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TRINITY EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS

Although the Evangelical Congregational Church began its official existence in 1923, we must go back through the United Evangelical Church formed in 1895 and beyond that to the Evangelical Association founded by followers of Jacob Albright in 1816. It was through the Evangelical Association that the present day Trinity Evangelical Congregational Church of Lititz, was founded.

The George Shaffner and John Young families were the nucleus of the Evangelical Association faith in the community of Lititz. In July of 1871, Rev. A. Shultz, preacher in charge of the Brownstown Circuit of the Evangelical Association, held prayer meetings in the Shaffner home located on Pine Lane in Lititz.

Observing the need for larger facilities, a building located on the east side of Liberty Street in the town of Warwick, was rented. This octagon shaped building, formerly housed a merry-go-round but was closed for lack of financial support. This was deemed a worldly venture. Benches and an altar were erected to accommodate about 150 people. Rev. A. Shultz preached in the “Round House” until the Session of Annual Conference in 1872, when Rev. R. Dreiblebis was appointed preacher of the Brownstown Circuit. The Lititz mission was a part of this circuit.

In October protracted meetings were held and continued for thirteen weeks which resulted in the conversion of more than fifty souls. Here the Church was born and the “Round House” was held sacred in the memory of many, who by faith, were translated from darkness to light. Early Church records point out that “many blessings were received from God and many shouts of joy were sent up to the Lord by His people.” Rev. R. Dreiblebis immediately organized a class of which David R. Buch was elected leader and John Kreiner, Exhorter.

A movement was made to build a Sanctuary in Lititz. Previously the boundaries of the town of Lititz were closed to organizations other than Moravian. In May of 1874, Julius Sturgis, a member of the Moravian Congregation and founder of the first commercial pretzel bakery in America, donated a lot on East Orange Street, and the work of the Church took on new life. Mr. Sturgis later became a member of the church and was a substantial layman.

A building committee was formed and plans were drawn for a two-story brick building with a spire of 103 feet. The corner stone was laid July 26, 1874 and the Church was dedicated November 29, 1874. It became known as the Jerusalem Church of the Evangelical Association. Also in 1874, land was purchased at the west end of Orange Street for the purpose of a cemetery.

Soon after the completion of the church building, the Sunday School was formed through the Society of the Jerusalem Evangelical Association on May 2, 1875. By a majority vote of the members of the society, the constitution of the Sunday School was adopted. The first officers elected by the society were: J. F. Sturgis, Superintendent; W. H. Buch, Assistant Superintendent; C. W. Souder, Secretary, J. D. Witters, Treasurer and D. L. Bowman, Librarian.

Rev. J. M. Oplinger was appointed pastor in 1876 and the Church was incorporated that same year. The first elected trustees were David R. Buch, J. D. Witters and Jos. Kreider. The second floor was not completed and the indebtedness was $2,000. which became a heavy burden. The Pastor urged the brethren to “take hold of it at once” and after considerable urging, the indebtedness was paid in November of 1877. “Every heart felt glad for the great work accomplished.”

Baptisms, of those who desired immersion, were accorded in the Chiques Creek east of Manheim. Most of the regular services were conducted in the German language. There was a movement to inaugurate English preaching but it was delayed. In 1886, the upper story of the Church was finished at a cost of more than $3,000 and one year later a parsonage was built costing over $1,400.

A great Revival began after Christmas of 1886 and continued until Annual Conference which resulted in 48 accessions o the Church. In 1888 big protracted meetings were held and 85 souls were converted. The first camp meeting was held in Bollinger’s Woods, southeast of Lititz, in 1889. Seventy-eight tents were pitched and the devotional services were a spiritual nature with God’s power felt in every service.

In 1895, our Church, which was part of the Mother Conference of the Evangelical Association, was inspired to adhere to a minority report, and became part of a new Denomination, the United Evangelical Church. In 1896 the Church Trustees were required to purchase the rights and claims to the Church property at a cost of $1,950. A Charter was granted on September 11, 1896 and the Church was renamed Trinity United Evangelical Church.

