Church History: Muddy Creek Reformed Church, Swartzville, Lancaster County, PA

Copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
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History of the Classis of Lancaster of the Eastern Synod of the
Reformed Church in the United States, 1852-1940;

Part II, Histories of the Congregations of the Classis of Lancaster, Pg. 168-182

Printed by The New Holland Clarion, New Holland, PA;
Editors Rev. Daniel G. Glass, Rev. C. George Bachman, Rev. Harry E. Shepardson,
Rev. John F. Frantz, Rev. J. N. Le Van, D.D.
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MUDDY CREEK REFORMED CHURCH, SWARTZVILLE

Rev. Herman C. Snyder, Pastor

The congregation at Muddy Creek, formerly known as "Moden Krick" or "Moden Crick 
und Cocalico", is one of the ten oldest Reformed Congregations in this locality.  
The present church is located on the original property near the headwaters of 
the Cocalico Creek, (a tributary of the Conestoga), along the Lancaster-Reading 
Highway, approximately six miles northeast of Ephrata, in East Cocalico 
Township, (formerly Cocalico Township), in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  The 
Congregation was organized sometime in the year 1731 or 1732, the exact date 
being unknown.  Church Records at Muddy Creek record church activity as early as 
July, 1728.  The organization at Muddy Creek without a doubt resulted from the 
efforts of John Philip Boehm, the father of the Reformed Churches in America, 
who, after founding the first churches in the Perkiomen Vally, on October 15, 
1727, came also to the "Conestoga Valley" and held his first Communion service 
near what is now Heller's Church in Upper Leacock Township, Lancaster County.  
The pious tailor, Conrad Tempelmann, was at this time located in this valley, 
and it is thought that in all probability he conducted the earliest meetings at 
Muddy Creek, as he had been active in this locality since 1725.  Mr. Boehm was 
followed by the Rev. Mr. George Michael Weiss, who took up the work in the 
"Conestoga Valley."  He in turn was followed in 1731 by a young preacher by the 
name of John Peter Mueller (Miller) who organized the Reformed people into a 
Congregation at Muddy Creek.  Baptismal records are recorded by Mueller at Muddy 
Creek as early as January 20, 1731.

During Rev. Mr. Mueller's pastorate at Muddy Creek the first place of worship 
was erected there -- a log cabin with a beaten earth floor and heated during 
cold winter days by a bonfire of large logs in a stone enclosure in the center 
of the floor.  In these humble surroundings the families of the Congregation 
worshipped and listened to the two- or three-hour sermons of the early 
preachers, while a few of the men kept armed watch to avoid surprise by Indians.  
This place of worship was later replaced by a stone building with a tile floor 
which served the congregation until 1847.  These church facilities the Reformed 
brethren shared with the Lutheran people of the community, who in the Fall of 
1733 had been organized into a regular congregation by Rev. John Caspar Stoever.

During Rev. Mr. Mueller's pastorate at Muddy Creek, he came under the influence 
of Conrad Beissel, the founder of the Seventh Day Dunkers at Ephrata (The 
Cloister), with the result that as he says in a letter . . . "he quitted the 
ministry and returned to private life".  Rev. Mr. Mueller's exit, however was 
considerably more dramatic as, on a certain day he gathered his adherents in the 
house of one, Gotfried Fidler, and there publicly burned the Reformed and 
Lutheran Catechisms and other denominational and devotional books numbering 
thirty-six in all.  On the first Sabbath in May, 1735, with some other converts 
he was baptized in Dunker fashion by three-fold immersion.  He entered the 
Ephrata Cloister and there became one of their leading spirits.

Rev. Mr. Mueller's sudden exit at Muddy Creek in 1734 caused great alarm.  Being 
under the jurisdiction of the Dutch Reformed Church of Holland, as a Mission 
Field, the congregation at Muddy Creek, together with the other congregations, 
served by Rev. Mr. Mueller, made earnest pleas for help to John Philip Boehm, 
the recognized official of the Dutch Church in America.  An effort was made to 
rally the faithful and this was accomplished at Muddy Creek through the efforts 
of Rev. Conrad Tempelmann and Rev. John Bartholomew Rieger, who served as supply 
pastors until 1743.

