Zion Lutheran Church 4.14

The German Lutheran Congregation "on the Codorus" the first Lutheran congregation west of the Susquehanna River, was organized September 23, 1733, near what, eight years later, became the site of York. In 1781 it adopted a constitution, known as the "Kirchen Ordnung," which gives the name "Christ Church" to the place of worship. On May 2, 1804, it was incorporated as "The Minister, Elders and Church Wardens of the German Lutheran Congregation in and near the borough of York in the County of York in the State of Pennsylvania," which charter and corporate title is still held by its German branch worshiping in Christ Church, which is erected upon a site donated in 1743 by the Penn heirs.

In 1847, the Kirchen Ordnung was amended and the congregation was divided into a first or German branch and a second or English branch, each of which was to call and support its own minister, while the church building was to be used alternately.

On October 19, 1847, the English branch adopted a constitution, which, in spite of the subsequent incorporation, remained in force until 1905.

In 1850 it was decided to erect a new church for the English branch upon the graveyard on South Duke Street, and the new building was dedicated July 13, 1851, as Zion Church. This building was improved and remodeled in 1870, in 1887, in 1905 and in 1914.

The dual organization proved unwieldy and on August 31, 1860, the English Branch was incorporated as "The Minister, Elders and Wardens of the Second English Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of the Borough of York," which title it still bears. This charter was somewhat amended, June 5, 1905.

April 6, 1861, the two Church councils agreed upon a plan of division of the assets of the original corporation between its now independent German and English branches. In pursuance of this plan, the present church and parsonage was conveyed to the new corporation by deed dated December 31, 1863, and on the same date, a formal agreement was executed by the two corporations, under which each was given certain rights and privileges in the property of the other, in so far as public worship was concerned. In the furtherance of an informal agreement made November 5, 1889, these mutual rights were extinguished and the division line between the parsonage property of the old congregation and the property of the corporation was adjusted by a formal agreement executed November 11,1889.

In the late 1980's, as attendance was dwindling to 50 members, the church began discussion on relocating the church to a rural part of the community. On the last Sunday in November 1995 the last service was held in the building on South Duke Street. At that time the building was officially decommissioned as a church.

A site was selected along a stretch of Brandywine Lane in Manchester Township. The land was purchased from Paul and Florence Sprenkle.

During the transition period between moving from Duke Street to Brandywine Lane, Zion held services in the social room at Sprenkle Village Retirement community, which is only down the hill from Zion.

Ground Breaking was held in the rain in April 1995. This officially began construction on the new home of Zion Lutheran Church. The foundation was poored and so it began. There was no turning back now. The "Venture" was just beginning! Construction continued into the fall and winter months

Then came the huge task of moving Zion's 2,800 pipe, Pipe Organ. Several companies were called in to look at the project but only one accepted the risky move. The pipes were removed from the old sanctuary one at a time and moved to the new Zion. All of the pipes arrived at the new site in good condition and the $600,000 musical instrument was reassemble successfully.
The building was finished, it was the day all of Zion's members wanted to see, moving day! Zion's pews, altar, cross, stained glass windows as well as thousand of other items were removed from the downtown church and brought up and installed at the new Zion.

The congregation of Zion moved to their new building at 2215 Brandywine Lane, just in time to celebrate the Christmas of 1995.

On September 29, 2002 over 500 members and visitors of Zion, including Bishop Carol Hendrix of the Lower Susquahanna Synod of the ELCA, celebrated the amazing milestone of reaching 1000 members. The original "Venturers" who had the faith and foresight to bring Zion from Duke Street to Brandywine were remembered and thanked for all the work they did and continue to do.
Lead Pastor Rev Stanley Combs: revstan@comcast.net
Pastor Rev Dr Janyce Jorgensen: jjorgensen@zionyork.org
Parish Administrative Assistant: Curry Smith info@zionyork.org
Director of Christian Education: Terri Abruzzese tabruzzese@zionyork.org
Director of Joyful Noise Preschool: Pam Zimmerman joyfulnoise@zionyork.org
Director of Traditional Music: Jerry Mummert jmummert@zionyork.org
Director of Contemporary Music: Jeff Stabley jeffstabley@aol.com