About us
St. Thomas is located atop the highest hill in Chesterfield, Missouri at 17842 Wild Horse Creek Road. Because we sit up on this hill, we are not always visible from the road to those who pass by. Yet, when visitors travel up the hill, they are instantly surprised by our idyllic natural setting (with a variety of wild animals including deer, wild turkeys, owls and occasionally a fox or coyote) and the panoramic view from the front of the church. Because of our hilltop location, services may be virtual during periods of snow, ice and refreezing. Check our homepage or sign up for our weekly emails to stay informed.
our pastor:
A 2016 graduate of Eden Theological Seminary, Rev. Eric Moeller began his ministry with St. Thomas United Church of Christ in September of 2024. He is also a singer-songwriter (find his music on all your favorite streaming and social platforms) and founder of the All-In Music Project, a non-profit that uses music intentionally as an instrument of social transformation. All-In is home to a new church start, All-In UCC, founded by Pastor Eric in 2023, which he serves alongside St. Thomas. Pastor Eric stays active in the wider UCC as well, serving on committees of the Eastern Association and the Missouri Mid-South Conference, and directing a week of camp at Camp Moval with his wife, Jorie. Pastor Eric lives in Washington, MO with his wife and three children: Keagan, Charley, and Harper.
Rev. Eric Moeller, pastor
OUR HISTORY
On October 7, 1907 Rev. Gustav Adolf Zimmer, pastor of St. Johns Evangelical Church at Bellefontaine, Missouri, conducted the first service of worship for the people who were to become St. Thomas United Church of Christ. A small group of faithful people met for worship in the building that housed Henry Wetzel’s Mercantile Company in Gumbo, Missouri. On December 22, 1907, those people officially organized themselves into St. Thomas Evangelical Church of Gumbo.
Land for the original church building was donated by Mrs. Fredericka Kroenung and funds for construction were secured through a solicitation of the congregation and a loan from the Synod. On November 1, 1908, the cornerstone was laid for the sanctuary that was to serve the congregation for 50 plus years.
Construction on the new church building was begun with the laying of the foundation under the supervision of a master stone mason, Mr. Hagemeier. The construction of the sanctuary was a community project with all the neighbors pitching in. Those who did not have money to contribute, hauled wagon loads of rock and gravel from the creek to be used in the building. The carpentry work was done by Mr. Joseph Glaser, Mr. Charles Kelpe and Mr. Collins. The pews in the church were made by Mr. Christ Hohman from a pattern drawn by Mr. Collins. These pews were used until the church was remodeled.
In 1957, the Evangelical and Reformed churches united with the Congregational Christian churches to form the new denomination and identity of the United Church of Christ. (To learn more about the United Church of Church of Christ, check out the denomination's website at ucc.org.)
The present church building was constructed on Wild Horse Creek Rd. and the new sanctuary was formally dedicated in May 1969.