The First Reformed Church

The 1736 Log Church: The first church building constructed in Lancaster.

The Reformed congregation constructed their first church building of logs. The dedication service was June 20, 1736. The service was led by the congregaton’s first pastor, Johann Jacob Hoch (Hoke).

This log church building stood on the same lot where the present building is located. It was on the back part of the lot, near the corner of Grant and Christian Streets.

German-speaking immigrants constructed the log meetinghouse, included the first church elders: Heinrich Bostler, Felix Müller, John Gorner, and Peter Doerr. Five years later, in 1741, James Hamilton deeded this property to the congregation as a permanent gift.

The church member used logs from trees which were probably on the lot itself. It is likely that the logs were squared hickory logs. The building held approximately 100 people. Men and women sat separately. Church officers sat on a front bench. The belfry was added later.e

This was the first church building constructed in Lancaster. The Lutherans had begun to construct their building two years earlier (1734), but it was not consecrated until 1738. The Lutherans held services here earlier than the Reformed, at an unknown locaton. But the Reformed Church finished their building first.