AREA HISTORY:  Lebanon Lutheran And Reformed, Hopewell Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
_______________________________________________ 

History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
_______________________________________________

LEBANON LUTHERAN AND REFORMED CHURCH – Page 752

This church is situated in the northeastern part of Hopewell.  In 1814, Rev. John Herbst 
organized a Lutheran congregation here.  The trustees were Michael Sechrist and George 
Barshinger.  The first Reformed clergyman was Rev. F. A. Sholl.  The original building stood 
until 1859, when a new and commodious one was erected.  Benjamin Tyson was one of the trustees 
at the time of its erection.  Some of the oldest members and church officers are Frederick 
Flinchbaugh, John Stabley, Jacob Diehl, Henry Sentz, Michael Sechrist, and George Barshinger.  
There being no carefully kept records, according to the memory of the oldest members, the 
Lutheran clergymen who have officiated here were Rev. John Herbst, chosen in 1814; George 
Stecher, in 1820; Jacob Kempfer, in 1832; A. Burg, in 1852; P. Warner, in 1873; E. Lenhart, is 
the present pastor.  The Reformed pastors were F. A. Sholl, G. Hoblestein, H. Ryneka, W. 
Ryneka, D. Gring and R. Rahauser, now vacant.