Church History: St. Luke's Reformed Church, Lititz, Lancaster County, PA Copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/lancaster/ ________________________________________________ History of the Classis of Lancaster of the Eastern Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States, 1852-1940; Part II, Histories of the Congregations of the Classis of Lancaster, Pg. 147-149 Printed by The New Holland Clarion, New Holland, PA; Editors Rev. Daniel G. Glass, Rev. C. George Bachman, Rev. Harry E. Shepardson, Rev. John F. Frantz, Rev. J. N. Le Van, D.D. ________________________________________________ ST. LUKE'S REFORMED CHURCH, LITITZ Rev. George B. Raezer, Pastor St. Luke's Church was founded because of a desire on the part of Reformed families living in Lititz and vicinity to have a church home in their town. On the twenty-ninth of November, 1907, a petition was presented to the Classis of Lancaster, asking that a congregation of the Reformed Church be organized in Lititz. This request was granted, and Rev. H. H. Spahn, who was pastor of the neighboring Bethany Charge, was appointed to organize the congregation. Rev. Mr. Spahn conducted the first communion service in the Brobst Hall, which is now known as the Malta Lodge Hall, of Lititz, on December 1, 1907. After this service, an organization was effected by the election of the following officers: Elders, Michael Keath, James Shuemaker; Deacons, P. George Keehn, Phares Weit; Trustee, Benjamin M. Brookmyer. Services were held regularly ever two weeks in the Brobst Hall. The Sunday School was organized on the first Sunday in January, 1908. A plot of ground consisting of one-half acre was purchased in Warwick (which is now part of the borough of Lititz), for $3,000. Plans were drawn up for the erection of a chapel for the use of the Congregation and Sunday School. Ground was broken early in the spring of 1909 and the cornerstone was laid in June of that year. The dedication services for the new chapel were held June 4, 1911. The building is of brick, and rests on a limestone foundation. The cost of the church building was $3,350. The congregation remained under the care of a neighboring pastor from December 1, 1907 until June, 1910. The supply pastor was appointed by the Classis of Lancaster. Student James Blaine Musser, of the Theological Seminary, Lancaster, frequently assisted the supply pastor, Rev. H. H. Spahn. After Mr. Musser had graduated from the Theological Seminary, St. Luke's Congregation extended a call to him to become their pastor. He accepted the call and served as pastor until August 1, 1911. At this time Lancaster Classis formed a new charge which included the churches of Brickerville, Penryn and Lititz, called the Warwick Charge. This newly- formed charge extended a call to Rev. George B. Raezer, pastor of the Maytown Charge, to assume the pastorate of the three churches. Rev. Mr. Raezer began his pastorate in the Warwick Charge in January, 1912. He was installed as pastor January 21, 1912, and conducted his first communion service as pastor at Lititz on Sunday, January 28, 1912, with forty-two communicants. During the present pastorate the indebtedness of $6,500, resting upon the church, has been wiped out by the active interest of pastor and people, and the assistance of Classis. In 1918 electric lights were installed in the church building. In 1940 a new heating plant was installed at a cost of more than two hundred dollars. The late Dr. J. C. Brobst, presented a bell on half a ton weight, to the congregation, which is to be placed in the church tower, whenever that is erected. The bell is a memorial to Dr. Brobst's wife. The congregation has sent out two young men into the active ministry; four young women into the nursing profession; three into the teaching profession; and many others into similar positions of responsibility and trust.