CHURCH: St. James’ Lutheran Church, Hallam, 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 481-483 ST. JAMES' LUTHERAN CHURCH, HALLAM, PA. (Hallam Charge) REV. C. H. HERSHEY, PASTOR The history of the Lutheran church in the Kreutz Creek Valley, although veiled under some uncertainty, can be dated back to 1746, when application was made to the heirs of William Penn for a tract of land situated in Hellam Township, then Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, for church purposes. In that year also a permit was issued by the proprietary of Pennsylvania authorizing Martin Shultz, Jacob Weltzhoffer, Henry Smith and George Amend to have fifty acres surveyed for said purposes. For this land they were to pay 15 pounds 10 shillings. The permit is signed by George Thomas and by William Parson, Surveyor General. The purchase was made and a deed secured. At various times, portions of this land have been sold, leaving at present in the church tract about 10 acres. Though land was secured, the church was not organized until the year 1763 under the pastoral direction of Rev. Lucas Raus. At this time George Amend and Mathias Demuth were elected deacons. Prior to this time, however, different Lutheran ministers ministered to Lutheran settlers in the vicinity, namely, Revs. Candler, Muhlenberg, Handschuh and probably others. It is not possible to obtain a continuous list of pastors from the beginning to the present time but a partial list is here named. Prior to 1777, Revs. Raus, Hornell and Bager. In 1777 Nicholas Kurtz became pastor. In 1786, Jacob Goering took charge. In 1809, J. C. Schmucker; 1815, C. A. Morris; 1817, George Kraber; followed by Dr. J. Oswald, date not known. Then came George P. Weaver. After his resignation, Rev. A. W. Lilly supplied the congregation until May 19, 1872, when Rev. L. K. Secrist became pastor. Rev. Hermon F. Kroh came in 1889 and ended his labors in 1891. The first church building stood in the southwest corner of the old graveyard, built of logs, about 1745, having slab seats and no stone. The original worshippers came to the house of God armed against the Indians. The second church, built of stone, in 1797, stood on nearly the same spot as the present building, which was erected in 1860. This is a brick building, used for many years by the Lutherans and Reformed jointly but now in the hands of the Presbyterians. During the pastorate of Rev. R. S. Stair, at a congregational meeting held at the parsonage in March, 1894, it was decided to erect a house of worship in Hallam, and the following were named as a committee to have matters in charge. Chairman, Rev. R. S. Stair, Secretary, L. R. Crumling, and Treasurer, John W. Gable. Additional members of the committee were Henry S. Fries, Frank E. Lehman, Phillip C. Metzel, George E. Loucks, Winfield S. Hauser and John Druck. At a meeting of the building committee held March 12, 1894, a plan for a building submitted by J. A. Dempwolf of York, was selected and building operations began at once, resulting in a beautiful church building located on Main street in the boro of Hellam, arranged according to Lutheran custom with an auditorium seating about three hundred people and a primary Sunday School room attached. It is equipped with electric lights and a hot air heating plant. Sunday September 23, 1894, the building was dedicated, the dedicatory sermon having been preached by Dr. J. W. Richard, of the Gettsyburg Seminary. Dr. G. W. Enders, Sr., Rev. Peter Livingston and Dr. A. G. Fastnacht of York, together with pastor Stair, also took part in the service. The dedication was followed with a week of services in which different pastors from York participated. The congregation from then on has been known as St. James' Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hallam, Pa. Following pastor Stair, who resigned in 1897, came Rev. E. E. Hoshour, who served until 1900. Rev. D. B. Lau came December 1, 1900, and remained three years and nine months. Rev. J. H. Meyer took charge in November, 1904, and served one and a half years. Rev. J. D. Krout came October 1, 1906, and continued for three years. Rev. A. B. Miller came April 1, 1910, and 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, assumed pastoral charge January 1, 1923. In addition to the church building, the congregation numbering 145 confirmed members owns also a parsonage having all modern conveniences and a sexton's house with modern equipment. The church council at present consists of the following officers: Elders, John Grosh, Ambrose Kauffman; Deacons, G. W. Strickler, Paul Hamm, D. M. Gilbert and C. E. Young; Trustees, William Wolf and P. A. Gross. The Superintendent of the Sunday School, having an enrollment of 165, is Aquilla Fauth. The President of the Women's Missionary Society, having 23 members, is Mrs. A. F. Gable. The President of the Ladies' Aid Society, with 30 members, is Miss Emma Hiestand. The President of the Luther League, with 48 members, is Paul Hamm. Miss Cora Reider is Superintendent of the Junior Luther League, with 28 members.