Grace Lutheran Church Macungie PA History

Grace Lutheran Church Macungie

Our Church History

First we begin with a short history of the Lutheran Congregation At Macungie.

Solomon's Lutheran and Reformed Congregations were organized in 1841. The members had formerly attended Lehigh, Western Salisbury or Zionsville. A stone Church was erected in 1841 on land given by Solomon Wesco. The trustees being David Danner and Lewis Lorrish. A Bethlehem contractor named Levis was in charge of the building operations. Lumber was hauled from Bethlehem. The spring of 1841 was very wet and rainy and high water had swept away all bridges across the Lehigh. On one occasion Joseph Gaumer was hauling lumber with a four horse team, and had to be ferried across the river on a scow---three trips were necessary.

The first communion of which we have a record was on April 29, 1843 when 73 partook of the Lord's Supper. From extent records it appears that the Lord's Supper was administered once a year until 1852 and from then until 1900 twice a year, and since that time four times a year. The Lutheran Congregation had a regular Pastor from the very beginning. The first Reformed Pastor came in 1843. We have a record of the class confirmed November 25, 1849.

The Church was incorporated February 7, 1851. The Charter was amended July 2, 1888. The Constitution of the joint congregation is still in the possession of the Church.

The congregation was part of the Zionsville, Saucon, Western Salisbury Parish from the beginning until 1851. It is difficult to say what the parish connections were until 1868 when it was again joined to the above congregations. In the meantime it was served by men preaching at other congregations, who accepted congregations with-out formally attaching them to a parish, and used the young men studying under them for the Holy Ministry to minister to these congregations. Thus it was served by Rev. J. Schindel from 1851 - 1856 in connection with the Jordan-Lohill Parish. By Rev. Joshua Yeager in connection with the Schoenersville Parish from 1856 - 1867. In 1867 it was served by Rev. A. D. Croll together with churches in Berks County At this time the so-called "New Measures" were introduced which eventually led to a disruption of the Congregation. The new measures consisted in Revivals and Prayer Meetings and a tendency to belittle the sacraments and confession. The faction opposing the "new measures" locked the church doors on Pastor Croll and his adherents. A law suit followed which Pastor Croll's group won and then they, about one hundred members, organized St. Matthew's Church. After this the Rev. Wm. Rath became the Pastor and it was served by father and son until it became an independent parish by action of Conference on May 7, 1900.

Following agitation for their own church the Lutheran Congregation empowered the trustees to sell their share in the Union Church to the Reformed Congregation for $1,000.00 at a meeting on March 1, 1893 upon vote of the male members. Thereupon Grace Lutheran Church was planned. The Chapel was built upon a lot on West Main Street donated by D.D. Fritch & N.D. Fritch and H. F. Bogh. The 1893 cornerstone of the Chapel was laid May 7th, 1893 with the Rev. Dr. Horne as the speaker. The first regular service conducted in the Chapel was the Harvest Home Service on August 13, 1893. The Chapel was dedicated on September 10, 1893 with the Revs. G. F. Spieker, W. S. Andreas, A.R. Horne and S.W. Mayne officiating.

On July 1, 1895 the congregation voted unanimously to secure a charter.

In 1896 while traveling in the Holy Lands the Rev. Myron Rath purchased a stone in Jerusalem which was used as the cornerstone of Grace Church. A portion of the stone is also set in the rear wall.

The cornerstone of Grace Church was laid on Whitsunday May 29, 1898 the speakers being the Revs. J. F. Lambert and J.C. Rausch. The Church was dedicated on Whitsunday May 21, 1899. Those taking part were the Revs. J.F. Lambert, V. J. Bauer and I.B. Ritter. Three services were held the following week at which time Rev. Wm. Meyers of Reading, Dr. J. A. Singmaster and Rev. J.C. Rausch spoke.

When the Sunday School was organized we do not know, but we do know that it was a Union Sunday School until January 1, 1877, when each congregation organized it's own Sunday School.

Following these cornerstone ceremonies, work on the new church structure continued for another year, and the building progress was chronicled by Rev. Myron O. Rath and O. P. Knauss in the Macungie Progress:

From the Macungie Progress-June 9, 1898

June 23, 1898; Work at the new Lutheran church is rapidly going on. The brick manufactured here and used at the walls turns out to be better than any heretofore secured for buildings in this town, being nice and hard. The granite wall at the front is well under way.