On May 19, 1743, the Congregation at Muddy Creek extended a call, signed by 
sixty-two men of the Congregation, to Rev. Jacob Lischy, a former native of 
Muehlhausen, then in Switzerland--later a part of Alsace, France, who had become 
associated with the Moravians in Europe, and by whom he was sent as a Missionary 
to America.  Rev. Lischy was ordained by the Moravian Bishop, David Nitschmann, 
at Philadelphia, in January 1743, and immediately became in itinerant preacher.  
Rev. Mr. Lischy had almost indefatigable stamina for in his circuit were no less 
than eighteen "preaching places", of which at least six were in Lancaster 
County, namely:  Cocalico, Warwick, Muddy Creek, Donegal, Earltown and Kissel 
Hill.

Rev. Mr. Lischy's first sermon at Muddy Creek was preached in March 1743 from 
the text:  "His sweat was as drops of blood", which made such a deep impression 
that it resulted in his call.  Rev. Mr. Lischy's Moravian tendancies however 
encountered considerable opposition from some of the members who accused him of 
not being "echt reformirt" but a "Zinzendorfer".  Several meetings were held at 
various places in regard to this matter, one of which was held at Muddy Creek on 
March 21, 1745, to which Council he was summoned and when publicly accused and 
prevailed upon to state whether he was a Moravian or not, after considerable 
evasion he acknowledged "that he stood in union with the Moravians".  At this 
meeting a hymn of 16 verses composed by Lischy was read as evidence.  (This hymn 
is published in the first volume of "Fathers of the Reformed Church" on page 
356.)  By his extraordinary presentation of his case, Rev. Mr. Lischy seems to 
have pacified the people as a whole to some considerable extent and he continued 
his headquarters at Muddy Creek until October, 1745, when he left and 
transferred his activity to Creutz (Kreutz) Creek in York County.  Immediately 
after the Council at Muddy Creek, above referred to, eighteen of his faithful 
adherents built him a house in six days in which he installed the first 
parochial schoolmaster, John Adam Luckenbach.

During Rev. Mr. Lischy's pastorate at Muddy Creek, a Warrant for 9 acres and 60 
perches of land was taken out by Henry Haller for the Reformed Congregation and 
Peter Fry for the Lutheran Congregation, from Thomas and Richard Penn, (sons of 
William Penn), proprietary Governors.  Although the Deed was dated June 8, 1744, 
due to innumerable delays caused by European troubles on the Continent in which 
England was involved, it was not delivered until 1762.  Of interest is the 
stipulation in the Deed which conveys the property to the Trustees jointly--"in 
trust for the use of the Muddy Creek Lutheran and Reformed (or Calvinist) 
Congregations forever" with special provisions guaranteeing the continuity of 
these rights.  This original document of sheepskin with the "Great Seal" 
attached is still a prized possession of the Muddy Creek Congregations.  In 
later years additional land was purchased and today the church property is 
practically double that of the original grant, on which, however, the church 
buildings are erected as is also the "Alter Kirchenhof" (Old Graveyard or Burial 
Ground) which as been in use since the beginning of church activity in this 
community.

In December 1745, the name of the new pastor, Rev. John Conrad Tempelmann, 
appears on the Muddy Creek Church Record.  Rev. Mr. Tempelmann, a former supply 
to this congregation, settled in the Conestoga Valley and there as early as 1725 
was engaged in rallying the Reformed people.

When Rev. Michael Schlatter, the organizer of the Reformed Church in 
Pennsylvania, visited Lancaster County in June 1747, he found Rev. Mr. 
Tempelmann ministering to the Congregations at Muddy Creek, Cocalico (Bethany), 
and White Oaks.  These with Seltenreich, Sclatter proposed to organize into the 
ninth Charge.  At a Communion Service conducted by Rev. Mr. Schlatter at Muddy 
Creek in June 1747, after the administration of the Sacraments, Rev. Mr. 
Schlatter asked Rev. Mr. Tempelmann to preach a Thanksgiving Sermon (as was the 
custom after each Communion at that time), which he did in such a remarkable 
manner that Rev. Mr. Schlatter immediately recommended his ordination for which 
he requested permission from the "Fathers" in Holland.  This was granted and in 
1751, at the age of 59, Rev. Mr. Tempelmann was ordained as a licensed preacher 
of the Church of Holland after he had already preached 26 years as a layman.  
During on of Rev. Mr. Schlatter's later visits to Muddy Creek he presented the 
congregation with one of the ten Bibles which he had brought from Holland.  This 
Bible and the original pewter Communion Service are prized possessions of the 
congregation.

