The following history comes from Pastors and People: Congregations, vol. 1, by Charles Glatfelter, published in 1980:
This Lutheran congregation in Tulpehocken township may have been founded in the 1740s. It was located near the center of the Manor of Andulhea (to use one of a number of spellings), which was granted to Richard Penn in 1732 and surveyed in 1733. (Lancaster County Returns, originals, BLR).
The earliest reference to a Lutheran congregation in this area is contained in a survey of 166 acres returned for John Wolfart on March 22, 1748, in which there is the following statement: "Four acres of which being assigned and laid out for the Use of a Church (contiguous to other 2 1/3a. part of the said Jacob Hoffman's land, laid out for the same Use)." (Ibid.; Copied Survey D-84, p22, BLR). This is the land on which the Atolheo churches have been built.
There are about 150 baptisms and marriages in the register of Casper Stoever which are marked with the word "Atolheo". They were performed between the years 1746 and 1757. Presumably there was a congregation in existence during those years and he was its pastor. In 1757, when Nicholas Kurtz became pastor of Atolheo, he began a register for the "Evangelical Lutheran Church here on the Beaver Creek".
A second church was built in 1765. Pastors have been Caspar Stoever (c1746-1757), Nicholas Kurtz (1757-1770) and Emanuel Schultze (1771-1809). The congregation is now Altalaha Lutheran church, Main Street, Rohrersburg.
Beth Albert adds:
The Altalaha church (also know as Altohoe and the Beaver Creek church) is located on Main street in Rehrersburg, Pa (Berks County). It is located at the western end of Rehrersburg. You can't miss it!
The name Altohoe was given to the region comprised in the tract of land that was laid out for Richard Penn on the northwest branch of the Swahataweo creek and pertains particularly to the Lutheran congregration established in that region about 1746 to 1750,now known as Altalaha Lutheran Church. There was given to the congregration a tract of four acres out of the northwestern portion of John Wolfart's tract of 166 acres.
According to the manor, the Lutheran church at Rehrersburg was about 2 1/2 miles from the northern boundry of the manor, almost 1 3/4 miles from the eastern boundry, and 2 miles from the southern boundry, and 1 1/2 miles from the western boundry. It's quite likely the church was organized about 1746-1750 for in the private records of Pastor John Caspar Stoever we find credited to Altohoe between years 1746-1763 the following ministerical acts: marriages-41; baptisms-106.
A church book for the purposes of recording therein the baptisms by the pastors of what is now the Altalaha Lutheran congregration was purchased and the records began in 1757.Rev. Johann Nicolaus Kurtz was the first pastor. In 1765 Henry Holzman granted to the trustees: Christian Moyer, Ulrich Fisher, Jacob Reed, and Thomas Kurr 2 and 1/2 acres for school purposes. Sebastian Brosius added 60 rods and Godfrey Roehrer 38 rods in 1786 four more acres and later still more land was added until there was about 13 acres. In 1765, a two story meeting house of logs, which stood 10 feet west of the present building, was completed for worship.
The old log church demolished in 1810 and the material was used for the building of a rear residence near the center of town. The present church edifice, built of brick, was erected in 1808. Each member was to pay 1/3 of his subscription on Jan. 1,1808; 1/3 when the church was under roof, and last third upon the day of dedication. In addition, the members further promised to haul stones and building material and work for a certain number of days. The members of the reformed church to have a voice in the church, to have their own pastor and to preach and baptize, and have communion as often as they wished except when the Lutherans have service. The reformed were furthermore to have the right to use the cemetery.
But the records do not show that the reformed worshipped regularly in this church.the members of the building committee were: Daniel Hoffman, Thomas Kurr, Jacob Artzt, John Emerick, Gottfried Riehl, Martin Walborn, and Henry Walborn. George Malsberger had the charge of the masons and John Weber of the carpenters. The first steeple, which was built in 1849, was removed in 1882 and another built. A fine bell was added to the church property at this time.
The church was enlarged and remodeled in 1886 at an expense of $8,000.00. The basement was consecrated on 10-31, 1886 and the church consecrated on May 14, 1887. Some 30 yrs. after the church was built(about 1795) a parochial school was established and a two room house of logs was built for the purpose. The congregration had the same pastors as Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church on the Tulpehocken.
From the book: Lutherans in Berks County (1723-1923).
The Rev. Nelson Sulloff adds:
Dr. Charles Glatfelter, in Pastors and People, Vol. 1 (1980), p. 238, has this on the Atolheo (note his spelling) congregation:
"This Lutheran congregation in Tulpehocken may have been founded in the 1740s. It was located near the center of the Manor of Andulhea (to use one of a number of spellings), which was granted to Richard Penn in 1732.... The earliest reference to a Lutheran congregation in this area...is on March 22, 1748...four acres...laid out for the use of a Church....Jacob Hoffman's land.... This is the land on which the Atolheo churches have been built." (He gives his source as "Copy of Survey D-84, p. 22, BLR.")
He continues, "There are about 150 baptisms and marriages in the register of Caspar Stoever which are marked with the word, 'Atolheo.' They were performed between the years 1746 and 1757. Presumably there was a congregation in existence during those years and he was its pastor. In 1757, when Nicholas Kurtz became pastor of Atolheo, he began a register for the 'Evangelical Lutheran Church here on the Beaver Creek.' A second church was built in 1765.
Pastors included: Casper Stoever (c. 1746-1757), Nicholas Kurtz (1757-1770), and Emanuel Schultze (1771-1809).
The congregation is now Altalaha Lutheran church, Main street, Rehrersburg."
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