St. John's congregation was organized by the Reverend J. Philip Willard, who served the Westminster Charge 1842-1845. During the revival period of 1843 and 1844, services were conducted by Reverend Willard in Abbott's School House, a short distance from the present Church on the Westminster-Hampstead Road. The result of these services was the organization of the church, February 11, 1844 with 52 charter members.

The first church was erected on a two-acre plot of ground sold by Daniel Leister and John Reese. The original Church was a plain log structure 35 x 40 feet. St. John's was a part of the Westminster Charge until 1886, when the Salem Parish was formed consisting of St. John's Lutheran Church and St., Benjamin's Lutheran Church. The Reverend J. U. Asper accepted the call and became the first pastor of the newly-constituted Salem Parish. These two congregations shared the ministry of eleven pastors.

On November 8, 1998, St. John's had a 100th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Sanctuary Worship Service. Reverend John M. Koehnlein presided over this service. After the service, an anniversary dinner was held at Wilhelm's Catering on Route 140, Westminster, Maryland. Special guests for the service and dinner were Reverend Dr. George Mocko, Bishop - Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA and Reverend Mark S. Crispell.

Reverend John C. Morrill, II was installed on October 31, 1999 as St. John's first co-pastor.

He and Reverend Koehnlein were sharing the responsibilities of St. John's ministry. When Reverend Koehnlein retired on November 1, 1999, Reverend Morrill became the 23rd pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church.