Due to age and infirmities and at the suggestion of Rev. Mr. Schlatter, Rev. Mr. 
Tempelmann gave up his work at "the four eastern congregations of his large 
charge", which included Muddy Creek.  Rev. Mr. Tempelmann's last record entry is 
a Baptism on March 12, 1748.  Rev. Mr. Lischy again appears on the scene and 
during his short stay as Supply was instrumental in having the Reformed 
Congregation at Muddy Creek take over the former "Moravian Schoolhouse" which 
had been built during Rev. Mr. Lischy's former ministry and had still been 
vested in his name.

During the years 1749 and 1750 the Muddy Creek Congregation had no pastor and 
was supplied by Rev. John Dominicus Bartholomaeus, (or Barthaolomay), the pastor 
of the Tulpehocken Church.  His first record is a Baptism dated August 9, 1749.

Rev. Frederick Casimir Mueller, another itinerant preacher, and formerly a 
schoolmaster from the village of Mayence, Germany, served the Muddy Creek 
Congregation during 1751 and 1752.

In October of 1752 Rev. Michael Schlatter fulfilled his promise to the people of 
Muddy Creek, Cocalico and neighboring places and sent them a regular minister by 
the name of John Waldschmidt, on of six young ministers whom Schlatter had 
recently brought with him from Holland.  Rev. Waldschmidt served the Cocalico 
Charge composed of Cocalico (Bethany), Muddy Creek, White Oak (or Royer's at 
Brickerville) and Seltenreich, near New Holland.  Rev. Mr. Waldschmidt was 
installed by Rev. Mr. Schlatter on Sunday, October 22, 1752, and on October 
25th, Rev. Mr. Schlatter presented him with two large record books in which to 
record his pastoral activities.  These records are still in fine condition.  
Rev. Mr. Waldschmidt's pastorate at Muddy Creek was rather short and for an 
unknown reason was terminated soon after his last Communion Service at Muddy 
Creek on October 28, 1754.  In his records, Rev. Mr. Waldschmidt notes that he 
conducted his next Communion Service on May 18, 1755, at Michael Amweg's in the 
new church (Swamp).

Rev. Mr. Waldschmidt's work was taken up almost immediately by Rev. John Henry 
Decker (or Henrich Decker) who served from 1754 to 1761 in this Congregation.  
One signally important event took place at Muddy Creek during his pastorate.  On 
May 30, 1761, the Reformed Congregation, having extended the offer, entered into 
a formal agreement with the Lutheran Congregation, setting forth provisions for 
joint operation and according equal rights in and to the Church and the Church 
land, as well as the assumption of equal obligations.  This Agreement was signed 
by the Pastors and four Elders of each Congregation.  The signatures are as 
follows:  Johannes Henricus Deckerus, M. (Minister) Reformed Religionis; John 
Samuel Schwerdfeger, Minister of the Lutheran Church; Valentine Schneider, Jacob 
Frey, Philip Schober and Casper Lutz (Elders) on the part of the Lutherans, and 
Henry Haller, Christopher Shoup, George Hefft and Marcus Egly (Elders) on the 
part of the Reformed Congregation.  This Agreement was recorded on December 6, 
1819 (Deed Book No. 18, Page 343) and continues to this day the basis of 
agreement covering joint operation which has continued unbroken since 1733.  
Although the date of this Agreement can be taken as the date of the formal union 
of these two Congregations, shortly afterwards, on March 25, 1762, the actual 
Patent to the Muddy Creek Church Property, as previously referred to, was 
issued.  The consideration was one pound, eight shillings and eleven pence, and 
the yearly payment of one-half penny sterling per acre as quit rent on the 9 
acres and 60 perches granted.  (This quite rent was in later years annulled).

The records of the Muddy Creek Congregation for the years 1762 to 1765 are very 
uncertain.  Numerous record entries, including 35 baptisms, were made in an 
unknown hand, but presumed to be that of the schoolmaster, Henry Hetzel.  From 
records of other Congregations of the Charge, it is inferred that Rev. Frederick 
Julius Berger, pastor of the Reading Congregation, supplied at Muddy Creek from 
1765 to 1766, as he supplied Cocalico and Seltenreich, where his name appears on 
the records.

