Records indicate a small congregation was meeting for worship as early as 1725-1730. The first official recognition occurred on October 18, 1734, in a letter from Reverend John Philip Boehm, founder of the German Reformed Church in the United States to the Synods of North and South Holland.
Thomas and Richard Penn (sons of William Penn) were true and absolute proprietors and governors in chief of the province of Pennsylvania. All land purchases had to be obtained through their land office. In 1681 Penn got the land as a payment of debt because the king had borrowed a lot of money from Penn’s father to support a war. The survey and land grant were made in 1738 and quit rent paid by the congregation until 1762 when the deed was issued, and a full title obtained.
There is some confusion on two issues: who was the 1st pastor and how many pastors there were in the history of the church.
The 1st appears to be Kasper Steber (Stoever). He was having a quarrel with the congregations because they didn’t want to give him the salary, they promised him. They are said to promise something, but when he preaches and applies the truth too strongly, they become rude and refuse to pay him.
The 2nd pastor (1734) was Peter Miller who could not bring the people over to his opinion. He quit the ministry and became an oil miller. He later became a monk-Brother Jabez at the Cloister in Ephrata-also known as the Dunkers.
The next minister was John Henry Goetschy in 1735. He was referred to as the “Boy Pastor” as he was only 17 years old. A day after he and his father who was an ordained reformed pastor arrived in the US, his father died and young John took over for him.
The 1st school master at Great Swamp was J. Ch. Seyfert in 1739. Although Goetschy mentions a schoolhouse had been built in 1736 at Great Swamp, it is possible that the church and schoolhouse were one and the same.
Faber Sr. served twice, the 1st time he left to serve a church in Lancaster. He said he didn't like the city life and returned to Great Swamp. The church in Lancaster issued a call 3 times for him to return which he did. He again decided to return to Great Swamp so the church in Lancaster offered him 225 lbs. lawful money, 60 bushels of wheat and rye, use of a parsonage, fuel , and the hay in the meadow to remain.
He declined and returned to Great Swamp. After returning, he was halfway through a sermon about death when he was stricken and died 1 ½ hours later and was buried under the alter. His son Faber Jr. also served here twice. Like his father he was conducting a funeral service, took suddenly ill, was carried away and died 10 days later. He was buried beside his father under the chancel. Over the tomb the inscription, “approach lightly, depart softly.”
The 1st members were of German Heritage, commonly called Pennsylvania Dutch. German was spoken and over the years it changed enough that the Pennsylvania Dutch had their own language. The 1st German Settlers arrived in America on October 6, 1683. They were mostly Mennonites and were fleeing religious persecution. They settled in a newly formed community called Germantown. This was planned by William Penn as an experience in tolerance. The port of Rotterdam was the gateway for all German immigrants.
The citizens of Germantown were the 1st in America to denounce slavery as an evil. During the late 1600's and early 1700's the English Government made special efforts to attract German immigrants. Swiss Mennonites also started to arrive in Pennsylvania. The Swiss Government provided free passage down the Rhine on the condition they never return.
Our church history indicates we were officially recognized in 1734. But, our first burial occurred in 1764. That was the Swiss preacher, Kitweiler. Earlier burials were probably located on member's farms.
