March 16, 1863: Lutherans Resolve to Keep German-only Church Services

By Margaret Leidy Harner from her book One Day at a Time: A Social History of Boyertown, PA.

March 16, 1863: The Lutheran Congregation of Boyertown has passed a resolution that it will not pay for any English service whatever.

That resolution was rescinded four years later and some Sunday evening observances were then conducted in English.

Gradually, over the years, more English services were added and by 1919 there was only one a month in German.

In 1939, Rev. David F Longacre noted that the average attendance at the monthly German services for the past six months was 17, including eight choir members, the pastor, organist and sexton. It was then decided to discontinue them.

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