Rev. John George Wittner, commissioned by the Dutch Synod, was the next regular 
pastor at Muddy Creek and with his advent came new life and renewed activity.  
In 1767 the four Congregations of the Cocalico Charge built a parsonage on the 
Philadelphia Pike near the farm of John George Werns, which, when completed, 
cost 335 pounds (Pennsylvania currency) or about $870.  Adversity came swiftly 
and in 1768 the Congregation at Muddy Creek complained that, on account of 
adverse weather conditions including crop destruction by hail, they were unable 
to meet their obligations.  The other congregations tendered similar reports.  
In the face of adverse conditions and the lack of finances sufficient to 
properly support his family, the pastor finally became melancholy and in May, 
1770, appealed to the Coetus for help.  Coetus, upon investigation, found the 
conditions deplorable and advised Rev. Mr. Wittner to resign.

Rev. John Christopher Gobrecht, the next pastor at Muddy Creek, served from 1770 
to 1779.  He moved into the Charge in December 1770 and preached his first 
sermon at Muddy Creek on Christmas Day.

In 1771, Rev. Mr. Gobrecht reported 95 families in his four Congregations, 43 
Baptisms, 48 Catechumens and a salary of 65 pounds (approximately $156).  In the 
following year he reported 443 members in his charge.  During the year 1776, 
when the independence of the Colonies was proclaimed, Rev. Mr. Gobrecht was 
President of the Coetus of Pennsylvania.  He seems to have been very active on 
behalf of the struggling colonists, frequently addressing them and passing 
troops and encouraging them in their fight for liberty.  Rev. Mr. Gobrecht 
recorded his last Baptism at Muddy Creek on December 5, 1779, terminated his 
successful nine years' ministry at this church shortly thereafter.

The years from 1780 to 1786 are known at Muddy Creek as "The Period of 
Supplies".  Few records are available covering this period.  The records of 
Coetus, as well as those of Muddy Creek, show that the Cocalico Charge was 
vacant during these years.  The most prominent supply figure during this period 
was Rev. William Hendel, then pastor at Tulpehocken.  He was suffering from 
shaking palsy, hence his handwriting can be easily recognized on the Muddy Creek 
records by the wavy lines of the letters.

Rev. William Hendel tutored a young man by the name of Anthony Hautz.  In 1786 
Rev. Mr. Hendel sent Mr. Hautz to Muddy Creek and the neighboring Congregations 
as a Catechist.  According to the Cocalico records, he began his work on August 
17, 1786, and on June 6, 1787, at the request of his congregations, Coetus 
examined and ordained him.  In 1789 Rev. Mr. Hautz reported 140 families, 74 
baptisms, 112 catechumens and a school with 40 scholars.

After the departure of Rev. Mr. Hautz, 1799, the Congregations of the Charge 
again fell into the hands and guidance of another independent minister, Rev. 
John Christian Wilms, who began his ministry at Muddy Creek and Cocalico in 
November of 1791.  The Synod of Lancaster, on April 30, 1793, resolved and 
requested Rev. Mr. Wilms to appear at the next Synodical meeting for 
examination, etc., but having found that he had administered the Sacraments 
without being ordained, refused to receive him.  The Congregations of the Charge 
however remained faithful to Rev. Mr. Wilms, and he continued as their Pastor 
until his death on March 8, 1802.

Under the next Pastor, Rev. Charles Helffenstein, who served from 1803 to 1807, 
Muddy Creek and the affiliated congregations again returned to the care of Synod 
of the Reformed Church, under which they have operated ever since.

The next Pastor at Muddy Creek was the Rev. John Theobald Faber, Jr.  He served 
the Cocalico Charge from 1807 to 1819.

Rev. Frederick A. Herman succeeded Rev. Mr. Faber and served at Muddy Creek from 
1819 to 1822.  He was the son of Rev. Lebrecht Frederick Herman, of Germantown, 
who personally had prepared five of his sons for the ministry.  He accepted a 
call to the New Holland Charge, as it was then called, composed of New Holland, 
Reamstown, Royer's, Muddy Creek and Bethany (formerly Cocalico.)  In 1822, Rev. 
Mr. Herman, with five other ministers, left the Reformed Synod and formed the 
"Free Synod".  Rev. Mr. Herman's later records are rather obscure and it appears 
that this Congregation apparently did not concur in his choice and desire to 
secede from the Reformed Synod, so he left Muddy Creek sometime in 1822 or 1823, 
the exact time being not known.

