AREA HISTORY:  Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of York, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF YORK – Page 538

This congregation was organized October 19, 1847, as the English branch of the First Lutheran Church.  About 100 members of the old 
congregation joined the new, and elected E. G. Smyser, Adam Klinefelter, George A. Barnitz and Alex. Demuth, elders; and W. F. Shetter, 
Benjamin Zielger, John Busser and Adam Bott, wardens.

The causes which brought about his organization were, the demand for larger church accommodations, and, on the part of many members, a 
demand for preaching and worship in the English language, exclusively.

Under the arrangement made by the old and new organizations, there were certain franchises granted by the “corporate vestry” to the new or 
English branch.  All the church property was held in common.  This arrangement continued until March 3, 1860, when a committee was 
appointed, consisting of George A. Barnitz and E. G. Smyser, to procure an “act of incorporation” for the English branch of the congregation, 
which was granted by the court.  The same committee was intended to confer with a similar committee of the “corporate vestry” in relation to a 
division of the church property.  On April 6, 1861, the committees of the two councils met and arranged articles of agreement on the payment 
of certain church debts, and on the division of church property, and such other matters as pertain thereto, which articles were signed by the 
committees as representatives of both congregations.  Afterward these articles of agreement were ratified by the respective church council.  In 
1863, the “corporate vestry” of the First Lutheran Church executed a deed, conveying the church lots fronting on South Duke Street, with Zion 
Church and the parsonage erected thereon, together with the graveyard, and all the ground then enclosed in fences to the “Second English 
Lutheran Church” – the corporate title of the English branch.

The first pastor was Rev. J. A. Brown, of Baltimore, elected January 22, 1848, and resigned May 10, 1849.  Rev. A. Essick, of the Theological 
Seminary, Gettysburg, was the second pastor.  He served from September 11, 1849, to April 6, 1850.  Rev. Charles Martin, M. D., of New 
York, was called and entered upon his pastoral work.  February, 1851.  During his ministry the church on South Duke Street was finished.  The 
corner-stone was laid August 15, 1850, while the congregation was vacant.  Rev. Dr. Lochman, pastor of the parent church, conducted the 
exercises of the corner-stone laying, and contributed much in counsel, encouragement and sympathy, and the parent congregation assisted 
largely in the erection of the building, and both pastor and people continued in the most friendly and sympathetic relation with the young 
congregation during the entire ministry of Dr. Lochman in the old church.

The church was dedicated July 13, 1851.  Its dimensions were 72 feet in length, and 52 in width, with basement, affording ample 
accommodations at the time for church and Sunday-school purposes.  It cost $6,800, and was dedicated Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.  

Rev. Dr. Martin resigned in January, 1855, after serving the congregation efficiently for four years, and considerably increasing the 
membership.

Rev. A. W. Lilly, D. D., of Baltimore, the present pastor, was elected on April 17, 1855, and began his pastoral work June 1, following.  The 
work prospered, the congregation increased, harmony and good-will prevailed.  There was cordial co-operation and the accommodations 
became inadequate to the necessities of the congregation.  In 1869, an addition of twenty-five feet was built to the rear of the church.  In 
addition to this a recess of twelve feet was attached for pulpit and library and pastor’s study.  With this extension, the auditorium furnishes a 
larger seating capacity than any church room in the town.  The cost of this enlargement was about $12,000.

At the anniversary, in 1885, the pastor reported 445 members.  The fact that seven Lutheran congregations occupy this town of 18,000 or 
19,000 of a population, invests the material and draws the line closely.  But there is room and work for all, and for all other Christian 
denominations.  The Sunday-school numbers about 450 scholars and forty-eight teachers, and is divided into two adult Bible classes, 
intermediate department and infant department.