CHURCH: Lebanon Lutheran Church, 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 _______________________________________________ Pg 489-492 LEBANON LUTHERAN CHURCH, YORK CO., PA. (Lebanon Charge) REV. WILLIS R. BRENNEMAN, PASTOR Lebanon, at first called Flinchbach's, and sometimes known as Stabley's was organized in 1812, as a union church. The congregations of Stahley's, Blymire's, Frey's, and Flinchbach's called John Herbst, Jr., to become their pastor. The original tract of land, at first consisting of little more than an acre, was deeded by Frederick Flinchbach and John Stebler for the sum of $30. The first church erected upon this ground was a frame structure. Its architecture was typical of the times, with a gallery on three sides and the elevated pulpit on the fourth. Rev. Herbst resigned in 1819. The second pastor was Rev. Henry G. Stecker. At a meeting of the Synod in Baltimore in 1819 Mr. Stecker was given permission to preach to the York County congregations. He accordingly entered the work and in 1821 was ordained. During the greater part of his ministry he lived at Martinsburg (Loganville), from which point he served eight congregations. Rev. Stecker remained pastor until 1830, when he moved to Hummelstown, Pa. During the next three years, neighboring and visiting pastors supplied. It was the period of readjustment among the congregations of York County. Among those who served or supplied during this period was Henry Ginal, whose name appears on an old baptismal certificate. In 1833 Rev. John Kaempfer, a native of North Carolina, and the first student at the Gettysburg Seminary, came to Shrewsbury and organized that Charge, consisting of Fissel's, Steltze's, Sadler's, Shrewsbury, Shuster's and Stabley's. The pastor lived at Shrewsbury, where a parsonage was procured for him at a cost of $1200. Rev. Kaempfer resigned in 1843. While a few congregations experienced difficulty in finding pastors, Lebanon had the good fortune of being a part of the Shrewsbury Charge where few pastoral changes occurred. The longest and perhaps the most fruitful ministry must be credited to Rev. Andrew Berg, who stands out as a strong figure in the life of Lebanon. During his ministry of 28 years two dates are significant. The first of these is 1847 when a School was organized. The second date is 1859 when a new church was built by the two congregations. Rev. Berg's ministry dates from 1843 to 1871. In 1871 Lebanon severed relations with the Shrewsbury Charge and united with several of the old Windsor Charge congregations to form the Dallastown Charge. Of this field Rev. Peter Warner was the first pastor, accepting March 19, 1871. He labored faithfully among the six congregations until his death, April 17, 1882. Rev. Warner was succeeded by Rev. E. Lenhart, who served from November 14, 1882, until 1885, when the Charge was divided. The new Charge consisting of Lebanon, St. James', and St. Luke's, was formed, called the Lebanon Charge. Rev. Peter Livingston became the first pastor of this Charge, March 1, 1886. During his ministry the St. Paul's congregation was organized at Felton and added to the Charge. Rev. Livingston served until June 30, 1890. During the ministry of Rev. D. S. Kurtz, who accepted December 1, 1890, the church building underwent considerable repairing. The interests of the Reformed congregation in the building were purchased for the sum of $2500. The date 1892 is significant because at that time Lebanon ceased to be a Union church. Rev. Kurtz resigned December 24, 1893. Rev. E. Manges served from February 1, 1894, to November 1, 1899. During his ministry the Charge was divided, Stahley's and St. James' forming the new Chanceford Charge. Rev. Manges continued to serve Lebanon and Felton as the Lebanon Charge. Following Rev. Manges, Rev. S. J. Ulrich served the two congregations for a period of nine months. After Sadler's and Mt. Pleasant were added to the Charge the first pastor to serve was Rev. G. A. Livingston, whose ministry dates from October 15, 1901, to September 1, 1904. The dates for succeeding pastors are as follows: Rev. Luther E. Henry, April 1, 1905, to June 15, 1914; Rev. H. C. Aroh, October 1, 1914, to July 1, 1917; Rev. D. S. Weimer, November 1, 1917, to April 1, 1919; Rev. C. H. Shull, Ph. D., August 1, 1919, to November 1, 1921; Rev. Willis R. Brenneman, May 15, 1922. Improvements and repairs recently were made at a cost approximating $2500. The church was papered and painted, a new roof was put on, and new pews installed. The present membership of the congregation is 88. The members of the Church Council are Henry Flinchbaugh, Calvin Shenberger, Allen Grove and Daniel Tyson.