Church History: Trinity Reformed Church, Columbia, 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. 278-282

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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TRINITY REFORMED CHURCH, COLUMBIA

Rev. Clyde F. Straub, Pastor

(Most of this material has been obtained from a lengthy history compiled by the 
late Dr. J. H. Pannebecker)

When an immigration of German Reformed people came to America, Columbia was not 
overlooked.  As early as 1904 (sic?), there is a record of a congregational 
organization in this section.  Joint ownership of churches was the rule in those 
days because of the poverty of the people, and from 1807-1853 the Reformed 
congregation held their services alternately with the Lutheran congregation in a 
Union church, which was erected on Walnut Street, above Third.

There is no mention of a pastor at the laying of the corner stone of the Union 
Church in 1804.  In the year 1808, the congregation elected as their pastor, 
Rev. Henry B. Schaffner.  The Lutheran pastor was Rev. Jacob Strein.

In 1820, the consistory of the Reformed congregation petitioned the legislature 
of the State for a charter.  This charter was granted by the governor, the 
Honorable Mr. Hiester, July 23, 1821.

The Rev. Mr. Schaffner served the congregation until 1840.  For four years the 
congregation was without a minister and during this time it fell into a low 
condition.  Then Classis came to the rescue and appointed a Rev. Mr. Bokum as 
missionary pastor.

Under Rev. Mr. Bokum's ministry action was taken by the Reformed congregation to 
erect an edifice in which they might worship every Sabbath Day instead of on 
alternate Sabbaths.  July 21, 1844, the consistory passed a resolution that 
immediate measures be taken to erect an edifice wherein the people might worship 
once a week.  Nine years later a lot was purchased for the new church.  Rev. D. 
Y. Heisler succeeded Rev. Mr. Bokum, and became pastor in 1845, one year after 
the intense activity for the new church.  April 28, 1850, Rev. Heisler 
administered his last communion in the church.  Both Rev. Mr. Bokum and Rev. Mr. 
Heisler were men of distinction.  The former became an army chaplain.  Dr. 
Heisler was for a time Superintendent of Bethany Orphans' Home, and he is the 
author of several volumes of "The Fathers of the Reformed Church", completing 
the work of Dr. Harbaugh.

The erection of the new church was delayed for quite some time.  The corner 
stone was laid in June, 1854, but due to an epidemic of Asiatic cholera which 
broke out in the region, the building was not completed until December, 1855.  
During the erection of the new building, the congregation worshipped in the Town 
Hall.

Soon after the erection of the new building, the congregation became financially 
embarrassed and lost their property.  However, under the leadership of Dr. 
Theodore Appel and Rev. J. G. Wolf, of Lancaster, together with such staunch 
supporters as Messrs. Hodgendobler, Roye, Klinger, Seiple and Derrick, and a 
group of loyal women, the property was bought back again.

Now the congregation began to prosper.  A parsonage was erected and the church 
was remodeled.  A new spirit had rekindled a spark which was not to die out.  
This was during the pastorates of Rev. Frederick Pilgram and Rev. Conrad Clever.

These two pastors were followed by the Rev. C. S. Gerhard and Rev. J. H. 
Pannebecker.  Rev. Gerhard's main work perhaps consisted in removing the 
remaining debt on the property and giving that tome to the church's name in the 
community which ranked it with the other congregations in the town.  He deserved 
great credit for the faith and courage to ask the Board of Missions to declare 
the congregation self-sustaining.

Dr. J. H. Pannebecker, who for many years was Treasurer of Lancaster Classis, 
had the longest ministry in the congregation – forty-three years.  His long 
pastorate will long be remembered by the citizens of Columbia.  Under his care 
the church grew, a new pipe organ was installed and the entire church property 
was remodeled.  A historian back in 1904 said of this congregation:  "The 
congregation of Columbia has grown into one of the strongest congregations", and 
Dr. Pannebecker adds, "That is God has made a way in the wilderness for the 
people which he formed for himself, and God help us that we set forth his praise 
by giving him the Glory."

Dr. Pannebecker retired as pastor in 1929.  He was succeeded by The Rev. Edward 
S. LaMar, who served for seven years and four months.  Extensive repairs were 
made in 1930 which cost approximately $18,000.  Rev. Mr. LaMar's pastorate ended 
January 1, 1937.

The congregation remained without a minister until May 15, 1938.  During this 
interval of 18 months the congregation was supplied mostly by students from the 
Theological Seminary.  An effort was made to effect a union of the congregation 
with Salem Church, the former Lutheran Church with whom they worshipped back in 
1804.  However, the union was not achieved, and Clyde F. Straub, a graduate of 
the Seminary at Lancaster, who was supplying the congregation since January 1, 
1938, was elected and installed as pastor, May 15, 1938.

In the two and one-half years that Rev. Clyde Straub has been pastor the 
congregation has prospered.  The church has received a new coat of paint, the 
debt has been reduced considerably, and the church is one of the leading 
congregations in Columbia.

The pastors of Trinity Church have been the following:

Henry B. Schaffner . . . . 1808-1840
Herman Bokum . . . . . . . 1844-1845
D. Y. Heisler. . . . . . . 1845-1850
W. Goodrich. . . . . . . . 1852-1852
C. C. Russel . . . . . . . 1854-1858
John Hoffmeier . . . . . . 1858-
James S. Schultz . . . . .
F. Pilgram . . . . . . . .     -1873
Conrad Clever. . . . . . . 1873-1879
C. S. Gerhard. . . . . . . 1879-1883
J. H. Pannebecker. . . . . 1883-1929
Edward S. LaMar. . . . . . 1929-1937
Clyde F. Straub. . . . . . 1938-