CHURCH: Canadochly Lutheran Church, Lower Windsor Township, York County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/ ________________________________________________ History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of West Pennsylvania of the United Lutheran Church in America, 1825-1925 Edited by Adam Stump, D.D. and Henry Anstadt, D.D. Published by the Action of the Synod in Celebration of Its Centennial, Printed For The Synod By J. R. Kerr & Bro., Chambersburg, Penna.,1925 _______________________________________________ PAGE 478-480 CANADOCHLY LUTHERAN CHURCH, YORK CO., PA. (Hallam Charge) REV. C. H. HERSHEY, PASTOR The Hallam Charge, formerly known as the Kreutz Creek Charge, consists of the St. James' congregation, Hallam, and Canadochly, located three and a half miles south of Hallam in Lower Windsor Township on the improved road leading from East Prospect to York, Pa. The beginning of religious work by people of Lutheran persuasion in the community in which the Canadochly Lutheran Church is located can be traced back to the year 1733, when John Casper Stoever crossed the territory now included in York County, holding religious services and baptizing and also laying plans for the organization of Christ Church, York, in connection with which the work at Canadochly and in the Kreutz Creek Valley was for many years carried on. Although no definite record of the earliest activities seems to exist, there is in the possession of the congregation a record book containing the names and lengths of their periods of service of the pastors who labored from 1733 on down. From 1733 to 1744 the names of the pastors associated with the history of the work here are as follows: John Casper Stoever, David Candler, Henry Melchoir Muhlenburg, J. F. Handschuh and Peter Brunholtz. From 1744 to 1765 the following York pastors ministered also at Canadochly: John Helfrich Schaum, George Ludwig Hochheimer, John George Bager, Lucas Raus and Nicholas Hornell. From early days this was a union church, Lutherans and Reformed worshipping together. It was during the time when Nicholas Hornell was preaching to the Lutherans at Canadochly, in the year 1763, that the first church, a log building, was erected. Logs and stone were brought from the nearby woods and pews were made by some of the people. A wood-worker carved a pulpit out of the trunk of a large tree and placed it over a winding stair. Over the pulpit there was a sounding board. The floor consisted merely of earth. The church was finished in 1764 and dedicated in June of that year. Rev. Hornell represented the Lutherans and Rev. Jacob Lischey, the Reformed at this service. This building stood for thirty-six years. The site of this building is today marked by a little mound in the old graveyard east of the church. On June thirtieth, 1765, Rev. Nicholas Hornell preached his farewell sermon and retired from the ministry. In 1767 Rev. John George Bager became pastor at York and also at Canadochly, where he had before preached, though perhaps not as a pastor. He served until 1769. In April, 1770, Rev. John Nicholas Kurtz became pastor and remained until 1789. The next pastor was Jacob Goering, a native of Chanceford township. He died in 1807. The second church, a brick structure, was completed in 1801. The building committee consisted of Michael Kauffelt and Anthony Keller, Lutherans, and Conrad Leber and Jacob Dritt, Reformed. Matthew Becker was elected treasurer. In 1809, Rev. John G. Schmucker came to York and also assumed charge at Canadochly. In 1813, he gave up part of his charge which consisted of six churches. Canadochly was then in charge of Rev. Jacob Herbst who later became regular pastor. In 1814 Rev. Charles Morris became pastor and served until 1818, when because of enfeebled health he resigned and became proprietor of the Morris Drug Company, at York. Rev. Jacob Herbst, previously mentioned, then became regular pastor and served one year until 1819. In 1819 Rev. John G. Kraber became pastor at Canadochly, remaining until 1833. An old record states that on December 20, 1825, the heirs of William Penn granted to the congregations worshipping at Canadochly a tract of land of about 20 acres, the same tract as was originally surveyed in 1752, for the use of the congregations of this church. The congregations obtained a charter in 1838 when Joseph Ritner was governor of Pennsylvania. Rev. Jonathan Oswald became pastor in 1835, and with him came the gradual introduction of English in connection with the German. He preached his farewell sermon to this congregation June 20, 1875. In 1840 the Sunday School connected with the union church was organized in a school house about three-fourths of a mile west of the church. Henry Slaymaker was the first superintendent. In 1857 it was removed to the church. John Hellerman then became superintendent. The third and present church building, constructed of brick, was erected in 1867. P. W. Keller was the contractor. It is a two-story building having been remodeled during the pastorate of Rev. J. D. Krout. It has a fine auditorium and a Sunday School room. Electric lights were installed throughout the building early in 1924. Standing as it does at a point from which both sides of the Susquehanna may be viewed, it serves as a landmark in the community. The congregation has also in its possession a farm of approximately 20 acres occupied by the sexton. In 1907 the Lutheran congregation purchased the part of the property owned by the Reformed who built a new church building about one- eighth of a mile west of the original church. After Rev. Oswald, in the long line of pastors, came Rev. L. K. Secrist who served until 1889. Rev. Hermon F. Kroh served from 1889 to 1891. From 1892 to 1897, Rev. Reuben S. Stair was pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. E. E. Hoshour, who remained until 1900. Rev. D. B. Lau became pastor December 1, 1900, and remained for three years and nine months. Rev. J. H. Meyer took charge in November, 1904, and served one and a half years. Rev. Joseph D. Krout took charge October 1, 1906, and continued for three years. He was followed April 1, 1910, by Rev. A. B. Miller, who left April 29, 1912. Rev. D. S. Martin came June 4, 1912, and left November 7, 1917. Rev. C. F. Floto began work January 15, 1918, and left December 1, 1922. Rev. C. H. Hershey, the present pastor, began his work January 1, 1923. The Rev. E. C. Ruby, pastor of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, North York, and also Treasurer of the West Pennsylvania Synod of the Lutheran Church, is a son of this congregation. The confirmed membership of the congregation at present is 120. The church council consists of the following officers: Elders, George Poff, Sr., Benjamin Kauffman; Deacons, George Cooper, Elmer Keller, Harry Keller and Ephraim Dietz; Trustees, David Dellinger, Harrison Fauth and H. A. Ruby. The Superintendent of the Sunday School, with an enrollment of 121, is Harry Boll. Luther Ruby is president of the Luther League with an enrollment of 25.