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| The church which would become St. James was formed by German Lutherans in 1789. We are located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and have a congregation of approximately 3,079 members. |  St. James' Nave |
Please use the map below to help locate our church. We would welcome your visit |
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A History of St. James Lutheran Church An ELCA Congregation 1789 - German Lutherans form the church which becomes St. James. 1812 - Cornerstone laid for new union church. 1826 - Pastor Herbst helps found the Seminary. 1827 - Pastor Herbst helps found the Prepatory School for Seminary. 1832 - Prep school becomes Pennsylvania College. 1835 - English speaking portion separates to form Christ Lutheran Church. 1840 - Church adopts the name St. James. - St. James Sunday School organized. 1841 - A church choir is formed. 1848 - St. James builds its own church on present site. 1850 - Arendtsville and Flohrs separate from Gettysburg charge. 1862 - Pastor Essick confirms Jennie Wade. 1863 - Church is used as a hospital during the battle of Gettysburg. 1880 - Church has 526 confirmed members. 1882 - Women's Missionary Society is formally organized. - Mite Society is formally organized. 1887 - Church renovated inside and out. 1902 - First pipe organ installed. 1906 - Electric lights installed. 1909 - Phone installed in parsonage. - Sixty-five new members received at Easter. - Pastor Baker begins publishing "The Messenger." 1911 - Old church razed; building of new church begins. 1912 - New church dedicated. - Men's bible class formed. 1917 - Social rooms opened to soldiers at Camp Colt. 1918 - Women's bible class becomes largest class. 1922 - Using grape juice instead of wine for communion. 1925 - New Austin pipe organ installed. 1928 - Fire severely damages church edifice. 1929 - Sunday School addition added to rebuilt church. 1933 - Depression years - staff takes 10% cut in pay. 1935 - Eleven hundred and twenty-four persons attend Rally Day. 1936 - Junior Choir formed. 1937 - Pastor first allowed to wear clerical gown during worship. 1939 - St. James sponsors Girl Scout troop. 1943 - First Christmas Candlelight Service held. 1944 - Senior High Choir is formed. 1945 - 50-50 Sunday School Class is organized. 1953 - Luther League replaces Christian Endeavor. 1955 - Heating system converted to gas with installation of gas burners. 1956 - Assistant pastor called on part time basis. 1957 - Church begins operating on a budget. - Two morning services introduced. 1958 - Lutheran Church Women of St. James organized. 1960 - First Christmas Eve service for children held. - Annual Vacation Church School is established. 1961 - Full time position of Associate Pastor created. 1962 - Pastor Bishop becomes associate pastor. 1967 - St. James hires co-pastors, Frederick R. Foltz & E. Edward Keyser, to start a team ministry. 1969 - Fire severely damages St. James Church. 1970 - Cherub Choir formed. - Rebuilt church is dedicated. 1975 - Minister of Music created as full time position. 1976 - Communion being celebrated monthly. 1978 - Youth Coordinator created as full time position. 1979 - Martin Luther Choir organized. 1980 - Lutheran pastor and Roman Catholic priest conduct worship service together. 1981 - Koinonia Choir replaces High School Choir. 1982 - Gloria Unger becomes first woman to serve as lay president of church council. 1983 - Pastors Foltz and Keyser honored for 15 years of team ministry. - Cherub Choir becomes Cherub Alleluia Choir. 1984 - Picture directory published and distributed. - First Stephen ministry class begins training. - Carol Hendrix is ordained at St. James. 1985 - Begin using both grape juice and wine as communion elements. 1986 - Elevator installed for the benefit of the handicapped and elderly. 1987 - Computer system is installed and activated. - Baptismal and Marriage Enrichment classes started. 1988 - Paid staff of seven working together in harmony and close cooperation. 1989 - Pastors Gregory and Carol Fryer called to serve St. James. - Weekly communions started at alternating services. - Committee working on a proposal for a Child Care Center to be instituted at St. James. - Pastor Bishop's son wins Nobel prize. 1990 - Bishop Edmiston served as a staff member at St. James for one week. - Celebrated 15th year of Timothy Braband's ministry of music at St. James. - St. James votes to start a Child Care program. 1991 - St. James votes to allow children three years old to take communion. - Vacation Church School is held jointly by St. James, St. Francis Xavier, Christ Lutheran, and Prince of Peace Episcopal churches. - St. James votes to buy the three adjoining properties on York Street at a cost of $190,451.84. St. James takes immediate possession of the Mary Hess property at 123 York Street to provide space for youth programs. 1992 - Updated Constitution and By-laws adopted. Major changes: 1. Providesfor a youth member of Council. 2. Church Council may not spend more than $5,000 on a project without congregation approval. - Hess property renovated and named the Keyser-Foltz Youth House. - Saturday evening worship begins. 1993 - Karl Kolumban takes $200 to St. James in India. - Cathy Kunkel retires as Church Treasurer after serving 16 years. 1994 - St. James begins helping with the community soup kitchen. - Child Care begins an after school program. - New Anniversary date is established. Since the first recorded date showing the existence of our church is 1802, St. James has voted to recognize 1802 as the year St. James was founded. 1995 - Adult Choir departs from BWI Airport for 15 day concert and sightseeing tour in Luxembourg, Germany and Austria. -St. James votes to call Lisa Leber, 1995 graduate of the local seminary, as associate pastor. 1996 - Social Ministry begins Fifth Sunday Servant event. - Congregation Members vote to accept the recommendations of the Development Committee: Demolish the parish house and construct a 12,000 sq. ft. addition to the church. 1997 - New Construction begins with the demolition of the parish house. - Congregation begins worshiping at the seminary chapel. 1998 - New Church offices are occupied. - Congregation begins worshiping again at St. James church. 2000 - Pastor Leber gave her farewell sermon. - The congregation voted to extend a three year call to Pastor Judith A. Cobb to serve St. James as associate pastor. - Average attendance at worship services was 655. 2001 - The St. James website is published. 2002 - Pastor Frederick A. Foltz and Pastor E. Edward Keyser retire after 35 years of service to St. James. - The Rev. Judith A. Cobb becomes transition pastor of St. James. 2003 - The Rev. Kathryn Vitalis Hoffman becomes interim pastor. - The Rev. Samuel W. Schmitthenner becomes interim pastor. - The Rev. E. Gordon Ross and The Rev. Charles A. Snyder, Jr. become interim pastors. 2004 - Senior Pastor Michael E. Allwein and Diaconal Minister of Health Barbara K. Schmitthenner installed at St. James. 2005 - Associate Pastor Lois K. Van Orden installed. 2007 - The Rev. Lois Van Orden resigns as associate pastor and The Rev. Robert N. Maddox, Jr. becomes interim associate pastor. 2008 - Associate Pastor Jeanette D. Leisk called in June. |
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