In 1915, Rev. James T. Lowe (Sunny Jim) conducted successful evangelistic meetings assisted by Hiram C. Reedy, soloist and chorister and a 55 member chorus. There were 72 conversions. An effective evangelistic zeal was developed in 1917 with the preaching of Rev. J. S. Harper. Three prayer meetings held weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, kindled the spiritual values of the Church.

In 1921 George Buch donated the property located at the corner of East Orange and S. Cedar Streets for future expansion.

50th anniversary

In 1922, many people in the Evangelical Association and United Evangelical Church were convinced that the issues which divided the Church earlier were not sufficient to keep the "Spiritual Sons of Jacob Albright" separated. However, the East Penn Conference, of which Trinity was part, did not vote on the merger, therefore a new church was born and the name selected was Evangelical Congregational adhering to the fundamental faith of Protestantism.

Many people in the Evangelical Association as well as the United Evangelical Church were convinced that the issues which divided the Church were not of sufficient consequence to keep the “Spiritual Sons of Albright,” separated. At a Christian Endeavor Rally in Chicago, youth leaders from both groups discussed the possibilities of a reunion. A Basis of Union was later presented to each of the Annual Conferences and such union was formally adopted. However, the East Penn Conference, of which Trinity was a part, did not vote in the merger in view of certain rights and guarantees which they felt should be accorded the congregations including the Articles of Faith.

Inasmuch as the great majority voted for merger, the high Courts ruled against the minority. A new Church was born and the name selected was Evangelical Congregational adhering to the fundamental faith of Protestantism, simplicity of worship, and making the Church more congregational in polity. In 1923, new by-laws were adopted and a new Charter was granted became known as Trinity Evangelical Congregational Church.

Due to the inadequacy of the “Old Trinity,” then bulging with energy and having an average attendance of 362 in the overcrowded Sunday School; in 1925, during the pastorate of Rev. S. A. Heisey, the congregation created a Building Fund.

In 1928 Trinity Church cooperated in the Rev. Ralph Neighbor evangelistic campaign and a larege tabernacle was built. Many souls were brought under conviction which resulted in a goodly number of accessions to the Church rolls. A Sunday School orchestra was organized in 1930 with Henry C. Hackman serving as its able leader. This 25 piece musical group was in great demand throughout the conference area. Also in 1930, Vacation Bible School had its origin.

In 1932, Rev. Daniel P. Longsdorf was appointed the minister of Trinity and guided the congregation in its building program. A Building Committee was formed consisting of seven Trustees and seven members from the Congregation. Rev. Longsdorf served as Chairman, Raymond S. Reedy as Secretary, and Nathan K. Buch as Treasurer. The Congregation voted their approval for a new Church edifice early in 1935. Charles W. Bolton & Son, of Philadelphia, was selected as the Architect and the primary contract was awarded to Diller Plank of Lampeter.

On Monday evening, June 17, 1935, ground breaking services were conducted by the Pastor and Mrs. Nancy Gingrich, the only living Charter Member, dug the first spadeful. Robert Workman followed, representing the youth of the Church. The corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremony on August 18, 1935. During the building program worship services were conducted in the nearby Lititz Public School Building.

The one hundred year old stair railing form “Old Trinity” was replaced into “New Trinity’s” narthex and is a memorial to the many who traveled the stairway to the second-floor sanctuary in the former Church.

On Sunday, May 10, 1936, with hearts overjoyed, the Sunday School scholars entered the beautiful and commodious "New Trinity" with thanksgiving and new hope. The Church was dedicated to the glory of God with Bishop C. H. Mengel delivering the dedicatory message.

In 1941 our Nation was at war. Eighty of our youth either enlisted or were drafted. The absence of these young folk was most keenly felt. One of them answered the supreme sacrifice. In 1946 Trinity E. C. Church served as host for General Conference. Also in 1946, the “Diamond Jubilee” was held with Bishop A. W. Cooper preaching.

