1742-1882 1923-1957 1958-1996 The Zimmerman Organ
New Bethel Cemetery Assoc., Inc. Lutheran Pastors Acknowledgements
Celebrating the 250th Anniversary - The Historical Committee is adding information as it becomes available. Visit us often to learn more!
March 4,1681: King Charles II of England granted William Penn ownership of wilderness land in America as payment for a debt he owed Penn's father. The King's council granted William almost unlimited power over the territory, and in a special charter suggested the name "Penn's Forest" (Pennsylvania).
Religious freedom for everyone enticed settlers to the area, and we know that a group of Lutherans from Germany were among the farmers in the vicinity of Grimsville in 1742 when Count von Zinzendorf preached at an old mill, which is now north of Kutztown and south of Krumsville. Without formal organization, the Lutherans in this area kept their religion alive by worhip in private homes.
The Germans settling in the vicinity of Greenwich Township to till the soil brought with them their Bibles, hymn books, and prayer books in order to remain faithful to the teachings of the Christian religion they obtained in Germany, which they considered essential for their salvation. They had occasional services by traveling missionaries, among them was Count von Zinzendorf in 1742.
Four other congregations had been established in a radius of about 5 or 6 miles by foot or horseback, Dunkel’s - - near Lenhartsville, New Jerusalem Red – to the north in Albany Township, Ziegel – to the east in Weisenberg Township, and Maxatawny – to the south in the same named township. An additional church at the hub was justified by the increasing population, but retarded by the French and Indian War.
Then, in the Spring of 1761, the Evangelical Lutherans of Greenwich resolved to build a church. A tract of land containing two acres was bought. Even before this happened, the cornerstone was laid on the 18th day of May by the Reverend Bernhard Hausihl of Reading. On June 19, 1762, George Kamp, a delegate of the congregation, called on the Reverend Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg with a letter requesting admission to the Synod, and the services of Reverend Johan Schaum as pastor.
The completed church was dedicated on October 3, 1762, by Reverend Schaum and named “Bethel”. While the neighboring churches mentioned were all of log construction, this new church was the first one of solid stone masonry and popularly known as “The Stone Church”. It served the congregation for 41 years until it was considered inadequate to properly accommodate the increasing membership. By a vote of 21 to 5, it was decided to build a new stone building.
An interdenominational agreement was also signed in 1761 between the Lutherans and German Reformed that, while the Church was to be on Lutheran ground, the Reformed would also hold their services therein. This agreement was renewed in 1778. A second tract of land containing 50 acres was bought from Michael Smith for $243.00 in order to build a parochial schoolhouse to preserve the Christian doctrine on a Lutheran foundation, which also was shared with the Reformed congregation.
Stone for the second church was broken in January 1803, on land nearby. The corner-stone was laid on Whitmonday, May 30, 1803. The building was completed by October and dedicated on November 6, 1803, by the Reverend John Frederich Obenhausen. At this time the name was changed to New Bethel Zion.
Although it had been exclusively Lutheran ownershp since 1761, on September 22, 1844, it was agreed by both Lutherans and Reformed congregations, that the entire church and school property should be used jointly creating a "Union Church". The constitution contained nineteen specific articles which gave each congretation joint ownership and equal rights. They accomplished this while John Tyler was president of the United States and David Porter was governor of Pennsylvania. The Reformed were required to pay $100.00 for their rights to all the property and this amount was to be used for the upkeep of the building.
In 1882 the church was thoroughly remodeled, a steeple build and a bell purchased. The cost of these improvements was over $5,000.
With alterations and repairs, the stone structure which they erected in 1803, stood until 1923, when it was finally razed to make room for a larger church. The present church was built from 1923 – 1925 at a cost of $75,000 during the pastorate of the Reverend J.O. Schlenker. The two congregations dedicted the new church on May 31, 1925. It is interesting to note that the excavation of the basement was done with a pick and shovel. Horses and ground scoops were used to drag the ground out of the basement, where it was hand loaded and hauled away by wagon. Some of the stones of the old church were used to build the basement walls of the new church. The rest of the stones were hauled by wagons from a quarry. During the time that the new church was being builg, the congregation worshipped in the one room school house across the street.
On Pentecost Sunday, 1924, the cornerstone was laid and on Pentecost Sunday in May 1925, the new “Stone Church” was considered consecrated. Reverend Schlenker died soon after the dedication and the Reverend Ira Klick served as pastor from 1927 – 1947.
In those early days, some happy memories were of the Sunday School picnics. These picnics were usually held in June by the New Bethel members. Before the outdoor stage was build, entertainment took place on wagon beds which farmers brought to the church for that purpose. They would place the wagons side by side and end to end. People sat on planks supported by cement block and the soda stand was a large wooden trough. The highlight of the picnic was a cake walk featuring a nut cake or other special type cake.
From October 1947 until his death on December 4, 1948, the Reverend Addison C. Planz served as our pastor. Reverend Craig J. Dorward was called to be pastor on July 10, 1949 and served until August 1957.
