Hello List,
St. Paul’s (Ziegler’s) Lutheran Church
“Early activities of this congregation are quite well documented.
Three documented items of history coincide to point to the year of 1771 as
the founding date for St. Paul’s (Ziegler’s ).
On July 31, 1771, the rights to a tract of land in (then) Codorus
Township were sold by Frederick Kuhn to local residents Jacob Walter and
Barnet Zeigler, “in trust for the use and benefit of the Lutheran
Congregation in the said township of Codorus.”4 The land acquisition detail
for this tract is summarized under Survey # 840, later in this volume. It is
noteworthy that the church founders at the time of the survey, called their
church land, “Unity”.
The third page of the book used as St. Paul’s baptismal register
clearly notes that, “In the year of our Lord 1771, the first day of December,
and the first Sunday in Advent, Divine Services was first held in our
congregation, by the Reverend Johann Carl Frederick Wildbahn. He continued
until July 14, 1782.” Thus, the first worship service of the congregation is
documented in the parish records.
The first pastoral act was a baptism: of Eva Ziegler, daughter of
“Bernhart and Rosina Ziegler; born November 24; baptized December 1 (1771).
Witness: George Philip Ziegler and wife Eva.”
Since these three documented dates coincide so closely, it may be said
that the founding date for St. Paul’s (Ziegler’s) Lutheran Church is
December 1, 1771.
The location of the church land is significant. The York to Baltimore
Road ran directly through the property; the church is situated on high ground
unaffected by floods or swamp land; it has access to a local spring. The
location of the property was well chosen: good public access, well drained,
and access to water.”1
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1 Neal Otto Hively, “Index and Summary to Connected Draft Maps, North Codorus
Township, York County, PA”, copyright 1991, pp. 17,18.
4 Charles H. Glatfelter, “Pastors and People”, “Pastors and Congregations”,
Volume I, The Pennsylvania German Society, 1980, p 482, citing York County
Deed 3-x, p 361.
I have a copy of the survey and warrant information for Barnet Ziegler.
I hope you enjoyed this.
Dennis