From page 254, History of Adams County, Pennsylvania, published
by Warner, Beers & Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886:
Trinity Lutheran Church-The date of
the organization of this society is about 1781, and the date of the church
building are respectively 1787, 1851 and 1882. The first was of logs, located in
the present old grave-yard. The second was of brick, and stood where the
present improved Reformed Church now is. The first and second churches were
used jointly by the Reformed and Lutheran denominations until the summer of
1882. The present church is located beside the Lutheran parsonage on High
Street, in Arendtsville. It is built of brick, two storied, with steeple and
bell. Its present membership numbers 321, and the value of property, inclusive
of parsonage, is $10,000. The following are the names of the pastors who have
served this congregation: Revs. Meltzheimer, Heiney, John Herbst, Charles Weyle, Frederick Ruthrauff,
Benjamin Keller, A. R. Height, George Roth, L. J. Bell, J. K. Miller, Michael
Snyder, H. F. Long and D. M. Blackwelder.
In 1781 a grant of two acres and
twenty-seven perches of and was made by Jacob Arendt
and Stophel Sentmire, to Frederick Stan our and
Philip Hartzell for the use of the Lutheran and Reformed
Churches. This lot adjoins “John’s Pursuit;” on this house of worship was
erected on the southeast corner of the square, opposite the present Reformed
Church, in 1857-a two-story, log, weather-boarded structure. The pulpit was
barrel shaped and the altar was railed in. The school and sexton’s house, at
the end, were built at the same time. In 1851 these old buildings were removed,
and the foundations for a new church laid on the site of the school and
sexton’s house. This was known as Zion Reformed and Lutheran Church. With its
building the parish school disappeared. In 1785 the first record book was
purchased. The first to be baptized were John, Jacob and Anna Catherine
Schneider, March 26, 1786. The oldest communion list is dated May 9 and 23,
1790. The first burial in the old grave-yard was in 1790, when Anna Maria Berrin was interred. In 1872 Green Mount and Fairview
Cemeteries were established.
Zion’s Reformed Church at Arendtsville-The Lutheran and Reformed congregations worshiped in the same house until 1878, when the former built a commodious and beautiful church, in which they have since worshiped. The latter bought out the Lutheran interest in the old church and last year determined to remodel it, which has been done at a cost of $6,000, and the church was dedicated (free of debt) Sunday, May 9, 1886, by Rev. M. H. Sangrée. The building is of brick, 67x43 feet, with two towers and a 1,200 pound bell, and is Gothic in style, with a seating capacity of 500. The organization of this society dates back to 1787. The following are names of the ministers who have served this congregation: Revs. Lebracht L. Hinsch, 1804-34; Benjamin Schneck, 1835; Jacob Baer, 1838; Samuel Gutalius, 1840-43; E. V. Gerhardt, D. D., 1843-1849; Jacob Zeigler, 1849 to 1863; D. W. Wolf, 1865 to 1873; A. J. Heller, 1873 to 1883; and M. H. Sangrée, present incumbent, from 1884.