Church History: St. Luke's Reformed Church, Lititz, Lancaster County, PA

Copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lancaster/
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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. 147-149

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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ST. LUKE'S REFORMED CHURCH, LITITZ

Rev. George B. Raezer, Pastor


St. Luke's Church was founded because of a desire on the part of Reformed 
families living in Lititz and vicinity to have a church home in their town.  On 
the twenty-ninth of November, 1907, a petition was presented to the Classis of 
Lancaster, asking that a congregation of the Reformed Church be organized in 
Lititz.  This request was granted, and Rev. H. H. Spahn, who was pastor of the 
neighboring Bethany Charge, was appointed to organize the congregation.  Rev. 
Mr. Spahn conducted the first communion service in the Brobst Hall, which is now 
known as the Malta Lodge Hall, of Lititz, on December 1, 1907.  After this 
service, an organization was effected by the election of the following officers:  
Elders, Michael Keath, James Shuemaker; Deacons, P. George Keehn, Phares Weit; 
Trustee, Benjamin M. Brookmyer.  Services were held regularly ever two weeks in 
the Brobst Hall.  The Sunday School was organized on the first Sunday in 
January, 1908.

A plot of ground consisting of one-half acre was purchased in Warwick (which is 
now part of the borough of Lititz), for $3,000.  Plans were drawn up for the 
erection of a chapel for the use of the Congregation and Sunday School.  Ground 
was broken early in the spring of 1909 and the cornerstone was laid in June of 
that year.  The dedication services for the new chapel were held June 4, 1911.  
The building is of brick, and rests on a limestone foundation.  The cost of the 
church building was $3,350.

The congregation remained under the care of a neighboring pastor from December 
1, 1907 until June, 1910.  The supply pastor was appointed by the Classis of 
Lancaster.  Student James Blaine Musser, of the Theological Seminary, Lancaster, 
frequently assisted the supply pastor, Rev. H. H. Spahn.  After Mr. Musser had 
graduated from the Theological Seminary, St. Luke's Congregation extended a call 
to him to become their pastor.  He accepted the call and served as pastor until 
August 1, 1911.

At this time Lancaster Classis formed a new charge which included the churches 
of Brickerville, Penryn and Lititz, called the Warwick Charge.  This newly-
formed charge extended a call to Rev. George B. Raezer, pastor of the Maytown 
Charge, to assume the pastorate of the three churches.  Rev. Mr. Raezer began 
his pastorate in the Warwick Charge in January, 1912.  He was installed as 
pastor January 21, 1912, and conducted his first communion service as pastor at 
Lititz on Sunday, January 28, 1912, with forty-two communicants.

During the present pastorate the indebtedness of $6,500, resting upon the 
church, has been wiped out by the active interest of pastor and people, and the 
assistance of Classis.  In 1918 electric lights were installed in the church 
building.  In 1940 a new heating plant was installed at a cost of more than two 
hundred dollars.

The late Dr. J. C. Brobst, presented a bell on half a ton weight, to the 
congregation, which is to be placed in the church tower, whenever that is 
erected.  The bell is a memorial to Dr. Brobst's wife.

The congregation has sent out two young men into the active ministry; four young 
women into the nursing profession; three into the teaching profession; and many 
others into similar positions of responsibility and trust.