History - The Beginning of
the St. Thomas Congregation
In this area, as far back as 1813, pioneer
Christian families worshipped together in homes where men of
great faith used the German Bibles and Hymnbooks to worship
God. Occasionally, a minister was present.
The Rev. Peter Rizer organized the
Davidsville Lutheran Church in 1839 and held meetings in the
Livingstone Schoolhouse, located on a hill overlooking
Seanor. Later, a small log building was erected along the
township road leading from the Ridge to Faust's Mill along
Shade Creek. This building served as a Union Church.
An old record book, the pages faded over
the years, yet written in beautiful German script, tells of
the organization (in 1847) of the Lutheran Congregation in
Paint Township. There were 22 communing members. The book
records the baptisms of Christian Kaltenbaugh, John Nagel,
John Ott and others.
Thomas Lohr, for whom the church was
named, was born in June of 1849 and baptized on August 18,
1850. On this same day, the Hooversville Lutheran Church was
dedicated.
On August 4, 1873, the Rev. J.A. Nuner,
of the Scalp Level Charge, held services in the Flat Rock
Schoolhouse and administered baptisms. It was evident that a
place for Lutheran worship was needed here. Rev. Nuner
organized the "Ridge Congregation" on April
11, 1874. Twelve members were confirmed that day,
bringing the number of charter members of this congregation
to twenty-nine. On April 12, a Sunday afternoon, the first
communion service was held and all 29 charter members
communed. The first offering was $2.78.
On Saturday, June 13, a meeting was
held to consider the possibility of a building. Trustees and
building committee members were elected.
The following
information is taken from History of the Alleghany
Evangelical Lutheran Synod vol. 2, by Rev. W.H. Bruce
Carney Printed for the Synod by The Lutheran Publication
Society, Philadelphia, PA Ó 1918 by The Lutheran
Publication Society pp. 575-579.
The St. Thomas
Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Paint Township, Somerset
County, was organized in the Flatrock schoolhouse, April 11,
1874, by Rev. J.A. Nuer, with twenty-nine charter members.
This organization,
known at first as the "Ridge Congregation,"
belonging to the Scalp Level charge, decided to build a new
churh of which the corner-stone was laid August 15, 1874.
Rev. H. Seifert preached in German from I Peter 2:6, and
Rev. J. K. Bricker in English from Ephesians 2:20. Rev.
David Stufft, being present, also assisted in the service.
The ceremony of the corner-stone laying was read by the
pastor, J.A. Nuner.
This church was
dedicated October 11, 1874. The dedicatory sermon in English
was preached by J.K. Bricker, from Colossians 1:18, and by
David Stufft in German. The dedicatory ceremony was read by
the pastor, J.A. Nuner. Notwithstanding the hard times, the
church was dedicated free of debt, costing $1000.
Brother Thomas Lohr,
after whom the church has been named, donated the ground for
this church, and was a very liberal contributor to its
erection. Brother Lohr, up to the time of his death, was one
of the leading spirits in the church. He was a staunch
Lutheran, faithful to his Church, loyal to his Synod, and
above all a faithful and devout Christian.
What has been said
about Brother Lohr as a worker and faithful Christian is
equally applicable to all the charter members upon whom the
prosperity of the church depended; for the church prospered
and grew in numbers as it was served by the following
pastors:
Rev. J.A. Nuner
1874-1875
Rev. David Stufft
1875-1885
Rev. E.M. Hubler
1885-1887
Rev. J.E. Lerch
1887-1890
Rev. A.B. Erhard
1890-1894
Rev. H.C. Salem
1894-1899
Rev. G.D. Gross
1899-1902
During Rev. Gross’
ministry the Scalp Level charge was divided and a new charge
formed by taking St. Thomas, Davidsville and Benscreek
congregations together, since known as the Davidsville
charge and served by pastors from there. During Rev.
Wachter’s ministry, 1902-1907, this congregation decided
to build a new and larger building, which was badly needed.
Charles Naugle and Mahlon Berkey, deacons, and Josiah Naugle
and Henry C. Kaltenbaugh, elders constituted the council;
and Benjamin Naugle, John T. Lohr and Henry E. Ott were
selected as building committee.
The ground for the new
church was donated by the widow and heirs of David Naugle,
Sr., deceased. The corner-stone was laid May 24, 1903, by
the pastor, C.M. Wachter. The church was dedicated August
30, by C.M. Wachter, assisted by Dr. C.B. King preaching the
morning sermon and by Rev. H.D. Hoover preaching the evening
semon. This church was dedicated free of debt, and cost
$3000. This church is a plank structure, weather-boarded and
plastered, with yellow pine ceiling, slate roof with a tower
and bell and oak furniture, size 36 by 50 feet. Brother
Benjamin Naugle was the contractor and builder. He has been
the faithful secretary of the congregation for many years.
The financial success of the congregation was due to the
co-operation of the council and the building committee with
his efforts, so that all obligations were promptly met.
Vernon and Clarence
Naugle, sons of Henry D. Naugle, are at present students for
the ministry.
A Sunday school was
organized in 1880, with Hiram Lohr as superintendent,
numbering about thirty, and open six months. John T. Lohr
and John C. Kaltenbaugh were elected for a few years as
superintendents.
In 1887, H.D. Naugle
was elected superintendent and continued in office every
year since but three [book was written in 1917]. The Sunday
school has grown from mere babe to mature man. When he first
accepted office, few fathers and mothers of the congregation
took any interest in Sunday School, but in a short time
every father and mother became a member of the school, which
also made it easy to have school open the year around.
Through his untiring efforts and the splendid co-operation
of all the members, the school has become in many respects
one of the best in the county.
