456 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



tion, Trinity church. As early as 1730 the Rev. John Christian Shultze did missionary 

 work here. An organized congregation existed in 1783. The Rev. John Casper 

 Stoever was pastor from 1736 to 1739; the lirst church, situate between the present ediiice 

 and the parsonage, was consecrated Oct. 28, 1738. It had a steciile and bells and was 

 furnished with an organ in 1744. From 1739 to 1748 the congregation was served by 

 several ministers, and sorely tried during the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Nyberg, a 

 Swedish Lutheran, from 1744 to 1748. In that year the Rev. I. F. Handschuh took 

 charge of Trinity church and reinained its pastor until 1751. A Lutheran congregation 

 existed at Earltown (New Holland) in 1748. The Rev. Messrs. Wagner, Engeland and 

 Wortmann served Trinity church from 1751 to 1753, when the Rev. John Siegfried 

 Gerok entered upon a long and useful pastorate which lasted until March 29, 1767. 

 During his connection with the congregation the present edifice was erected, the cor- 

 ner stone was laid May 18, 17G1, and the building was dedicated May 4, 1766. Rev. 

 Dr. Muhlenberg, Mr. Schultz and others rendered occasional service until the arrival in 

 1769 of Rev. Dr. Ilelmuth, whose earnest and faithful pastorate continued until 1779. 

 He was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. G. H. E. Muhlenberg, (whose memoir will be found 

 in Div. III.) whose indefatigable and noble work of twenty-five years' faithful minis- 

 trations is a bright page in the annals of the church he served. During his ministry, 

 the handsome steeple which crowns the i>resent edifice, was erected. It was begun in 

 the autumn of 1785, and after sundry interruptions, comjileted December 8, 1794. Its- 

 height is 195 feet. 



President Wharton was interred in Trinity church with military honors in 1778, and 

 Governor Mifflin in front of the church, January 22, 1800, immediately under the mural 

 tablet with the inscription : 



"In perpetuation of the memory of Thomas Mifflin, Esq'r, Major General of the 

 Revolutionary Army of the United States and Governor of the State of Pennsylvania. 

 A distinguished Patriot and zealous Friend of Liberty. Died January, 1800." 



Rev. Dr. Endress succeeded Dr. Muhlenberg and tenninated his ministry of thirty 

 years, after a faithful pastorate of twelve years at Lancaster. The new German Zion's 

 church was erected during his pastorate, and preaching in the English language was 

 introduced by him. After Dr. Endress' decease in 1827, the pastorate devolved on the 

 Rev. Dr. Baker (commemorated in Division III,) who from 1828 to 1853 went in and out 

 among his people, and to his energy the church is indebted for the Sunday School. The 

 beginning of St. .John's Lutheran church also was made in his ministry by the estab- 

 lishment of a branch Sunday School in 1852. In 1853 the Rev. G. F. Krotel was elected 

 pastor and continued his relations to the church until 1861. During his ministry the 

 renovation and rededication (May 21, 1854,) of Trinity church took j^lace, St. John's 

 Lutheran church was built, and a branch Sunday School was opened in James street. 

 The centenary jubilee took place May 19, 1861. Rev. Dr. Coni-ad was pastor from 1863 

 to 1864, Rev. Samuel Laird from 1864 to 1867, and was succeeded by the present pastor^ 

 Rev. Dr. Greenwald, May 1, 1867, through whose instrumentality a new Sunday School 

 building has been erected in West King street. 



LUTHERAN CHURCHES IN LANCASTER COUNTY. 



Lancaster City, Trinity, Zion's and St. John's; Strasdiirg, St. Michael's; also at the 

 following iilaces: MillersTiUe, ElizahctJitown, Mount Joy, Mechanicsburg, New Holland, 

 Columbia (two congregations), Conestoga Centre, ninkletoicn (four churches at and near 

 this place), Eplirata (four churches at and near this place), Bainbridge, Maytoicn, Brick- 

 ersville, Manheim and Petersburg. Aggregate membership about 6,000. 



METHODISTS. 



In 1781 Methodist ministers first visited the county. The Lancaster Circuit was 

 formed in 1 782 and the Rev. William Partridge appointed minister. About 1805 or 