July 21, 1898; Work at the new Grace Lutheran church is so far advanced as to enable the roofing to be begun in a few days. Henry Baumgardner, the slater of near Vera Cruz, has the contract. There will be some little delay in completing the front walls and tower, as Kline Bros., the contractors, are engaged in similar work at Allentown and will not keep regularly at it here in consequence. So far, the new edifice makes a handsome appearance. When finished, it will be and architectural ornament to the town.

August 4, 1898; Organ for the the New Church - The Ladies' Aid Society of Grace Lutheran Church, at a recent meeting, authorized the building committee, Dr. D. D. Fritch and Messrs. George Desch and Theo. Barner, to purchase a pipe organ for their new edifice in course of erection. In accordance with their instructions the committee yesterday purchased a beautiful organ from Mr. C. F. Durner. of Quakertown, Pa. The instrument is to be equipped with all modern improvements and is to cost $2,350.00, including motor.

The east side of the roof of the new Grace Lutheran church is now about covered with slate. The other may be finished this week. The front and tower walls, with the ornamental windows, are gradually assuming proportions.

September 22, 1898; Plasters are busy lathing and covering the interior of the walls of the new Grace Lutheran church. The tower walls are gradually rising. The other part of the front is about completed as regards the laying of granite.

September 29, 1898; The New Grace Church - The masons having the contract of laying the granite stones at the new Lutheran church, did not work this week, being engaged in pushing along similar work at the Allentown Hospital. The plasterers have finished the rough coat and several carpenters and painters are now at work in their line as far as they can before the interior can receive future attention. It is expected to have the church so far completed as to hold the Sunday - school's Christmas exercises therein.

October 20, 1898; Putting In Steam Heaters - Neumoyer Bros. of town have received the contract to supply the steam heating arrangement for the new Grace Lutheran church. The Novelty heater used in heating the Chapel will be replaced by a Bundy sectional tubular boiler with a heating capacity of 1600 square feet radiating surface. This will be placed in the basement of the chapel and pipes will carry the heat over the church and supply heat there. The Bundy is a very fine heater and gives general satisfaction wherever used.

November 3, 1898; The ornamental metal work for the peak of the roofing and the coping of the front walls of Grace Lutheran church have been placed in position. A cross and other designs enhance the tops. The plastering has also been completed. The finishing of the tower and woodwork of the interior of the building yet remains to be done. This may take about six weeks.

November 17, 1898; Considerable headway has been made at the new Grace Lutheran Church during the last week. The carpenters have completed the ceiling work and the tower stones are gradually ascending and soon will be in position.

December 15, 1898; The floor of the new Grace Lutheran church is being laid and work generally being finished up. The pulpit furniture and pews are ready and can soon be placed in position.

December 22,1898; The fine stain glass memorial windows are now being placed in position in the new Grace Lutheran church. Work is gradually finishing up. The furniture, pews, etc, are soon to arrive and set up. No time has been set for dedication, however, but it will shortly be announced and arranged for.

January 5, 1899; Phew! But the new year started out fresh! Twelve degrees below zero Monday morning!

January 19, 1899; It is expected the dedication of the new Grace Lutheran church will take place by Easter. There was no occasion to rush the work and employ outside workmen, and the cold weather retarded operations, so the completion will be later then was at first calculated on.

January 26, 1899; VERY FINE WINDOWS. The colored glass windows of the new Grace Lutheran church building, now fast approaching completion, are very handsome. The large one in front is to contain a representation of the Ascension of Christ. This is to be one of the last parts of the work. The one in the front, to contain the figure of Luther are also to be placed in position later. Most of the those on the two sides are memorial windows and the cost of same was borne by members and friends of the congregation. These memorials are very neat and of new and beautiful design. They reflect credit on the donors and are attractive ornaments in the church. The large ones in front will be especially fine and reflect glorious colors and tints by the entering sunlight.

February 2, 1899; Work at the New Church. The steam - heating arrangement has been placed in position in the new Grace Lutheran church the past week by Neumoyer Bros., of town. A "Bundy" boiler is used. The radiators are set in flush with the side walls so as to take up no other space in the main audience room. Their finishing work is being done by plasterers in putting on the last coat. A very handsome and artistic arrangement of metal work will grace the wall back of the pulpit. The organ will arrive and be placed in position in a few weeks.

