaking congregation was reluctantly granted by the East Pennsylvania Classis of the Reformed Church, December 6, 1865. The following month, January 15, 1866, St. John’s English Reformed Church was organized and incorporated. Land was purchased at the northwest corner of Sixth and Walnut Streets and the original building was constructed.