A congregation steeped in history
Old St. John’s stands today, resplendent and staunch, proud of her heritage, bespeaking her two hundred years of history – two hundred years filled with events both traumatic and joyous. If only she could speak of the members who have lived her life and who have passed through her portals!
This brief historical narrative will endeavor to relate the significant events and interesting happenings in the life of both the Church and her members through her long and illustrious history.Early in the eighteenth century, when Catawba and Delaware Indians still roamed the Great Valley in Maryland, German settlers came to the area, bringing with them their culture and their Lutheran religion.
In 1765, three years after the foundling of Elizabeth Town, the Lutherans of this community planned to purchase a tract of land upon which to erect a meeting house. This tract included two one-half acre lots, numbered 131 and 132 on the plat of Elizabeth Town, Frederick County. The deed was recorded September 25, 1769:
To wit/ this indenture made on the twenty-sixth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-nine between Jonathan Hager of Frederick County and province of Maryland of the one part and Ludowick Young, Martin Harry, Leonhard Sryack and Conrad Hogmire of the other part. Witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of five shillings current money in hand paid the recipient whereof the said Jonathan Hager doth hereby acknowledge and himself fully satisfied and content hath given granted bargained and sold and by these presents doth absolutely give grant bargain sell alien and confirm unto Ludowick Young, Martin Harry, Leonard Sryack and Conrad Hogmire two lots of portions of ground in Elizabeth Town in Frederick County aforesaid numbers 131 and 132 containing each two hundred and forty feet in length and eighty two feet in breadth more or less with the appurtenances to the said lots or portion of ground belonging or in any way appertaining to have and to hold the said lots of ground aforesaid unto the said Ludowick Young, Martin Harry, Leonhard Sryack and Conrad Hogmire to them, their heirs and assigns forever and to the use intent and purpose for the Lutheran Congregation for building and erecting of Church and School House for public worship for the said congregation preferring or confessing to the Augsburg confession of said Lutheran and to no other use intent and purpose whatsoever . . . .
Jonathan Hager (SEAL) Sealed and delivered in the presents of (Thos. Prather Vanomrvlund)
That same year, 1769, the Lutheran parcel of ground was the scene of the cornerstone laying for the new log church. The Reverend Mr. Hartwick, who preached the sermon, exhorted the congregation to “build to the glory of God, that they and their children and their children’s children might receive His blessing.”
In 1770 the Dutch Lutheran Church (St. John’s) was formally organized. Its constitution was drawn up and signed by sixty members. The Reverend Mr. Charles Frederick Wildbahn was the first pastor, serving from 1770 to 1772. Within one year after its organization the Church had one hundred sixty communicants, and by the end of the second year two hundred seventy-one members had been confirmed.
The Reverend Mr. Wildbahn was succeeded by the Reverend Mr. John George Young, who served the congregation for twenty years (1773 – 1793). One of the interesting events of the Reverend Mr. Young’s pastorate was the purchase of land, in 1774, for “a second house and other necessary uses jointly for the use of a school of the Dutch Lutheran Congregation . . . adjoining on the south west side and next to the two lots whereon the Dutch Lutheran Church stands.”
This transaction is recorded at “Frederick County in the Province of Maryland” in a deed negotiated between Jonathan Hager and four gentlemen of the parish. It is said the land was purchased with “good money of Great Brittain.”
Insofar as possible, original spellings – and misspellings – have been preserved in quoted passages.
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