Our Mission: As disciples in Christ’s church, we gather to worship, to grow in faith, and to serve our community and our world.
Some
of the records of Salem Church show that fifty-two of its members were
dismissed in August, 1885, so that they could begin a new congregation. From
records we hold in St. Paul, we read that the cornerstone for the first
building was laid on September 13, 1885, on the lot on South Spruce Street.
The building was completed promptly and a dedication service was held on
February 14, 1886. All other items having been cared for, the original group
of fifty-two, led by the Rev. Mr. Jacob Peter, met on April 11, 1886, and
the following resolutions appear as the record of the meeting:
A meeting was held in St. Paul Lutheran Church, Rev. J. Peter in the chair. The following resolution was unanimously adopted.
Whereas: The want of the Lutheran Church in Lititz has for many years resulted in the loss to our denomination of Lutheran members, who have from time to time moved hither, such members having gone to other communions, and
Whereas: The distance of the New Haven Lutheran Church from town renders it impossible, in the absence of needful conveyances, for many of its members to attend its services with any degree of regularity, especially such of them as reside in this place, and
Whereas: Our children are in a measure deprived from a Lutheran Sabbath school owing to their inability to attend the above named church during the inclement season of the year, and
Whereas: We now have a new and commodious house of worship in town erected especially with the view of supplying these our felt needs
Therefore: Resolved - That we formerly members of the New Haven Lutheran Church but now honorably dismissed there from, hereby organize ourselves into and constitute a Lutheran Congregation, under the name, style, and title of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Lititz....
Shortly after the organization in April, 1886, the members of St. Paul
Church proceeded with the construction of a parsonage on West Orange Street.
This became the home of future pastors for about seven decades. Two other
steps of major importance took place shortly after the organization meeting.
On April 25, 1886, just two weeks after the congregation was launched, steps
were taken to organize a Sunday Church School. In June, 1886, a church
council was elected, and they proceeded to incorporate the congregation,
obtaining a charter on June 23, 1886. Later in 1886, St. Paul purchased a
tract of ground nearby which would become Machpelah Cemetery.
In
the early 1900s, ground was purchased at the corner of Broad and Orange
Streets. This would become the site of the congregation’s second church
building. The cornerstone for the fine new sandstone structure was laid on
Sunday, September 3, 1911. The dedication ceremony followed on December 8,
1912. Total cost was $55,000. It is evident from some of the records of the
past that it was no easy task to maintain mortgage payments. Some older
members, whose connection with St. Paul goes back many years, recalled that
there were those who actually mortgaged their own property to provide funds
to meet the church’s need.
In January, 1919, St. James Lutheran Church, which had been started in 1904
with a location on East Front Street, agreed to merge with St. Paul and the
two congregations became one.
After the Second World War, it became apparent that the congregation needed to
expand its facilities. By the 1950s, St. Paul had obtained three adjoining
properties on South Broad Street. However, a 4th key property just three
doors down from the church remained unavailable and the congregation looked
elsewhere for a place to relocate. Although the congregation was split in
its desire to relocate, the council recommended the purchase in 1959 of just
over eight acres on West Orange Street. This step was taken and in 1960 the
cornerstone was laid for a new educational building which had been the
congregation’s primary need. This structure was finished in 1961. The
congregation continued to worship in the church at Broad and Orange with
Sunday Church School and most weekday activities being held in the new
building.
In 1967, the end of indebtedness was in sight for the new building and
council started the process of building a new church structure at West
Orange, abutting the education building. The church building at Broad and
Orange was sold to a Southern Baptist congregation and the new church was
completed in September of 1969.Continued fund campaigns, to which the
congregation responded with faith and commitment, resulted in completing
payments for the entire structure at West Orange Street in just seventeen
years. Many members contributed splendid memorial gifts as well as regular
gifts of money, and that which is quoted in a Lititz paper over 100 years
ago, as the first church was dedicated, is still true: "The people of this
community have learned to give."
The beginnings of St. Paul Lutheran Church were made by persons of
foresight, vision, and courage. With a limited number of participants in the
original group of fifty-two charter members, it is obvious that those who
moved ahead were each filled
with a sense of personal responsibility for the congregation, or it would
never have succeeded. 
It is a continuing lesson on the importance of what is
done by a small number of persons, or by one individual alone, as it affects
the lot of each and every one of us.
Today St. Paul Church is the 2nd largest Lutheran church, by either baptized
or confirmed listing, in Lancaster County. It has a fine record of
stewardship in support of work beyond our local borders. We rejoice in the
thought that the influence of this congregation has indeed spread throughout
our community and our world, for in truth, it has. We rejoice also in the
thought that we are part of a church and congregation which has a message of
God's Love to share, and of the redeeming power we know in His Son, Jesus
Christ. All that we do is of little impact, if we forget our purposes in
serving our Lord.
Read about the
history of our logo by clicking here.
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St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 200 W. Orange St. Lititz, Pa 17543 (717)626-4709 Office@stpaullititz.org |
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