nurturing faith and community
The beginnings (1891 - 1916)
In 1890, our church started meeting in North York (then known as Mayersville) in a biblical setting of a stable located on Court and 6th Avenue by a number of families looking for a place to practice their faith in their own community and to avoid a long trek into York.
On February 28, 1891, an organizational meeting of St. Peter's Lutheran Church was held in the schoolhouse at our new meeting place which stood on the corner of Court and 7th Avenue (at that time called Ocean Avenue). The next month Reverend Monroe J. Alleman was installed as our Pastor #1. Also, our first council of four (4) deacons were elected and installed. Our first Holy Communion was celebrated with thirteen (13) communicants.
On August 7, 1892, Reverend Theodore Bahn Thomas was installed as our Pastor #2. Later that month, on August 27, groundbreaking for our first church building on the corner of George Street and W. 8th Avenue occurred. The first cornerstone then was laid on October 30.
Our first building was completed nearly a year later. Dedication Day occurred on July 9, 1893. It was celebrated with a march from the schoolhouse to the new building on George Street and W. 8th Avenue. One week later, on July 16, the first communion was celebrated with 52 communicants.
Over the next several years, a couple of pastors came and went. Pastor Thomas left by 1904, with Reverend Joseph Baer Baker installed as our Pastor #3 in May 1904. Just two years later, Reverend David Clark Burnite was installed as our Pastor #4 on September 23, 1906. His tenure lasted for several years before Reverend Charles Lewis Ritter was installed as our Pastor #5 on December 1, 1912.
On January 18, 1913, the Lichtenberger family gave their land for our parsonage on the corner of George Street and Dewey Avenue. Pastor Ritter and his family first occupied the parsonage on October 1.
On February 28, 1891, an organizational meeting of St. Peter's Lutheran Church was held in the schoolhouse at our new meeting place which stood on the corner of Court and 7th Avenue (at that time called Ocean Avenue). The next month Reverend Monroe J. Alleman was installed as our Pastor #1. Also, our first council of four (4) deacons were elected and installed. Our first Holy Communion was celebrated with thirteen (13) communicants.
On August 7, 1892, Reverend Theodore Bahn Thomas was installed as our Pastor #2. Later that month, on August 27, groundbreaking for our first church building on the corner of George Street and W. 8th Avenue occurred. The first cornerstone then was laid on October 30.
Our first building was completed nearly a year later. Dedication Day occurred on July 9, 1893. It was celebrated with a march from the schoolhouse to the new building on George Street and W. 8th Avenue. One week later, on July 16, the first communion was celebrated with 52 communicants.
Over the next several years, a couple of pastors came and went. Pastor Thomas left by 1904, with Reverend Joseph Baer Baker installed as our Pastor #3 in May 1904. Just two years later, Reverend David Clark Burnite was installed as our Pastor #4 on September 23, 1906. His tenure lasted for several years before Reverend Charles Lewis Ritter was installed as our Pastor #5 on December 1, 1912.
On January 18, 1913, the Lichtenberger family gave their land for our parsonage on the corner of George Street and Dewey Avenue. Pastor Ritter and his family first occupied the parsonage on October 1.
