History of St. Peter's Lutheran Church

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.