CHURCH: St. John’s “Sadlers” 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 492-495 ST. JOHN'S "SADLERS" CHURCH, YORK CO., PA. (Lebanon Charge) REV. WILLIS R. BRENNEMAN, PASTOR The Church was given the name "Sadler's" in honor of the donor of the ground. No records are available to indicate the date of organization. However, in an old German Record Book baptisms are mentioned as early as 1792. In all probability the Church was established between 1780 and 1790, or even earlier, during the period when a number of the old York County congregations were organized. Frey's established in 1771, and Stahley's in 1772 are two congregations with which Sadler's for a long time was associated. The fact that these two congregations were organized by the same man gives some weight to the opinion that Lucas Rauss also organized Sadler's. It is not only possible, but very probable that while he served the neighboring congregation of Schuster's from 1770 to 1787 he encouraged the organization of this congregation. The first date in the Minutes of the "Ministerium" referring to Sadler's, is 1792, when Mr. August Ritz was appointed "catechist" of Schuster's, Blymire's, Frey's, and Sadler's under the supervision of the minister at Hanover. The following year he was succeeded by Mr. George Graber, who did not stay any later than 1796. The next few years are rather obscure. However, in 1803 Rev. John Herbst, Sr., accepted the call to "Fissel's and the congregations associated with it." In 1805 he reports as "candidate" from Zion, Fissel's, Schuster's, and Sadler's. On June 12th of that year he was ordained. In all probability he was the first regularly ordained minister to serve the congregation. After 1810 we find no further record of his work at Sadler's. In 1813 John Herbst, Jr., reported to Synod as "candidate" from York County. Mr. Herbst soon was advanced to the standing of "deacon" and in 1816 was ordained. In 1813 By-Laws were drawn up by the two congregations, written and signed in German by the two pastors and church councils. These By-Laws later were incorporated in the Charter, which was granted by the Court in 1872. The communion records of Rev. Herbst appear as late as 1819. The next pastor was Rev. Henry G. Stecker, who at a meeting of the Synod in Baltimore was given permission to preach to the York County congregations. Rev. Stecker accepted. During his ministry he lived at Martinsburg (Loganville). He resigned about 1830. During the next nine years no regular pastor served. It is likely that Rev. Kaempfer of Shrewsbury rendered ministerial service. In 1839 Rev. Peter Herman became pastor, reporting to Synod for three congregations. The following year the Windsor Charge was formed, of which Sadler's became a member. This Charge Rev. Herman served until his death in 1852. Rev. C. J. Deininger followed Rev. Herman, but he did not remain more than a year. Rev. Andrew Berg, who for 30 years was pastor of the Shrewsbury Charge, preached at Sadler's from 1855 to 1858. It is very probable that during his long ministry he served Sadler's whenever they were without a regular pastor. Rev. J. Kaempfer is another name associated with Sadler's. Just when he preached at Sadler's is not certain. It is known that some one preached after Berg. Who could it have been but this Kaempfer, who just about this time was serving the Windsor Charge? In 1862 Rev. John Conoway became pastor, serving Sadler's as a part of the Windsor Charge. In 1871 when the Dallastown Charge was formed, Rev. Conoway served what became known for a number of years as the "Conoway Charge," consisting of Ziegler's, Neffstown (York New Salem), and Sadler's. This Charge remained intact as late as 1887. Following the retirement of Rev. Conoway, Rev. C. W. Baker of Dallastown supplied the congregation every four weeks. Sometime during 1888, or perhaps during the previous year, Sadler's was added to the Dallastown Charge. Rev. M. V. Shatto became pastor of this Charge January 1, 1889, and remained until January 1, 1892. On March 1, 1892, Rev. A. M. Heilman, graduating from the Gettysburg Seminary, accepted the call and served until December 1, 1894. In December, 1894, the Dallastown Charge was divided, Sadler's, Mt. Pleasant, Frey's, and Red Lion forming the new Red Lion Charge. The first pastor to serve this Charge was Rev. H. E. Berkey whose ministry dates from June 1, 1895, to January 1, 1901. Rev. Berkey was followed by Rev. U. E. Apple April 1, 1901, who served the congregation until October 15, 1901, when Sadler's and Mt. Pleasant withdrew from the Red Lion Charge to unite with the Lebanon Charge. The first pastor of Sadler's as a member of the Lebanon Charge was Rev. G. A. Livingston, whose ministry dates from November 15, 1901, to September 1, 1904. The dates for the 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-- . Rev. Louis H. Rehmeyer is a son of this congregation. He was born of Lewis C. and Amelia Matilda Rehmeyer, October 20th, 1891, in Baltimore, Md. In 1894 his parents moved upon a farm located in North Hopewell Township, York County. Here they became faithful members of Sadler's Congregation, where their son later was confirmed. After attending the public schools he entered Gettysburg Academy in the fall of 1910. In 1916 he graduated from Gettysburg College, and three years later, in 1919, from Gettysburg Seminary. So far as is known, Rev. Rehmeyer is the first young man going forth from the congregation to receive a college education. After graduating from Seminary he became pastor of the Shippenville Lutheran Charge. May 23rd, 1919, which field he served most acceptably. On November 18th, 1923, he resigned to accept a call from Immanuel Lutheran Church of Manchester, Md. The first church building was constructed of logs and stood at the north corner of the old cemetery. In 1811 this log church gave way to a splendid brick edifice of the typical style of the times - a nearly square building with a gallery on three sides, and on the fourth side a "swallow's-nest" pulpit, approached by a stairway. This church was erected upon the same site which the present building occupies. In 1896 during the pastorates of Rev. H. E. Berkey and Rev. H. J. Hillegas (Reformed), the church was torn down and the present structure erected. On November 1 of the same year the church was dedicated free of debt, the cost approximating $3000. The congregation has a membership at present of 155. The members of the Council are Robert Brillhart, Harvey Eppley, Cleveland Orwig and James Diehl.