Trinity Church Of Lewisburg
Our Story:
During our nation’s infancy in the late 1700’s when Thomas Jefferson was in the last year of his presidency, immigrants were crossing the ocean in increasing numbers. Many of the immigrants coming to America were German and were looking for fertile and productive valleys, such as those in Ohio, to settle in. Some of these German immigrants came as far as Preble County Ohio. Following his service in the Revolutionary War, Johannes Samuel Mau, became a schoolmaster in the Pennsylvania territory. He was a member of the Zion Lutheran church located in Greensburg, PA. Through the encouragement of his pastor, Anton Luetge, Johannes Mau applied for a preaching license. After being examined by the president of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, Dr. Henry Muhlenberg, Johannes Mau received his preaching license in the year 1789. It was then in 1795 that Mau was sent to minister in the state of Ohio. In 1806, Mau and his wife purchased some land in Jackson township in western Montgomery county. From there he traveled for the next 20 years in all directions, teaching school, preaching the Gospel, and calling his German brethren into the church family. Among those who answered Pastor Mau’s call to the Lord was a group of men and women in northern Preble county who organized St. John’s Lutheran and Reformed Church in the year 1808. At this time Ohio had been a state for only five years. This first log cabin church was located on the grounds of what is now Roselawn Cemetery in ewisburg, Ohio. Though this group developed two different church traditions over the years, they continued to share this log cabin church until 1846. After deciding that both congregations had outgrown the log cabin building, they chose to reorganize themselves into separate churches with separate church buildings. The Reformed church moved out first, while the Lutheran church purchased land across the street and built a new brick church which was dedicated as Salem Lutheran Church. As times changed, dissatisfaction grew between church members, as well as with the denominational administration. Conflict arose with whether to continue German service styles with a catechetical instruction steeped in confessional orthodoxy embracing an excluding attitude of non-Lutherans or to embrace the English service styles which would include evening services, fellowshipping with other non-Lutheran congregations, and holding revivals instead of catechetical instruction. Inevitably a group split off from the Salem Lutheran Church. In 1849 this group also organized in Lewisburg and formed the Euphemia Lutheran Church. In 1893, due to its expanding congregation, the Euphemia Church decided to relocate. They settled on Main Street, close to the Reformed Church. Here a new building was built, and the church being renamed was given the name of Memorial Lutheran Church. This building is now a residential home. Although the bell tower has long since disappeared a little of the stained glass is still visible in the upper windows of this residential home. Then after co-existing in Lewisburg for 70 years, Salem and Memorial Lutheran churches, being under the leadership of Pastors J.E. Stomberger and Hiram Peters, merged the two congregations. This merger officially took place on February 6, 1919. The name of the new church body became Trinity Lutheran Church. This combined congregation erected a new building on Commerce Street. This building is still being used today as a house of worship for the current congregation of Trinity Church. In 2002, a multi-purpose building was added to the existing house of worship. This building has been a central hub of activity for the community. It has accommodated entertainment, the LOGOS program, FAST-BRAC program, a community senior citizen exercise program, a mid-weekly free community dinner program call Neighbor Night, a local polling place during elections, as well as providing a safe haven for the nearby public school when an emergency situation arises. There are many other events and occasions for which Trinity Church has accommodated the community through the years and by God’s grace Trinity will continue to be available for the Lewisburg community indefinitely. At present the Trinity Church congregation has taken action to withdraw from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America denomination for the purpose of becoming an independent non-denominational worship center. The ELCA voted in April of 2021 and agreed to allow the disaffiliation of Trinity Church to proceed and be finalized. Trinity Church will endeavor to move forward as an independent and autonomous congregation with no denominational affiliation. However, Trinity Church will not fully abandon the rich heritage found in its Lutheran roots which it has continually built upon for over 200 years. After a council and congregational vote in August of 2021 it was decided that the new name of the church will be Trinity Church of Lewisburg. Here at Trinity, we have remained true to our over 200-year-old roots by solidly building upon our previous Lutheran foundation. Today as you meet members of the Trinity congregation you will discover that we continue to celebrate our preceding tradition and heritage. You will encounter a strong encouragement for fellowship with all people regardless of their previous, current, or non-existent religious affiliation. We exhibit a healthy respect for our Lord through our “all ages” appropriate Worship services. We maintain our commitment of bringing people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, beginning with the community of Lewisburg and going out to the uttermost parts of the world.