February 9, 1899; Snow fell most of the time on Tuesday and during the night, as well as next day, so that now about a foot deep covers the earth. The choir of Grace Lutheran church began practice on new music to be used at the dedication of the new edifice about Easter. Mr. Hunsberger, the organist, has a splendid corps of vocalist and his training always brings about the best results.

February 16, 1899; A BLIZZARD - Intense Cold, Followed by a Deep Snow. Not since regular observations were taken of the weather by the government has such an extended period of bitter cold weather been recorded as prevailed last week. The mercury dropped way below the zero mark on a number of occasions at the P.&R. depot here, on Thursday morning the thermometer registered thirteen degrees below. As usual, thermometers at different places varied, but that the weather was cold no thermometer was needed to show it to all living objects. There was such suffering in consequence. At several places about the country people were frozen to death, while frost - bitten members of the body are numerous. It was a regular Alaskan blizzard and the older inhabitants are at a loss to point to as extended a period of cold weather within their memory.

February 23, 1899; The fancy tilling for the vestibule of the new Grace Lutheran church is being laid. The designs formed are very handsome. A sample pew is also on hand and the kind used makes most comfortable seats.

At the meeting of the vestry of Grace congregation, the majority of those present seem to think Whitsunday should be chosen as the day for the dedication of the new church. The floor and sides of (the) vestibule (of) the new church is being laid with beautiful tiling this week. The design is pretty and will make a handsome appearance. The remaining windows will be put in the middle of March. The pews are ready for shipment. The handsome altar is also finished and may be sent on in a few weeks. The organ will be ready by May 1st. The church will be finished by the end of April. All expenses so far have been met.

March 16, 1899; James Bauer is putting on the finishing touches at the new Grace church. The seats have arrived. The windows are expected any day. Ladies Aid members are busy stitching the quilts as they are brought in. They meet Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. In putting into the new church an elegant, sweet - toned pipe organ, they have undertaken a grand work and should receive all the encouragement the members can give.

March 30, 1899; During last week the remaining windows were put in the new church. The editor having described them in another part of the paper, I will only say now that the church is enclosed by the artistic memorial windows, the beauty and symmetry of the interior of the building can the better be appreciated. All who have seen the front window of the stained glass in the new Grace Lutheran church admire their beauty. The group of figures in the large centre glass represent the Ascension of Christ. The figure of Luther is on the side to the right facing the pulpit. The colors and tints and general arrangement are most artistic and effective.

April 13, 1899; Another liberal contribution for the pulpit furniture in Grace church, was handed to (Rev. Rath) this week by Mrs. Lillie Barner, of Allentown, in memory of her husband and the late Victor D. Barner.

The altar decorations of the new Grace Lutheran church arrived on Friday. They are very beautiful. The white paint, ornamented with gold, gives a very rich effect. The figure of Christ graces the middle of elaborate panel and column work and looks down from near the top of the arch over the pulpit. When completed, the whole will be strikingly pretty and chaste.

April 20, 1899; A considerable number of members of the congregation volunteered on Monday in removing the ground for the foundation of the entrance to Grace Lutheran church. Horses and carts were used in hauling away the ground. Work is being pushed for the completion until the dedication on Whitsunday.

The building committee of Grace Lutheran church, being Dr. D. D. Fritch, George Desch and Theodore Barner, and organist Eugene Hunsberger will go to Quakertown on Saturday to inspect the new pipe organ built for the church by Mr. Durner. It is ready for shipment and will be brought here next week and placed in position as soon as possible.

April 27, 1899;The new church is almost finished!

The inspection of the new organ for Grace Lutheran church, by part of the building committee which was at Quakertown on Saturday, resulted in a very (good) report. The instrument has a very fine favorable tone and the latest and best arrangement for using it to advantage. It takes a week to take it apart and another to set up again in the new church. The parts will be brought here by teams.

May 4, 1899; The New Organ - A number of teams went to Quakertown on Monday and brought here from that place the parts of the organ for the new Grace Lutheran church. They made good time arriving here shortly after six o'clock in the afternoon and had no mishap on the way. It will take about a week to put the organ together. This is what the Quakertown Free Press says of the instrument: "The organ has twenty-one stops and six combination pedals to operate the raw stops and make various pleasing combinations. There are twenty-seven notes in the pedal organ and balanced swell pedal, which operates vertical shades of swell organ. The front pipes are all speaking and richly decorated in gold, silver and colors, while the casing is of gothic style and furnished in white and gold, to correspond with the pulpit and altar of the church. The organist's key desk is extended over ten feet from the organ so as to allow room for choir, the organist facing the congregation. The tone of the whole organ is pronounced by all the many visitors to the factory as very fine, and the workmanship throughout of the highest order."

