New Hanover Church Brings 325 Years of History to Life in Cemetery Tour

by Julie Cordingley

A veteran who fought in the War of 1812, a church's first pastor who helped form the congregation in 1700, a mother who lost her three daughters in the 1908 Boyertown Opera House fire -- all these spirits and others have a story to tell from the graves where they rest.

Having lived in the area for over 35 years, I am still endlessly surprised at its rich history. I live in Gilbertsville; my house is in Douglass Township, but my lawn is part of the border of New Hanover Township. And as the saying (somewhat!) goes, you never know what’s in your backyard.

What I recently learned is that New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church is celebrating its 325th year (from 1700 -2025), which means the church’s founding predates that of our country. Simply amazing! And as part of such a momentous year, it is hosting a Living History Cemetery Tour this Saturday, September 27, from 1:00- 3:00 P.M., to share their proud heritage and history with the people in the surrounding communities.

Brian Tracey as Peter Steltz (his 6th great grandfather! Photo courtesy of Amanda Schlick

I have been on cemetery tours before and although they sound scary or perhaps morbid, they are not. I find them fascinating and a unique way of learning about the history of a particular time period through the stories of regular folk. The New Hanover cemetery is quite impressive. It has over 2200 gravesites, dating back to the late 1700’s. Over a third of those interred are of people of German descent who immigrated to America in hopes of religious freedom and a chance to own land. Most came through Philadelphia (St Michael’s)- and settled there or moved westward into Trappe (Augustus Lutheran) or New Hanover (NHELC). It is obvious to say, there are many, varied stories of the people that are buried in the beautiful rolling hill of their churchyard…which makes it a challenge to choose a select few to include in the tour.

But this is exactly the kind of work that Amanda Schlick loves to do. As a licensed genealogist, it is her passion to study and trace family ancestry, utilize historical records, documents, and living testimony, to construct family trees and familial connections. Schlick uses her expertise to comb through church records in the hope of finding enough information to tell a compelling story. At New Hanover, Schlick admits that she is lucky that extensive records have been kept…along with translations of the many German tombstones (a heartfelt shout out to the late Gert Gauklin) because it has made the task a bit easier. Among those highlighted for this year’s tour are Daniel Falkner, the church’s first pastor, who helped form the original congregation in 1700, a veteran of the war of 1812, and a woman who lost three of her daughters in the Boyertown Opera House fire of 1908…just to name a few.

Bryce Manthorne as Rev. Leonard Groh. Photo courtesy of Amanda Schlick

It is an incredible undertaking, and Schlick is quick to acknowledge that although she does the research and writes the scripts, there are numerous other church volunteers that are essential for this tour. These include volunteers to stand in front of headstones, outfitted in period costumes and nervously going over memorized lines, the tour guides that gently lead groups over to those sites, parishioners who can answer general questions about the church and cemetery, and finally hosts that will be serving light refreshments throughout the afternoon. 

Boyertown resident Jayne McHugh acted as one of the deceased women the past two years. "I loved it. It's just an amazing feeling to bring those characters to life and to tell their stories was just so amazing to me. I loved being dressed up as character. I worked hard to bring the person to life and tell their story. To be their voice was very emotional for me," explains McHugh.  

Scheduled to reprise her role as a grieving mother who had lost three children in the Boyertown Opera House fire of 1908 this year, McHugh was forced to cancel because of a conflict with another significant event. "I am very, very disappointed," she reveals "and I absolutely will do it again if they will have me."    

Jayne McHugh as Anna Rosina Lober Brendlinger. Photo courtesy of Amanda Schlick

McHugh says her one frustration with the event is that more people don't attend. "It's just a shame it's not advertised so that more people would know. It's such a special thing. I just wish people would know more about it," she says.

 Like McHugh, all of the volunteers have a vested interest in the tour because it is a way of ensuring that their beloved New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church continues to make history.  

Event Information:

When: Saturday, September 27 (rain or shine)

Time: 1:00-3:00 P.M.

Free will donation

The tour will be held outside so please dress accordingly. 

For those that have mobility issues, but would still love the experience, there will be a “dress rehearsal” of the tour…held inside approximately an hour before the outside tour. 

Photo courtesy of Amanda Schlick

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