Spruce Run Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church

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Spruce Run Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church
Spruce Run Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church, Spruce Run, NJ.jpg
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Spruce Run Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church
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Spruce Run Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church
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Spruce Run Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church
40°42′29″N74°55′22″W / 40.70806°N 74.92278°W / 40.70806; -74.92278 Coordinates: 40°42′29″N74°55′22″W / 40.70806°N 74.92278°W / 40.70806; -74.92278
Location442 West Hill Road
Glen Gardner, New Jersey
History
Founded1774 (1774)
DedicatedMarch 9, 1871

Spruce Run Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church, also known as Spruce Run Lutheran Church, is located at 442 West Hill Road in the Spruce Run section of Lebanon Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The congregation is a member of the New Jersey Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Contents

The congregation was organized in 1774 by thirteen members who worshiped in the barn of Frederick Fritts in the summer, and in his home during the winter. Initially, services were conducted every four weeks, and were exclusively in German. [1] [2]

In 1861, Spruce Run Lutheran Church was the site of the first convention of the New Jersey Synod of churches. The new Synod met there again in 1868. [3]

Church building

The first church building was built in 1800. Of frame construction from yellow poplar, the church was known as the “red church.” This was a Union church, combining Reformed and Lutheran congregations. [1]

In 1835 a new stone church was built to the left of the old frame church.

The cornerstone for the present church building was laid on July 30, 1870, and the church was dedicated on March 9, 1871.

Cemetery

Spruce Run Cemetery Spruce Run Cemetery, Spruce Run, NJ.jpg
Spruce Run Cemetery

The original cemetery is located across the road, featuring “God’s Acre” at the top of the entrance gate. It is the oldest church cemetery in the township. [4]

Clergy

The church’s first pastor was Reverend William Graf, who began serving the congregation in 1774. His formal call as pastor began in July 1775; he served until 1800, as part of a circuit of six other area Lutheran churches. [3]

On September 2, 1834, the church called its own pastor, Rev. Robert Collyer. [5] From that time on the church maintained complete independence from the other circuit churches. [3]

List of clergy

The church has had 22 pastors, comprising 23 pastoral tenures (Rev. Steven Traver served twice, from 1900-1905 and 1927-1947). [6]

Pastor NameTenure StartTenure End
William Graf17751808
Ernest Lewis Hazelius18081815
David Hendricks18161822
Henry Pohlman18221833
Richard Collier18331860
Philip A. Strobel18601864
David Kline18641877
Chester H. Traver18771885
Valentine F. Bolton18851895
Charles Bickle18951900
Stephen Traver19001905
John I. Hummer19061909
Stanley Haverly19091921
Eugene F. Sherman19211927
Stephen Traver19271947
George R. Koehler19501959
Folkers V. Freimanis19601965
Richard R. Shenton19661973
Elmer Eiche19731980
Galen Tinder19811990
Gary L. Salmon19901997
Gary V. Ettlemyer19982019
Christopher L. Halverson2020Present

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References

  1. 1 2 "Spruce Run Lutheran".
  2. Snell, James P. (1881). "Spruce Run Lutheran Church". History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, New Jersey. Everts & Peck. pp. 452–453.
  3. 1 2 3 "Zion Lutheran Church - 225 Years". zionoldwick.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-09.
  4. "History". Spruce Run Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church.
  5. Chambers, Theodore Frelinghuysen (1895). "Spruce Run Lutheran Church". The Early Germans of New Jersey: Their History, Churches, and Genealogies. Dover Printing Company. pp. 221–222.
  6. An Historical Retrospect of Lebanon Township, New Jersey. Lebanon Township Historical Society. 1999. p. 75.