We may add that the organ is being provided by the Ladies' Aid Society of the congregation. Through the indefatigable efforts of said body the expense of having this fine instrument built has been practically met, and great credit is due to their zeal and careful management of various functions and means to raise the amount.

The windows in our new church are admired by all who look at them. They will bear close inspection, and carefully examined they prove instructive. They are fine art windows, rich in colors, and effective in design.

And then, on May 8, 1899 the Allentown Morning Call announced:

A BEAUTIFUL NEW CHURCH

It Has Been Erected by Grace Lutheran Congregation, of Macungie, will be dedicated May 21. The Sacred edifice is a Credit to the Thriving Borough.

On Whitsunday, May 21, there will be dedicated in the borough of Macungie, Grace Lutheran Church, which has been erected by the congregation under the pastorate of Rev. Myron O. Rath, of this city. It is a beautiful edifice, a credit to the town, the community and the congregation which erected it. It seems as if the same spirit which prompted Solomon to erect beautiful temples to the glory of God had entered the hearts of these Macungie Lutherans. There is about this building something which impresses the observer with the idea that those who caused its erection were in ernest, strong in faith and steadfast of purpose. all this is portrayed in the solidity, simplicity, and beauty of the building. It is of Gothic design. There is no attempt at elaboration and that which is commonly called 'gingerbread', the bane in modern architecture, is entirely absent. Its wall and towers on the main street side are built of Siesholtzville granite, as is the entrance - wide, roomy, inviting opening into a tiled vestibule, 8 by 8 feet from which two doors lead into the main auditorium or church. Here there is room to seat 400 people comfortably. The furnishings are in oak and the wainscoting and hanger beams are of the same material. The Altar, pulpit and reading desk are in white and gold, contrasting strikingly with the remainder of the furnishings.

Mr. Geo. Mayer donated the Church bell in 1905---it being dedicated on Whitsunday of that year.

A parsonage was erected in 1926 on the site of the old Evangelical Free Hall. In 1935, extensive repairs were made to the church and the sanctuary was redecorated. A $6,000.00 renovation of the Chapel was undertaken during the 60th Anniversary of construction in 1953; and two years later, major repairs were made to the towers and stone facing of the church building. In 1958, the sanctuary underwent a major renovation, and new carpeting and Cathedral style lighting were installed.

In the next few years, additional property was purchased; and in 1963, work began on a new Christian education building. The cornerstone was laid in 1964, and on Trinity Sunday, the completed building was officially dedicated. Construction costs of the new addition was $65,000.00.

In 1969, the organ originally built by C.F. Durner of Quakertown during the 1898-99 construction, was replaced by the Fritzsche Organ Company of Allentown. This new organ was a gift of organist and choir director Lillian Strausser, commemorating her 40th anniversary of service to Grace, and as a memorial to her husband, Robert Strausser, and mother, Florence Fisher.

The adjoining apartment buildings were demolished in 1993, and the land converted for parking. Paving and landscaping of the parking area was completed during 1998.

In March of 1995, a stained glass window restoration project was begun by the Neff - Chattoe Company of Allentown. The project would ultimately span five years, involve more than five thousand hours of tedious, painstaking work, and cost more than $100,000.00 to complete. congregational members and friends paid for the work, contributing more than $82,000.00 in window sponsorships; with the main Ascension of Christ window restored using endowment funds from the Kratz Memorial Trust.

During 1997, other rehabilitation and beautification projects were begun in order to renew the church structure in anticipation of the 100th Anniversary of its construction in May 1999. A new heating system was installed, the exterior brick coat and granite walls were cleaned, the parking lot was paved and landscaped, the church building was repainted inside and out, and new carpeting was installed in the sanctuary. With completion of these last projects, and the rededication of the sanctuary, we look toward the new millennium with renewed hope, and strength in our commitment to the ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and we are reminded of the word Jacob in Genesis 28:17, read during the first dedication service in 1899; "How awe - inspiring is this place. This is nothing less then the house of God and the gate of heaven."


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