CHURCH: St. John’s (Franklin) 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 460-462 ST. JOHN'S (FRANKLIN) LUTHERAN CHURCH, YORK COUNTY, PA (Dillsburg Charge) REV. G. A. LIVINGSTON, PASTOR St. John's Lutheran Church of Dillsburg Charge is known as the Franklin Church. The date of the organization of this congregation is unknown; in fact very little of her early history is known. On the 9th day of December, 1794, a warrant was granted to George Heigas for a survey of 15 acres of land for a German Lutheran and Presbyterian Church. The survey was made February 27th, 1795, for 10 acres 153 perches of land. The following Act of Assembly, 1822, is recorded: "In trust and for the sole use and benefit of the German Lutheran and Presbyterian Congregations who now worship in the house thereon erected and their successors." "Trustees shall be four." This gave them a patent dated March 28th, 1822. The trustees at this time were John Shultz, David Myers, Valentine Heigas and Michael Bender. As early as 1766 Valentine Kinter was buried in the cemetery, which is reported to be the first grave at this place. The first church was a log, weather-boarded building. The York County History says it was established before the Revolution. Near this old church stood a school house that was supported by the congregation for about fifty years. In 1847 the old church was abandoned and a new brick church built which cost at that time $3,000. The building committee were Peter Wolford, George Dick and Jacob Stickel. This building was 45 x 55 feet, two stories. The first story was used for prayer meetings; the Sunday School was held in this room. The second story was the auditorium containing a gallery on three sides. March 16th, 1901, the following committee was appointed to remodel this church: Rev. A. R. Longanecker, who was the Lutheran pastor at this time, chairman, George Dick, James Lau (Lutherans), D. F. Stitzel and C. S. Hinkle, (Reformed). The roof and floor were lowered three feet, making the building a one story church, containing an auditorium and an infant room. To this building was added a tower 12 x 12 feet, with a bell. The church was completed in December of the same year. In 1919 there was placed in the church a Lally Electric plant at a cost of about $600.00. In 1873 St. John's or Franklin as it is known, was connected with the Dillsburg Charge, composed of St. John's, Bermudian, Salem and Dillsburg. There is no doubt this charge was composed of about the same churches for some years before. Yet we have no record to show this. In 1874 St. Paul's withdrew from the charge. June 17th, 1877, Chestnut Grove became part of the charge. In 1883, the name was changed to the Clear Spring Charge. In 1888 a readjustment of the charges took place, St. John's (Franklin), Salem (Barrens), St. Paul's of Dillsburg and Emmanuel of Franklintown forming a charge to be known as the York Springs Charge. The congregation now has a membership of 133 and a Sunday School of 162, an active Christian Endeavor Society as well as a Ladies' Aid Society. The members of the Church Council are: Trustees, George Dick, John Blackford and David Slothour; Elders, Otto Spahr and James Coulson; Deacons, John Blackford and Charles R. Angel. The following is a list, as complete as seems possible, of the ministers that have served this congregation: Revs. A. G. Deininger ----- Gotwald; ------ Weil; Peter Sheurer; John Ulrich; Samuel Henry, 1850-1853; Joseph Focht, 1855- 1859; Aaron Finfrock, 1859-1864; Peter Warner, 1864-1868; J. R. Bricker, 1869- 1871; Daniel Sell, 1872-1873; E. Studebaker, 1874-1876; Henry Seifert, 1876- 1886; from this date the Charge has been as at present constituted, and the pastors are the same as listed in the sketch of Emmanuel Lutheran Church.