History of St. Peter's Lutheran Church

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Heating the church was quite a concern of the council early in this century. In September 1908, it was decided to install steam heat in the church. Pastor Trafford was followed by Pastor Wenner, who resigned effective July 1, 1908. Care of supply pastors during the vacancy was to be provided by one of the ladies of Kimberton for fifty cents a meal, and one of the members was to bring the preachers to church for a dollar a Sunday. The vacancy was a short one--- soon the Rev. Bernard Repass was elected pastor in August of 1908. One action of 1916 which might be easily overlooked is a change proposed in the constitution. On December 24, 1916, the constitution was amended by the removal of the word “male.” The women had been granted suffrage in the affairs of the congregation. Amicable relations with the Lower Church are reflected in the action of October 1918, in which the Reformed Church transferred the rod of ground in front of the Upper Church to this congregation in return for its putting a fence across the property line. The Middle Church at St. Peter’s Chester Springs We now pick up the history of the Lutheran congregation which, after the Lutherans divided in 1840, continued to worship in the building erected in 1835. Because this congregation built a third edifice across the road and between the two structures now standing on Pikeland Hill, it is remembered as Middle Pikeland, even though it worshipped for most of its history in the lower building and was known as Lower Pikeland Lutheran Church. The construction of the middle building (described earlier) and its subsequent loss to a fire are the most outstanding parts of the history of this congregation, which was associated with the East Pennsylvania Synod and the General Synod. The records of the parish, with the exception of a parish register which includes records made from time to time 1771-1880, are apparently lost. We do have newspaper clippings and notations in this register, which give us a flavor of life in this nineteenth-century English Lutheran Church. In the parish register we read: “September the 27th, 1849. P. Raby became Pastor of St. Peter’s Church. Special Communion December 16th, 1849.
The day being unfavourable, the members were not very generally present. Some who gave in their names on Saturday were not present on Sabbath. Hence we omit recording the names.” One notation which appears from time to time is the report that persons have been expelled from the congregation for immorality. Their names were publicly read; they were not returned to the communing fellowship until they had publicly acknowledged their guilt and repented. On October 10, 1868 there was organized an auxiliary which served St. Peter’s for many years. Originally called the “Mite Society,” the group is remembered in more recent years as the “Willing Aid.” The group met regularly for fellowship and programs. Funds were raised for the work of the local congregation and for the mission work of the church. The organization was dissolved in July of 1961. In the library of the Chester County Historical Society is found the following news clipping: “January 27, 1872: Charlestown Items--- Protracted Meeting--- A protracted meeting is being held at St. Peter’s Church, Pikeland, under the auspices of Rev. Mr. (N. H.) Cornell. The meeting has been in progress during the past few weeks, and we learn that some converts have been the result.” Such lengthy revival meetings, which today we do not associate with the Lutheran Church, were quite common in the “Americanized” Lutheran congregations of a century ago. Through the efforts of her pastors and by the transfer of her members to the new organizations, Middle Pikeland became the mother of two congregations around the time of the Centennial observance of American independence. The Central Lutheran Church of Phoenixville was organized by the Rev. S. S. Palmer on December 5, 1875. The congregation took over the building and debts of the Mennonite congregation in Phoenixville, which was about to abandon their work in the town. Pastor Palmer resigned from the Pikeland charge and devoted his efforts to building up the new Central congregation. The Centennial Lutheran Church of Kimberton was organized in 1876 by the Rev. J. F. Hartman. They purchased a Quaker meetinghouse and fitted it up for a place of worship, dedicating it in 1877. This congregation has, until very recent times, been connected with St. Peter’s to form the (West) Pikeland charge. Communion records for 1876 indicate a number of members dismissed to the new congregations in Kimberton or Phoenixville.
Page 1 and 2: History of St. Peter’s Lutheran C
Page 3 and 4: the construction of a new building.
Page 5 and 6: 3. “If after the completion of th
Page 7 and 8: allowed me in my weakness. After th
Page 9 and 10: Christen Mensch, auf, auf zum Strei
Page 11 and 12: parsonage. There Pastor Voigt lived
Page 13 and 14: As Elders: Benjamin Emery, Jacob Ki
Page 15 and 16: The Upper Church at St. Peter’s C
Page 17: Canada, whose time of service began
Page 21 and 22: no longer applied to the twentieth
Page 23 and 24: equested and then ordered that lot
Page 25 and 26: annual Country Fair on the fourth S
Page 27 and 28: “In understanding past gains and

History of St. Peter's Lutheran Church

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