BETHLEHEM, Pa. — St. Luke’s University Health Network plans to expand community health services by buying the former St. John’s Windish Evangelical Lutheran Church, it was announced Monday.
Current property owner Lehigh University and St. Luke’s have arranged a sale agreement for the church site at 617 E. Fourth St., according to a new release from the two entities.
The move will build on a partnership with the hospital’s Star Community Health Clinic and Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley “to promote community health initiatives that enhance the wellbeing of our South Bethlehem residents,” St. Luke’s Vice President of Community Health Rajika Reed said.
Once a community hub for more than a century — and most recently a polling place and rent-free, temporary summer camp location for Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem — St. John’s Windish held its final service in April 2023.
The congregation first opened its doors to local Slovenian immigrants in 1909.
'Continue to serve'
Lehigh bought the property in 2023 for $3.75 million as part of a local multi-property deal, which included St. John’s, St. Peter’s and Light of Christ Lutheran.
The congregations merged to form Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church at Rosemont, on West Broad Street.
The two other locations included in the purchase now serve as the new home for Pennsylvania Youth Theatre, and offer a collaboration hub for Lehigh’s Offices of Entrepreneurship, Creative Inquiry, and Educational Innovation and Assessment.
"Lehigh University is honored to have served as the steward of 617 East Fourth Street for the past two years."Lehigh Vice President for Administration and Finance Christine Cook
"Lehigh University is honored to have served as the steward of 617 East Fourth Street for the past two years,” Lehigh Vice President for Administration and Finance Christine E. Cook said.
“The sale to St. Luke’s ensures that this location will continue to serve the South Bethlehem community in a meaningful way, allowing us to fulfill our initial vision for these properties.”
The 0.3-of-an-acre St. John's site also was one of two finalist locations in the South Bethlehem Community Center feasibility project. It was set aside mostly because of a lack of flexible space, project officials said.
“Through collaboration and conversation among community partners, we are happy that Lehigh and St. Luke’s were able to ensure the preservation of this building that is an important part of South Bethlehem’s history while also addressing a community need by committing to its future use as a health services center,” Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds said.
St. Luke’s is the region’s largest employer, with more than 23,000 employees across 16 hospitals and over 350 outpatient sites.
