Page 65 - WPA Book
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Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
CHURCHES
The Lutheran Church
Page Two
to which denomination he belonged. The Rev. Dr. John Brown of the Reformed church was pastor from 1799 to
1850. Regular Lutheran services are not being held at present, though the congregation retains all its property
rights and privileges. The following pastors served the Lutheran congregation prior to 1853:
Gotlieb Deshler Adolph Spindle
Daniel Huffman (?) George Reimensnyder
John G. Butler (Botler) Jacob Stirewalt
Peter Ahl Jesse Hoover
D.F. Brittle J.J. Reimensnyder
Peter Schickel J.J. Suman
McGaheysville is called by the name of the village or the Peaked Mountain Church (Massanutten). Here, prior
to 1750, German people of the Lutheran and Reformed faiths established homes, and, as early as 1763, built a
church. This, too, was shared by both congregations, Lutheran and Reformed. The first church was built of logs
and in it was conducted a school taught by Gottfried Christian Luthmanns Loendart. In 1768, the second church
was dedicated by the Rev. John Schwarbach. The third church, a large frame building, with high ceiling,
extended gallery and high pulpit was dedicated on May 27, 1804, by Christian Streit, Lutheran minister, and the
Rev. John Brown, Reformed minister. This church, with some alteration, is yet standing, and is used as a place
of worship by the Lutherans in the community, the Reformed congregation having withdrawn and building the
Brown Memorial on an adjoining lot.
The records of this church were written in German until 1825 and are said to be the most complete of any old
church in the county; and the agreement entered into by the two congregations on October 31, 1769, is one of
the most interesting documents of its kind anywhere to be found.
Raders (Roders), near Timberville, Virginia, organized by Lutherans and Reformed in 1762, in a log house; was
replaced in 1806; and been Lutheran since 1881. (Dr. J.W. Wayland, History of Rockingham County). Thirty
years passed before a minister came to take up the work of Peter Muhlenberg in Woodstock. This was the Rev.
Paul Henkel, who worked with energy in all this part of the Valley as well as in North Carolina and in
Tennessee. His home was at New Market, Virginia. He was a faithful and untiring servant of God and His
church for many years. His first sermon was preached on Monday, December 2, 1782; and on Wednesday, the
fourth, he preached for the first time in Old Raders Church.
John Foltz was a pastor of much usefulness in Rockingham County. He was licensed by the Ministerism in May
1796, as a candidate for St. Peters, Raders, Powells Fort, and Brooks Gap. He was ordained June 16, 1802, and
spent his ministerial life, ending in 1810, in various congregations in Rockingham and Shenandoah Counties.
St. Peter’s (in Shenandoah Parish), four miles north of Elkton, Virginia, is the continuation of the Naked Creek
Church and Old St. Peter’s west of the river. The Naked Creek Church was founded in 1733. In 1747, it was
moved west of the river and given the name of St. Peter’s. Under the lid of the pulpit was found the name of the
builder of the pulpit, Christian Konrad, and the names of the building committee: John Mueller, Piederfisch,
John Ziegler, Frederick Ziegler, and Gerhard Koyte. Among the pastors were: Christian Stover, Samuel
Godfrey, Ziegler, Emanuel Rudebush, and Gerhard Mueller. (From Gen. J.E. Roller). In early years, and from
1875 to 1925, it was connected with the Tennessee Synod. Before the Civil War and possibly until 1875, it was
connected with the Virginia Synod and is so connected today.
Bethany, near Pleasant Valley, six miles south of Harrisonburg, called St. Jacob’s or Spader’s Church was
organized about 1843 by the Rev. Henry Wetzel. The congregation has two church buildings, both frame.
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CHURCHES
The Lutheran Church
Page Two
to which denomination he belonged. The Rev. Dr. John Brown of the Reformed church was pastor from 1799 to
1850. Regular Lutheran services are not being held at present, though the congregation retains all its property
rights and privileges. The following pastors served the Lutheran congregation prior to 1853:
Gotlieb Deshler Adolph Spindle
Daniel Huffman (?) George Reimensnyder
John G. Butler (Botler) Jacob Stirewalt
Peter Ahl Jesse Hoover
D.F. Brittle J.J. Reimensnyder
Peter Schickel J.J. Suman
McGaheysville is called by the name of the village or the Peaked Mountain Church (Massanutten). Here, prior
to 1750, German people of the Lutheran and Reformed faiths established homes, and, as early as 1763, built a
church. This, too, was shared by both congregations, Lutheran and Reformed. The first church was built of logs
and in it was conducted a school taught by Gottfried Christian Luthmanns Loendart. In 1768, the second church
was dedicated by the Rev. John Schwarbach. The third church, a large frame building, with high ceiling,
extended gallery and high pulpit was dedicated on May 27, 1804, by Christian Streit, Lutheran minister, and the
Rev. John Brown, Reformed minister. This church, with some alteration, is yet standing, and is used as a place
of worship by the Lutherans in the community, the Reformed congregation having withdrawn and building the
Brown Memorial on an adjoining lot.
The records of this church were written in German until 1825 and are said to be the most complete of any old
church in the county; and the agreement entered into by the two congregations on October 31, 1769, is one of
the most interesting documents of its kind anywhere to be found.
Raders (Roders), near Timberville, Virginia, organized by Lutherans and Reformed in 1762, in a log house; was
replaced in 1806; and been Lutheran since 1881. (Dr. J.W. Wayland, History of Rockingham County). Thirty
years passed before a minister came to take up the work of Peter Muhlenberg in Woodstock. This was the Rev.
Paul Henkel, who worked with energy in all this part of the Valley as well as in North Carolina and in
Tennessee. His home was at New Market, Virginia. He was a faithful and untiring servant of God and His
church for many years. His first sermon was preached on Monday, December 2, 1782; and on Wednesday, the
fourth, he preached for the first time in Old Raders Church.
John Foltz was a pastor of much usefulness in Rockingham County. He was licensed by the Ministerism in May
1796, as a candidate for St. Peters, Raders, Powells Fort, and Brooks Gap. He was ordained June 16, 1802, and
spent his ministerial life, ending in 1810, in various congregations in Rockingham and Shenandoah Counties.
St. Peter’s (in Shenandoah Parish), four miles north of Elkton, Virginia, is the continuation of the Naked Creek
Church and Old St. Peter’s west of the river. The Naked Creek Church was founded in 1733. In 1747, it was
moved west of the river and given the name of St. Peter’s. Under the lid of the pulpit was found the name of the
builder of the pulpit, Christian Konrad, and the names of the building committee: John Mueller, Piederfisch,
John Ziegler, Frederick Ziegler, and Gerhard Koyte. Among the pastors were: Christian Stover, Samuel
Godfrey, Ziegler, Emanuel Rudebush, and Gerhard Mueller. (From Gen. J.E. Roller). In early years, and from
1875 to 1925, it was connected with the Tennessee Synod. Before the Civil War and possibly until 1875, it was
connected with the Virginia Synod and is so connected today.
Bethany, near Pleasant Valley, six miles south of Harrisonburg, called St. Jacob’s or Spader’s Church was
organized about 1843 by the Rev. Henry Wetzel. The congregation has two church buildings, both frame.
Page 64 of 482
