St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church
Lititz, PA 17543
Our Mission: As disciples in Christ’s church, we gather to worship, to grow in faith, and to serve our community and our world.
(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: