A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH

(excerpted from 100th Anniversary history, 1986, by Rev. James G. Shannon)

Lutheran settlers were part of the local communities of Lancaster County in the early days of Pennsylvania. This was no less true of Lititz, even though it was predominately a Moravian settlement. Lutherans in the area found one possibility for worship and fellowship with other like-minded persons in the establishment of Salem Lutheran Church on Kissel Hill. This was also sometimes known as the New Haven Lutheran Church, since the area now known as Kissel Hill was also formerly known by the name “New Haven”. This congregation was begun with a formal organization on June 1, 1823, and a quaint and lovely building, still in use, was built. Although it has never grown to great size, the Salem Church can always point with pride to the fact that its membership gave birth to new congregations, and hence was always giving away any gains it may have made. The two congregations which came from its membership were St. Peter Lutheran Church of Neffsville and our own St. Paul in Lititz.

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.
 

[ Top of Page ]