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In the 1840’s, the founders of Muhlenberg Township felt that an ideal community should have a house of worship, and a meeting at the home of Samuel Mengel in Maidencreek Township was held to establish one on May 3, 1845. The decision was made to build a church at the corner of what is now Route 61 and Tuckerton Road for the advancement of Lutheran and German Reformed congregations. The rectangular brick building was completed in 1849 on an acre of land that had been donated by William Hinnershitz and was called Hinnershitz Union Church.
A dedication service was held on April 28, 1850. The main entrance to the church opened to the east toward the present Route 61. An iron fence surrounded the church, with a yard that was larger than the present-day one. Water was provided by a hand-pump a few feet away. Two additional acres were purchased that year for the purposes of a cemetery. A humorous (at least by 21st century standards) note was that church council members were required to dig the graves in the cemetery.
On February 27, 1853, the first Confirmation Class was welcomed as church members. There were 12 in the class, who with an additional 20 members, celebrated the occasion. In 1910 a major renovation was undertaken. The Reading Eagle reported that church members held a dinner to raise funds for the renovation. Some of those attending the dinner came by train from Reading—the train stopped especially so people could attend the dinner. On June 12, 1911, an all-day dedication was held for the newly remodeled church.
Since its founding in 1845, the church had been known as Hinnershitz Union Church. However, in July 1927, the combined church councils voted to change the name to Good Shepherd with the Lutheran congregation adopting the name in October, along with its first formal Constitution and By-Laws. In 1945, centennial services were held. In 1949 the church was rededicated, commemorating the original completion of the building.
In 1965, the two churches voted to dissolve their union with the Lutherans deciding to establish a separate facility. In 1968 ground was broken for the new church at the corner of Tuckerton and Stoudt’s Ferry Bridge Roads, with the first service being held in 1969.
In 1995, both Good Shepherd churches joined to celebrate 150 years of worship. A joint service of Holy Communion was held on May 7th, with a picnic in June and a dinner-dance in November.
At the beginning of the 21st century, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has grown to include hundreds of families. Programs such as the Preschool and Kids’ Korner have been developed to reach out to the community at large. The church continues to be a family of faith at work in a growing community.
A dedication service was held on April 28, 1850. The main entrance to the church opened to the east toward the present Route 61. An iron fence surrounded the church, with a yard that was larger than the present-day one. Water was provided by a hand-pump a few feet away. Two additional acres were purchased that year for the purposes of a cemetery. A humorous (at least by 21st century standards) note was that church council members were required to dig the graves in the cemetery.
On February 27, 1853, the first Confirmation Class was welcomed as church members. There were 12 in the class, who with an additional 20 members, celebrated the occasion. In 1910 a major renovation was undertaken. The Reading Eagle reported that church members held a dinner to raise funds for the renovation. Some of those attending the dinner came by train from Reading—the train stopped especially so people could attend the dinner. On June 12, 1911, an all-day dedication was held for the newly remodeled church.
Since its founding in 1845, the church had been known as Hinnershitz Union Church. However, in July 1927, the combined church councils voted to change the name to Good Shepherd with the Lutheran congregation adopting the name in October, along with its first formal Constitution and By-Laws. In 1945, centennial services were held. In 1949 the church was rededicated, commemorating the original completion of the building.
In 1965, the two churches voted to dissolve their union with the Lutherans deciding to establish a separate facility. In 1968 ground was broken for the new church at the corner of Tuckerton and Stoudt’s Ferry Bridge Roads, with the first service being held in 1969.
In 1995, both Good Shepherd churches joined to celebrate 150 years of worship. A joint service of Holy Communion was held on May 7th, with a picnic in June and a dinner-dance in November.
At the beginning of the 21st century, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has grown to include hundreds of families. Programs such as the Preschool and Kids’ Korner have been developed to reach out to the community at large. The church continues to be a family of faith at work in a growing community.
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