Due to the shortage of pastors from the earliest days, this congregation was part of what was called the Grimsville Parish. This parish consisted of Dunkel’s; Frieden’s Stony Run; New Bethel, Kempton; and this congregation New Bethel Zion, Grimsville.
On May 11, 1958, Reverend Paul H. Spohn was called as pastor. He was the pastor of the four church parish until 1962 when the four parish arrangement was discontinued. The two northern churches Frieden’s, Stony Run and New Bethel, Kempton became a two church parish; while Dunkel’s and New Bethel Zion, Grimsville became another two church parish.
In 1962, Reverend Spohn left New Bethel Zion to serve the northern parish. Reverend Donald Wert was called in May 1962 to be the pastor of Dunkel’s and New Bethel Zion, Grimsville.
In 1969, when total membership reached five hundred under the direction of Rev. Donald Wert, the two church parish ended and some of Dunkel’s Lutheran members joined New Bethel Zion. In 1971, the Lutheran and Reformed union arrangement was dissolved. The Lutheran congregation conducted a Capital Fund Campaign to raise the money to purchase the half of the church which belonged to the Reformed congregation, and the latter built a new church in nearby Krumsville, became incorporated as Mt. Zion Lutheran Church and the Reformed congregation erected a new church in Krumsville, known as New Jerusalem Zion United Church of Christ. On March 21, 1971, the Lutheran congregation officially changed the name from "New Bethleh Zion" to the present "Mount Zion Lutheran Church".
Our new name comes from Psalm 48:2 “Beautiful for salvation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mt. Zion;…. the home of the great king!”
After serving our congregation for almost twelve years, Reverend Werr resigned in February 1974. In September 1974 Reverend Israel Yost became our pastor, but he was never installed. Reverend Yost resigned March 31, 1975.
Reverend Ernest Flothmeier was called to his congregation on September 14, 1975. Pastor Flothmeier retired on December 31, 1983, after serving eight years. On June 17, 1984, Reverend Jeffrey Bortz became our pastor. He resigned on August 22, 1991. Reverend David S. Fritch took office in April 1994 after serving in Woodstock, Virginia for eleven years. Pastor Fritch retired two years later on May 31, 1996, due to illness. On October 6, 1996, Reverend Guy Grube began his pastorate at Mt. Zion after serving eleven years at Lehighton, Pennsylvania. Reverand James R. Hammond was installed in 2002 and continues to serve today.
The families of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church are honored with the heritage and history of our congregation, and we continue to spread the good new of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We continue to be true to our past as well as to God’s call to continually be transformed as a creation, a new congregation, a vital powerful force for God in this place and throughout the world.
The Zimmerman organ was made by the Austin Company, Hartford, Connecticut in 1934. The organ is an Opus 1849 with twelve rank pipes plus chimes; this totals six hundred seventy-four pipes. This type of organ is an action electro-pneumatic universal windchest.
The Zimmerman organ was presented by Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Zimmerman on May 20, 1934.
New Bethel Zion Cemetery Association, Inc.
The first burial on record in the original cemetery was of Catharine Christ who was born in 1741 and died in 1765. This original cemetery has two hundred seven lots with five hundred sixty-five burials. Eleven of these burials date back to the Civil War from 1861-1865.
The first board of directors were elders and deacons of the church in 1792. This board consisted of Jorg Kamp, Andres Tressler, Carl Uhl, Johannes Schlenker, Christian Braucher, and Mary Rischel. The New Bethel Zion Cemetary Association was incorporated in 1959. The board of directors always consists of three Lutheran members from Mt. Zion and three Reformed members from New Jerusalem Zion United Church of Christ.
At a special meeting on February 3, 1963, the New Bethel Zion Cemetery Association, Incorporated accepted a deed from the Lutheran and Reformed congregations of the church containing 50.7346 acres of land for the cemetery. The new cemetery area consists of six hundred nineteen lots with one thousand ninety-five burials.
Lutheran Pastors Of The Grimsville / Krumsville, PA Congregation - Since 1742
Count Nicholas L. von Zinzendorf
Original Missionary
First Church Building (Made of Wood)
"BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH"
1761 - 1803
1762 - 1778 - Johann Helfrich Schaum (Dedicated 1st Church; died)
1789 - ? - Johann Friedrich Ernst (Uncertain start and ending)
1792 - ? - Johannes Schwarbach (Uncertain start end ending)
1794 - 1806 - John F. Obenhausen (Dedicated 2nd Church building)
Second Church Building (Made of Stone)
"NEW BETHEL ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH"
1803 - 1925
? - 1811 - Daniel Lehman (Died while serving)
1811 - 1839 - John Knoske (Served 28 years)
1839 - 1873 - G. F. Yeager (Served 34 years)
(* On Sept. 22, 1844, the Union Church Constitution was adopted)
"New Bethel Zion Union Church"
1844 - 1925