Rev. Mr. Herman was succeeded by the Rev. Daniel Hertz, who served this 
Congregation from 1822 to 1867.  During "Father Hertz's" ministry at Muddy 
Creek, the Reformed and Lutheran Congregations there jointly erected a new house 
of worship.  The new Church building was a Colonial type stone structure with 
three balconies, the one across the end being later occupied by the choir and 
organ.  At the other end was a fine "High Pulpit" reached by a stairway.  This 
pulpit, together with the entire Chancel, is still preserved by the 
congregations.  The name of this new church was inscribed on a marble "Name-
Stone" and placed in the wall under the eaves, the inscription being "Moden 
Krick und Cocalico Deutsche Reformirte and Luterische Kirche--1847" (Muddy Creek 
and Cocalico German Reformed and Lutheran Church--1847).  According to records 
of the Building Committee, stone quarrying was begun on March 12, 1847, masonry 
work on April 12 and was completed by the end of August, when the dedication 
took place.  This was the third building on the original site.  The Building 
Committee reported that in view of the most generous contributions of labor and 
materials by the members, the church, exclusive of steeple, bell and pulpit 
which were added afterwards, had been erected at a total cost of $1,909.96.

The Building Committee was composed of William Liede, Jacob Heft, Henry Von 
Nieda and Henry Stauffer, representing the two congregations.  They engaged 
craftsmen overseers who seem not only to have taken great pride in their work, 
but in keeping with the times, their politics as well, for, when they had 
completed their work they subscribed their signatures in the altar which they 
had constructed, and which is still well preserved, the following:  Daniel 
Harting, Democrat, Voganville, Bauermeister; William Lied, Whig, Adamstown; 
Joseph Kochel, Democrat, Adamstown; Isaac Winters, Democrat, Hinkletown; and 
John Kiehl, Democrat, Voganville.  In the large sandstone corner-stone were 
placed a Bible, membership and builder lists, a bottle of Sacramental wine and 
some coins of the period.  When this stone was opened at the time the building 
was razed in 1938, the coins and sealed bottle of wine were still intact, but 
all else had crumbled to dust.  This stone and the "Name-Stone" were placed in 
the walls of the new building in 1938.

The Bethany Charge, as it was called, was vacant for several years before a 
successor was chosen.

During the period of Pastoral vacancy the Reformed Congregation at Muddy Creek 
united with the Lutheran Congregation there in the purchase of a new one-manual 
tracker-type pipe organ.  This organ was built and installed by Samuel Bohler, 
of Reading, Pa., assisted by Mr. A. Shenkel, a noted pipe builder and voicer 
from Philadelphia.  The organ was of the hand-operated bellows type with nine 
stops.  It was dedicated in 1869 and Mr. Isaac S. Becker, who later became 
famous as a musician, singing school master and builder of "Becker" Reed Organs, 
was the first organist.  Mr. Becker served as organist for 23 years, and in 1877 
was instrumental in the organization of the first organized choir at Muddy 
Creek--then a union choir organization.  (Now each congregation has its 
individual choir.)  The organ was used continuously until the building was razed 
in 1938, when it was dismantled, renovated and rebuilt and after being 
electrified was installed in the basement auditorium of the new church erected 
in 1938 and 1939, where it now very efficiently serves the Sunday School.

During this time the Charge, with several others, was again rearranged, and on 
January 22, 1871, the Rev. Stephen Schweitzer was installed as pastor of the 
Reamstown Charge, then composed of Reamstown, Muddy Creek, Center and Swamp 
Congregations.  A few months later Zion (Lincoln) Congregation was added to the 
Charge.  Rev. Mr. Schweitzer also preached at Mellinger's and served 
Gouglersville and Kissel Hill for a year each.  He also organized the 
Bowmansville Church and First Reformed Church at Ephrata, and then served seven 
congregations until 1886, when the Lancaster Classis re-divided the 
congregations and organized the Muddy Creek and Reamstown Charges.  The Muddy 
Creek Charge was now composed of Muddy Creek, Swamp, Zion (Lincoln), First 
(Ephrata) and a little later St. Paul's (Adamstown) which Rev. Mr. Schweitzer 
organized.  These congregations Rev. Stephen Schweitzer served until his death 
on April 17, 1914.

During Rev. Stephen Schweitzer's pastorate, Chapels were built at Muddy Creek, 
Reinholds, Shimp's and Stone Hill, furthering Sunday School movements.  "Grace 
Chapel" at Muddy Creek was built as a Reformed and Lutheran Sunday School 
(Union) project in 1901.  The Muddy Creek Sunday School was organized in 1852 
and has been in continuous operation since that time.  Its annual picnics or 
"Celebrations", as they were called formerly, are one of the largest community 
events in this part of the state and by their popularity annually attract 
thousands from far and wide.  When the new Church was built in 1939, the Sunday 
School, on invitation, elected to move into the new Church building and donated 
the Chapel to the Church which renovated and remodeled the same into a Social 
Hall with kitchen, dining room and auditorium facilities.