The 75th Anniversary of the founding of Trinity E. C. Church was observed during the week of May 16, 1947. May 25th was Anniversary Sunday with Bishop A. W. Cooper, who spoke during the morning and evening services. Miss Jacqueline Bixler, noted Lancaster soprano, was the guest soloist.

The membership gave systematically to liquidate the Church indebtedness and on June 6, 1948, in the evening worship, the mortgage was burned. Mrs. Nancy Gingrich, the only living charter member, set fire to the mortgage. Rev. George B. Carvell preached in the theme “No Other Foundation.”

In 1951 the Annual Session of the East Penn Conference was held at the Lititz Church. In 1954 a modern amplification system was installed in memory of David R. Buch. Later the kitchen and social rooms were remodeled. In 1961 new pews were installed in the Nathan K. Buch Memorial Chapel. In 1966, under the leadership of Pastor James K. Rapp, the Unified Budget System of Stewardship was officially adopted. The first proposed Budget of the new system was set at $47,000.

With the steady growth of the Sunday School, numbering 429, and recognizing the over-crowded conditions, the Official Board appointed Haak & Kauffman, Myerstown Architects, to study the needs and draw preliminary plans for an addition to accompany the children’s departments. In anticipation of expansion, the Church purchased two dwellings on S. Cedar Street.

In 1969 the Congregation authorized the Official Board to accept the bid form Lan-Chester Construction Company of Kinzers. Ground breaking ceremonies were observed on Sunday, August 24, 1969. On Sunday, June 7 1970 the corner stone was laid and the new Christian Educational Building was dedicated by Bishop Paul K. Cressman on Sunday, October 7, 1970.

An invitation was extended for the Annual Session of the East Penn Conference to meet at Trinity Church in 1971. The entire Church was refurbished including wall to wall carpeting in the Sanctuary and Chapel. Extensive preparations were made for annual Conference and more than one hundred individuals assisted on the Conference Staff. Denominational Officials acclaimed it the finest ever held.

By reason of its commodious facilities, the Church has been requested to serve as host to numerous conventions. Among the notables who have spoken from Trinity’s pulpit are: Dr. Daniel A. Poling, Editor of the Christian Herald and President, World’s Christian Endeavor Union; Homer Rodeheaver, soloist and song leader for Evangelist Billy Sunday, recorded discs for Edison and records for Victor, and had a gospel publishing company which later became Word Publishing; R. G. LeTrourneae, industrialist whose company designed and built some of the world’s most massive machinery, and was a big man with a big heart for God, (he lived on ten percent of his income and gave away ninety percent to Christian work); and the Honorable Walter H. Judd, Medical Missionary to China, U.S. Congressman from Minnesota, Delegate to the United Nations and Keynote Speaker at the 1960 Republican National Convention.

Trinity celebrated its 100th Anniversary during the year 1971, which commemorated the founding of Trinity, “A Century of Witnessing for Christ.” Throughout the year of 1996, Trinity celebrated its 125th Anniversary, with the theme “Planted to Grow to Harvest for Christ.” The Sunday School celebrated its 125th Anniversary in on Sunday, May 7, 2000, which continues to be strong in the faith and continues to teach the biblical ways to our young and old, bearing much fruit for the "Glory of God."

Thirty Pastors have formerly served the pulpit at Trinity. Also there have been two Assistant Pastors and two Youth Directors and one Parish Worker. Seventeen sons of Trinity went into the ministry and two went into the mission field.

The present Senior Pastor is Harry Dow and the Associate Pastor is Ryan Taylor. The Senior Ministries Pastor is David Heffner and the Youth Director is Kevin Kuhn.

Trinity continues to serve the community of Lititz, endeavoring to win persons to Christ and to build believers in the faith.

R. Ronald Reedy
Trinity Historian

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Last modified: 03/07/07