OUR HISTORY:
The New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Jerusalem, Rockland Township, now 27 Lyons Road, Fleetwood, is located three miles south of Lyons. It is a daughter congregation of Christ, Dryville. Tradition says the village of New Jerusalem was named after the church and not the church after the village. Evidence shows the village was named before the congregation was organized.
In 1840 a difference of opinion arose in Christ, Dryville, over the services of the pastor at the time, who was elderly and loved by the older people. The younger people desired a younger pastor. Those loyal to the elder pastor withdrew and formed the congregation at New Jerusalem. The congregation was also formed as a convenience for the people in the neighborhood and also to establish a union church. In a document of ten articles, provision is made for the Reformed "neighbors" to use the church which was to be built.
April 20, 1840, the cornerstone of the first church was laid on a half acre of ground donated to the Lutheran congregation by Andrew Schiffert. Later two acres were purchased from the Herbein farm for cemetery purposes. On October 3 and 4, 1840, the church was dedicated and in 1858 a pipe organ was secured. By 1916 it was felt that the old church was no longer adequate to meet the needs of the growing congregation and active Sunday School. On May 16, 1916, an agreement was signed by the two congregations to build a new church. The new cornerstone was laid on August 6, 1916, and the new church building was dedicated on August 17, 1917.
On December 1, 2002, a new handicap-accessible addition was dedicated inspired by the National Disabilities Association's drive to encourage churches to become more accessible to the disabled. A central feature of the addition being an elevator, the building also contains a large narthex, office space for the pastor and secretary, two classrooms and a handicap-accessible restroom.
Click to download the document below to read New Jerusalem's 175th Anniversary History booklet.
In 1840 a difference of opinion arose in Christ, Dryville, over the services of the pastor at the time, who was elderly and loved by the older people. The younger people desired a younger pastor. Those loyal to the elder pastor withdrew and formed the congregation at New Jerusalem. The congregation was also formed as a convenience for the people in the neighborhood and also to establish a union church. In a document of ten articles, provision is made for the Reformed "neighbors" to use the church which was to be built.
April 20, 1840, the cornerstone of the first church was laid on a half acre of ground donated to the Lutheran congregation by Andrew Schiffert. Later two acres were purchased from the Herbein farm for cemetery purposes. On October 3 and 4, 1840, the church was dedicated and in 1858 a pipe organ was secured. By 1916 it was felt that the old church was no longer adequate to meet the needs of the growing congregation and active Sunday School. On May 16, 1916, an agreement was signed by the two congregations to build a new church. The new cornerstone was laid on August 6, 1916, and the new church building was dedicated on August 17, 1917.
On December 1, 2002, a new handicap-accessible addition was dedicated inspired by the National Disabilities Association's drive to encourage churches to become more accessible to the disabled. A central feature of the addition being an elevator, the building also contains a large narthex, office space for the pastor and secretary, two classrooms and a handicap-accessible restroom.
Click to download the document below to read New Jerusalem's 175th Anniversary History booklet.
175th_anniversary_history_booklet.docx | |
File Size: | 906 kb |
File Type: | docx |