On November 22, 1914, the son of Rev. Stephen Schweitzer, the Rev. Martin W. 
Schweitzer, was installed as pastor of the Muddy Creek Charge.  Rev. Martin 
Schweitzer served the Muddy Creek Charge (composed of Muddy Creek, Swamp, Zion 
(Lincoln) and First (Ephrata) for 23 years until his death on October 2, 1937, 
following a protracted illness.  He also supplied Mellinger's at Schoeneck.

On Sunday, October 2, 1932, the Reformed Congregation at Muddy Creek under Rev. 
Martin Schweitzer and the Lutheran Congregation there under Rev. A. W. 
Leibensperger jointly held an all-day "Jubilee Service" in observance of their 
200th Anniversary.  Among the notable speakers and fine programs was Prof. W. J. 
Hinke, D.D., of the Auburn Theological Seminary, Auburn, N.Y., the noted 
historian who had prepared a History of Muddy Creek, and presented a historical 
address, the first ever prepared on this Church.

Rev. Martin Schweitzer was largely instrumental in starting a Church building 
movement at Muddy Creek in 1926, but unfortunately did not live to realize his 
fond ambition.

After the death of Rev. Martin Schweitzer, the Muddy Creek Charge was supplied 
by Rev. A. Fred Rentz, of Lancaster, Pa.  During this period of supply several 
notable events took place.

On June 23, 1938, by approved action of the Lancaster Classis, the Muddy Creek 
Charge was divided into the Muddy Creek Charge, composed of Muddy Creek and 
Swamp Congregations and the Lincoln Charge, composed of Zion (Lincoln), First 
(Ephrata), and St. Paul's (Adamstown), which had been a supply congregation for 
a number of years.

The other event of note was the construction and dedication of a fine new house 
of worship at Muddy Creek jointly by the Reformed and Lutheran Congregations.  
On Sunday, May 22, 1938, the two congregations jointly held a "Final Service" in 
the old church building erected in 1847, followed by a "Blessing of Site and 
Ground Breaking" service on the site of the new Church approximately 150 feet 
west of the old Church.  The corner stone was laid with impressive ceremonies on 
Sunday, July 17, 1938, by Rev. A. Fred Rentz, Supply to the Reformed 
Congregation and Rev. A. W. Leibensperger, Pastor to the Lutheran Congregation.  
Within the corner stone was placed a sealed copper box containing a Holy Bible, 
copies of the Membership Lists of both congregations, lists of Pastors, Boards, 
Committees and Builders, copies of "The Messenger", and "The Lutheran" and local 
papers, and a complete set of pictures of the old church recently razed.  During 
all this period the Congregations held regular services in Grace Chapel nearby.

On Sunday, February 26, 1939, in an all-day series of services, the Reformed and 
Lutheran Congregations, led by Revs. Herman C. Snyder and A. W. Leibensperger, 
dedicated the fourth house of worship at Muddy Creek since 1733.  This building, 
erected at a cost of approximately $60,000, is one of the finest churches in 
this community.  Construction is of brick in Gothic style, with Cathedral Glass, 
solid fumed oak furniture and other lavish appointments, including a fine new 
two-manual Gottfried pipe organ--truly a fine monument to the memory of those 
hardy pioneers of over two centuries ago.

The present congregation at Muddy Creek numbers approximately 425 active members 
and is actively engaged in all phases of the Kingdom work.  Five active 
congregational and Missionary organizations are assisting the Pastor and 
Consistory in extensive congregational work.  The Sunday School continues as a 
union organization and occupies the basement and annex quarters in the church.  
This is also a fine flourishing organization.

Many records of this congregation have unfortunately been lost.  Others still in 
existence have withstood the ravages of time fairly well although several are 
almost illegible.  The early records are all written in either German or Holland 
Dutch script; in fact this is true of all records until the year 1850, and some 
even later.  Some of these records, because of faint ink or illegible scrawls, 
are most difficult to translate; in fact some have not been translated to date, 
but it is expected that this will be done in the near future.

In compiling these records, the author is indebted to Prof. Hinke and others who 
have previously scanned over, translated and compiled many record facts, to the 
minutes of Coetus and to the records of neighboring churches.

                                             --George C. Weaver