The following information has been graciously sent to me by  Betty Riter, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer of the Springfield Township Historical Society. Over the past couple of years or more Betty has so kindly sent several pieces of information which have proved to be invaluable to my research. I would like to display pictures of these churches, if anyone has pictures or would like to add additional information please contact me. I am particularly interested in older prints. If any one has questions regarding the information, please contact Betty at www.bgriter@msn.com , or contact the Springfield Township Historical Society. Thank You Betty, for your contributions and support.

 

                                    2170 Route 212    Tax Parcel  42-012-100 

                        TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH  History:

1739.  The land on which it sets is part of the 270 acres on Cooks Creek granted by patent on October 3, 1739 to Christian Schuck/Shug from the Honorable and Late Proprietary, Wm. Penn (Patent Book A Vol. 9 Page 117).  Schug came from the Palatinate, Germany on August 27, 1739.  The original patent was held by James Mason. 

Prior to 1745, members of the German Lutheran and Reformed congregations of Springfield Union Church met in a log house that stood near the site of the present day church.  The log house served the community as both church and schoolhouse.  The church began under the leadership of Christian Schuck and J. C. Wertz and was first known as the congregation of “Schugenhause” or "Schuckenhausen,"meaning "Schug's house.”  Over the years the congregation has had many names: Springfield is the historical name, Springfield Reformed, Springfield German Reformed, Springfield Evangelical Reformed, Trinity Springfield Evangelical Reformed, and Springfield Reformed.  Today it is known as Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Springfield.

1763.   March 12.  Christian Shuck and his wife Anna Catherina Shuck sold 1 acre and 56 perches for 5 shillings to the trustees of the Lutheran and Reformed Congregations (Deed Book 28 Page 291).  The church is in possession of the original deed.  The trustees were a six member church group consisting of Nicholas Weyerbach, weaver; Philip Corel, yeoman (freeman, landowner) farmer; Nicholas Hess, yeoman; Elias Beidleman (1707-1781), cooper (barrel maker); Peter Athens, yeoman; and Nicholas Mensch, cordwainer (shoemaker).  Building commenced on a stone church that was completed in 1776.  This was the first stone building.  The building was shared jointly by the congregations.  Springfield Trinity Church was a union congregation forming a joint German Lutheran and Reformed Church.  The church practiced the separation of male and female worshipers until 1923. 

1793.  A mileage marker, dated 1793, is on the front lawn of the parsonage.  The marker indicates that it is 44 M to P (miles to Philadelphia via the Bethlehem Pike).

1796.  August 10.  A deed of Nicholas Hess, last surviving trustee of Springfield Church, gave in trust the land to the Congregations forever.  1 acre 56 perches.  Given for consideration of 5 shillings (Deed Book No. 35 Page 382). 

1796.  August 13.  A tract of land consisting of 96 perches was gifted for 5 shillings to the Union Church by Conrad Hess and his wife Anna Dorothy Frankenfield (Deed Book No. 35 Page 378) in order to enlarge the church cemetery "…beginning at a stone N 84 E 18.5 perches to a stone, thence N 17 W 13.1 perches to a small Hickory, thence S 84 W 5.7 perches to the place of beginning."  This land was a portion of the 134 acres and 60 perches of land Conrad Hess purchased from Philip Frankenfield in 1792.

Note: A shilling is a silver coin of Great Britain equal to 12 pence.  Pence is the British plural for penny.  A perch is a length of measure equal to 5 yards. 

1809.  A two manual pipe organ was installed in the church.  According to Virgil Elmer Gross (1903-1990), the organ was one of those kind where you stood there and you pumped it.  The church hired a young boy from the congregation for a quarter a service and the boy pumped himself silly.  Some of the older members of the church recall that there were two boys who would spell each other off and they would alternate because you could only go for awhile, especially when the organist was a really good organist and opened everything up and all your energy went up through the pipes.  Otherwise the boy was prostrated on the pump, and the organ collapsed its sound.  My father, James Edward Gross (1905-1953), was one of the boys hired to pump the bellows for the organ, and he told how he would pump real fast and then run out of steam and the organ would wheeze.  He was so tired he would lie on the floor. 

1816.  The church was rebuilt in 1816.

1872.  A new building was erected in 1872.  Three sides of the building are constructed from locally quarried fieldstone.  The original cornerstone from the 1763 building is imbedded in the right front facade of the building.  Elaborately carved lintels are above the door and windows.  The inside balcony is the only remainder from the interior of the old building.  The building has a slate gable roof.  The wood steeple also has a slate roof.  At one time, a wrought iron weather-vane in the figure of a cock surmounted the cross on top of the church.  The cock was symbolic of the denial of St. Peter.  The weather-vane was put in place upon the building of the church in 1763, and remained there until taken down in 1816.  .

1897.  March 20.  Pleasant Valley Church, Sunday at 2:15 p. m., by Reverend Henry Wentz. 

1900.  June 2.  Springfield Church, Sunday at 2 p. m., services by Reverend A. P. Horn.  English.  S. W. T. 

1900.  August 4.  Pleasant Valley Church, Sunday 10 a.m., services by Reverend Henry Wentz. 

1900.  June 2.  Memorial Services.  Corporal Weaver Camp, Sons of Veterans of Hellertown, assisted by the Sunday Schools and the local patriotic orders and a large concourse of people, appropriately observed Memorial Day at Springfield Church and at this place, in the forenoon where F. O. Storouse was the orator of the exercises.  S. W. T.

1901.  May 18.  Sunday at 9.30 a. m., by Reverend A. P. Horn.  Communion.  S. W. T.

1901.  July 27.  The Springfield Union Sunday School will hold their annual picnic in Milton T. Hess’ grove, about a fourth of a mile west of the Springfield Church, Saturday, August 10.  S. W. T. 

1906.  July 11.  The Springfield Union Sunday School will hold their annual picnic on Saturday August 22, in Milton T. Hess’ grove, near the church.  Springtown Weekly Times.

Mrs. Hartford Benner was organist at the church. 

1920s.  Picture of exterior of Trinity Lutheran Church in Pleasant Valley.  Picture of church interior with Reverend Bieber on a chair in front of the altar.  Two pictures showing the choir and congregation in Pleasant Valley Church.

1947-48.  The church was renovated.

1970's.  A brick extension was built onto the right rear portion of the church for use as classrooms.  Old communion ware (Britannia Ware) of pewter and silver is still in use during church services today.

1998.  One hundred and fifty year old trees of Norway hard rock maple were cut down in front of the church.  One was rotten