Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Lebanon, Mercer Co., PA

About the year 1830, a number of Pennsylvania German families took up the land in French Creek township, Mercer County. Some of them were Lutherans, others Reformed. Their first Minister was Rev. [Philip] Zeiser, a pastor of the Reformed Church; but, "the people were ashamed of his conduct," and his ministry was fruitless. For a long time then they had no services except when they were visited by a traveling missionary. On the 10th day of September, 1845, they were visited by Rev. Henry Ziegler, the first Missionary President of the Pittsburgh Synod. He found about eighteen families of Lutherans in the community, a number of whom were anxious for the establishment of a church of their faith. He preached for them in what was known as the German school-house, which was purchased by the people for religious purposes, and was used as a place of worship until they felt able to build a church. His first services were attended by about forty people. In February of the following year he organized a catechetical class of twenty-two members. To show how thoroughly he did his catechetical work, it need only be said that at the first meeting of the class "he lectured from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with one hour intermission." On March 15, 1846, he organized a Sunday-school with Henry Schreckengost as the German superintendent, and George Royer as the English superintendent. On Good Friday, April 10, 1846, a church council was elected, consisting of Henry Schreckengost, elder, and Henry Fetterolff, deacon. The church was regularly organized November 29, 1847 with the following persons:

Henry Schreckengost
Mrs. Elizabeth Schreckengost
George Moak, Sr.
Abraham Grove
Mrs. Elizabeth Grove
Jacob Evans
Mrs. Catherine Evans
Catherine McCandry
Peter Blatt
Mrs. Rachel Blatt
Magdalena Demar
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Evans
Mary Evans
Christian Furst
Mrs. Barbara Furst
Henry Fetterolff
Mrs. Magdalena Fetterolff
Samuel Furst
Mrs. Polly Furst
Sarah Lindsay
George Overmoyer
Abraham Moak
Frederick Overmoyer
Elizabeth Shaeffer
Jonas Blatt
____ Lindsay

Six of these persons were received by confirmation. The congregation was made the centre of one of the Home Mission fields of the Pittsburgh Synod and was served by the Rev. Ziegler until 1848. On the 27th day of January, 1856, during the pastorate of Rev. John A. Nuner, a neat frame church was dedicated. The land on which this church stands was deeded to the congregation in 1861 by Mr. and Mrs. James A. Leech. The early days of this congregation were days of great prosperity. During the pastorate of Rev. Isaac Brenneman there were large accessions to the church, and the membership reached 110. There was also a large and flourishing Sunday-school. During recent years the church has been greatly reduced by deaths and removals until it is scarcely more than a shadow of its former self. When the General Council was formed in 1867 the congregation was carried by its pastor into that movement. There were quite a number of people, however, who were not satisfied with the new order of things, and, when Rev. Isaiah Irvine of the General Synod, visited them by special request, in October, 1887, he found the people about equally divided on the synodical question. He advised them to announce a congregational meeting, take a vote on the question and let the majority rule. This was done and a majority of the voters decided in favor of the General Synod. The church was then made a part of the Venango charge, and has been served in this way ever since.

The following men have served the church as pastors: Rev. Henry Ziegler, 1845-1848; Rev. Henry Weicksell, 1848-1851; Rev. Elihu Rathbun, 1852-1854; Rev. John A. Nuner, 1855-1859; Rev. Isaiah J. Delo (supply), 1860; Rev. Isaac Brenneman, 1860-1865; Rev. Duncan M. Kemerer 1866-1867. (During the time the congregation was in the fellowship of the General Council it was served by pastors Long, Swingle, McKee and Bartholomew): Rev. S. W. Young, 1888-1893, Rev. J. H. C. Manifold, 1894-1895; Rev. J. K. Hilty, 1895-1898; Rev. Samuel L. Hershiser, 1901-1902; Rev. J. M. Wonders, 1902 - _____. 

History of the Pittsburgh Synod, 1904, pages 440-442.

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