Archived love and compassion!
We have been around since 1771 so we decided to freeze time through tons of pictures, worship elements and lots of documents.
In the corner of the oldest part of our building you will find wonderful memories and history depicting those who have passed through here before us.
Come and see what makes us Trinity.
History
The Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colebrook located in Manheim Pennsylvania has evolved from roots that were planted deep in the history of the country. The congregation dates back to 1771, five years before the country became an independent nation. The current church structure was built in 1842. The church is surrounded by a cemetery. There is at least one existing tombstone that indicates the burial of a Joseph Porter in 1779. There is also a tombstone indicating the burial of a veteran of the American
Revolutionary War.
Revolutionary War.
A Church with many names
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colebrook was previously known as Mount Joy Church, St. Peter 's Church, Londonderry Church, Colebrook Church, the Hill Church and the Mountain Church or die Berg Kirche. Some people still call it the Hill Church.
The Beginnings...
Henry Melchoir Muhlenburg, the father of Lutheranism in our country, came to the area and began
organizing congregations. It is believed that Trinity Colebrook partof Lutheran Worship at Elizabethtown was founded by Muhlenburg around September 1771.
Johannes Derr sequestered Johann Christoph Heyne, a pewterer in Lancaster, to create the communion ware. The flagon is now in Yale University's Art Gallery. Muhlenberg's diaries state that in 1772 a delegate from a small congregation only seven miles from Manheim hd requested the occassional services of his son, Friedrich Muhlenburg. His son, at that time was Pastor of congregations in Schaefferstown, Brickerville, Manheim and Penryn. The name of the congregation was Mondschein (Moonshine in German) but thought to also be a German English dialect now called Pennnsylvania German for Mount Joy. It is unknown if his
services were ever provided.
On February 10, 1772 Michael Wolf, Frederick Keener, John Bretz and John Derr, trustees and wardens of the German Lutheran Congregation in the township of Mount Joy paid ten shillings to Curtis Grubb for an acre of land "on the great road leading from Lancaster to Moor's Mill" on which a church was already erected. That roadbed ran directly in front of the current church building. The new church built in 1842 is the current older section of the building we have today. On December 22, 1898 an additional tract of land, one acre and eleven perches, was bought from the executors of Josiah Funk. In 1912 a bell tower was added to the church. Shortly thereafter, a charter was secured and on May 25, 1915 the trustees deeded the land and improvements thereon to the corporation and the congregation became a legal entity.
A central aisle was added about 1913. About 1924 two outhouses and an outdoor shed were built. A major improvement program begun in 1957 provided indoor plumbing and restroom facilities. It included the excavation for a basement providing for a Christian education room, kitchen interior of the sanctuary consisted of new lighting fixtures, plastering the walls, refinishing the floors and painting the woodwork. Formal dedication of the improvements was held on September 16, 1960. The facilities were improved again in 1973 by adding drapes. A year later, a cloakroom was added to the Narthex. I 1976, the end of the
building facing the cemetery was extended to add two rooms and a small office. Later in 1977 the sanctuary underwent additional changes with the addition of a dossal cloth, a hanging wooden cross, and a display window case for church memorabilia. The interior sanctuary was repainted to complete the renovation
process. In 1980's a parish house was built for educational ministry, social functions and administrative purposes.
Additional improvements consisted of new insulated vinyl siding, the bell tower, paved parking areas, and new oil heating system. In 1995 a memorial children's playground was established along with a memorial fence from contributed funds. The Nave of the church was painted and the social room of the Parish House was painted and re-carpeted. In 2006 a narthex, pastor's study and administrative office was built to connect the church and the Parish house. Today we are extremely proud of our heritage. Join us to learn more of our history.
organizing congregations. It is believed that Trinity Colebrook partof Lutheran Worship at Elizabethtown was founded by Muhlenburg around September 1771.
Johannes Derr sequestered Johann Christoph Heyne, a pewterer in Lancaster, to create the communion ware. The flagon is now in Yale University's Art Gallery. Muhlenberg's diaries state that in 1772 a delegate from a small congregation only seven miles from Manheim hd requested the occassional services of his son, Friedrich Muhlenburg. His son, at that time was Pastor of congregations in Schaefferstown, Brickerville, Manheim and Penryn. The name of the congregation was Mondschein (Moonshine in German) but thought to also be a German English dialect now called Pennnsylvania German for Mount Joy. It is unknown if his
services were ever provided.
On February 10, 1772 Michael Wolf, Frederick Keener, John Bretz and John Derr, trustees and wardens of the German Lutheran Congregation in the township of Mount Joy paid ten shillings to Curtis Grubb for an acre of land "on the great road leading from Lancaster to Moor's Mill" on which a church was already erected. That roadbed ran directly in front of the current church building. The new church built in 1842 is the current older section of the building we have today. On December 22, 1898 an additional tract of land, one acre and eleven perches, was bought from the executors of Josiah Funk. In 1912 a bell tower was added to the church. Shortly thereafter, a charter was secured and on May 25, 1915 the trustees deeded the land and improvements thereon to the corporation and the congregation became a legal entity.
A central aisle was added about 1913. About 1924 two outhouses and an outdoor shed were built. A major improvement program begun in 1957 provided indoor plumbing and restroom facilities. It included the excavation for a basement providing for a Christian education room, kitchen interior of the sanctuary consisted of new lighting fixtures, plastering the walls, refinishing the floors and painting the woodwork. Formal dedication of the improvements was held on September 16, 1960. The facilities were improved again in 1973 by adding drapes. A year later, a cloakroom was added to the Narthex. I 1976, the end of the
building facing the cemetery was extended to add two rooms and a small office. Later in 1977 the sanctuary underwent additional changes with the addition of a dossal cloth, a hanging wooden cross, and a display window case for church memorabilia. The interior sanctuary was repainted to complete the renovation
process. In 1980's a parish house was built for educational ministry, social functions and administrative purposes.
Additional improvements consisted of new insulated vinyl siding, the bell tower, paved parking areas, and new oil heating system. In 1995 a memorial children's playground was established along with a memorial fence from contributed funds. The Nave of the church was painted and the social room of the Parish House was painted and re-carpeted. In 2006 a narthex, pastor's study and administrative office was built to connect the church and the Parish house. Today we are extremely proud of our heritage. Join us to learn more of our history.
