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Wenrich Church
On the left, the Wenrich Church in 1928. Built in
1857, remodeled in 1892. On the right, the old parochial mission house
on Wenrich farm. Used for school and church purposes from 1765 till 1794
when the first log church built
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With the Forefathers of Wenrich's Church, by Nevin W. Moyer, 1922
Sent to America by Queene Anne of England, transported to
New York in ten small ships by Governor Robert Hunter of New York in 1710, then,
to pay for their passage, sent up the Hudson River and put to work at the
impossible task of trying to make tar and pitch out of the wrong kind of pine
trees, they first experienced the thrill of the adventurous journey to the new
world, then the discomfiture of failing in their appointed task, and the
consequent displeasure of the Governor who was responsible. The disgruntled
Governor now bade them shift for themselves. In their extremity they appealed to
friendly Indians and obtained permission to settle on lands at Schoharie, New
York. Here their sojourn was but temporary, because the displeased Governor gave
their lands to speculators in Albany, who told the Germans to buy the lands or
get out.
Governor William Keith of Pennsylvania was more hospitable
and invited them to settle in his state. Whereupon, in 1723, thirty-three
families floated down the Susquehanna River as far as the mouth of Swatara
Creek, up the valley of which they journeyed till they crossed over into the
valley of Tulpehocken Creek, where they founded settlements. With great industry
they cleared the and built homes and within a year had also built a Union
Church, since both Lutheran and Reformed churches were represented by these
people.
From this time on the colonists made progress but not
without many privations and hardships. Eventually they obtained title to their
lands and as their numbers increased their children and grandchildren began to
spread to nearby regions.
Among this group pf sturdy pioneers were the early Wenrichs
and one of this ambitious younger crowd was Francis Wenrich, who bought the
Running Pump Farm of 201 1/2 acres in 1784m near what is now known as
Linglestown in Dauphin County. He provided two and three-quarters acres of land
for the building of a church in which the United congregations held their
services. Then this union church combined with members of the Presbyterian and
Episcopal denominations to found a new Union Church. For this croup a new church
house of logs was built in 1794. These
early churches were, of course, followed by more modern edifices from time to
time.
Information was printed in The Wenrich Family
Bulletin, Number 5, 1928
Transcribed and Copyright by
Robert L. Maley
