Letter from J. P. Geortner to Peter Wittaker, August 14, 1825

Description
Creators
Geortner, John P., Author
Wittaker, Peter
, Recipient
Media Type
Text
Item Type
Correspondence
Description
Handwritten letter from J. P. Geortner to Peter Wittaker on August 14, 1825. Geortner informs Wittaker that missionary Jacob Senderling is being sent to the Lutherans in Williamsburg Township. Wittaker is to provide arrangements for Senderling's stay and is to introduce him to members of the Lutheran community.
Notes
Paper bares watermark : A H HUBBARD / 1822

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Riverside Heights, Ontario is a member of the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. It began in the late 1700s as a congregation of settlers in Williamsburg Township, Upper Canada. In 1789 a church building was erected on the Center Commons Lot in the first Concession of Williamsburg Township. The church was originally named Zion Lutheran Church, but the name was quickly changed to St. George’s Church. The first pastor was Reverend Samuel Schwerdtfeger.

In 1814, St. George’s Church was taken over by the Church of England under the direction of Rev. John Gunther Weagant, a previous pastor of the Lutheran Church. The Lutherans were barred from St. George’s Church and were forced to hold services in the homes of congregation members. In 1826, Rev. Herman Hayunga accepted the call as pastor to the Lutherans in Williamsburg Township. He quickly formed two congregations in the area – St. John’s Church in Riverside, and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Williamsburg.

For several years Hayunga petitioned the government to deed St. George’s Church to the Lutheran congregation. When the government denied his request Hayunga demanded that the congregation receive financial compensation for the loss of property. In 1846 the government granted the Lutheran church the sum of 500 Canadian pounds.

In 1833 the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. John was consecrated by Rev. Hayunga. The new wooden frame building stood on a lot donated by church member Conrad Frymire. In 1863 a larger, brick church was built on the same lot. In 1956 the St. Lawrence Seaway Project forced the relocation of the Church. On December 7, 1958, the new St. John’s Lutheran Church was completed at Riverside Heights.

Transcribed by Shelby Campbell in 2015.
Date of Original
Aug. 14, 1825
Dimensions
Width: 39 cm
Height: 32 cm
Subject(s)
Clergy
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Riverside Heights, Ont.)
Senderling, Jacob
Local identifier
S2020_2.3
Collection
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Riverside Heights ON fonds
Language of Item
English
Geographic Coverage
  • Canajoharie
    New York, United States
    Latitude: 42.90563 Longitude: -74.57181
Copyright Statement
Public domain: Copyright has expired according to Canadian law. No restrictions on use.
Recommended Citation
Wilfrid Laurier University Archives & Special Collections
Reproduction Notes
Text S100 Disc1
Contact
Wilfrid Laurier University Library
Email:libarch@wlu.ca
Website:
https://library.wlu.ca/archives

Agency street/mail address:

75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON Canada N2L 3C5

Full Text

[page 1]

{We suppose that the Date of this letter is wrong-}

{6'7'9 1/4

4'18'2 3/4

1'9'6 1/2}

{1'14'4 3/4

17'3 3/4}

{6-7-9 1/4}

Mr Peter Wittaker

Williamsburgh

Dundas Cty (UC)

Rev. Mr Senderling

4'14-5 3/4

3'9

4'18 2 3/4

[page 2]

Canajoharie August 14th 1825

My dear friend

The bearer is the Rev. Jacob Senderling, a regularly ordained minister, and member of the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerum of the state of New-York & adjacent parts- Agreable to the request you made in you letter to me, he has been appointed a missionary to visit your place & to preach to the dispersed Lutherans who are still attatched to the religion of their fathers-You will receive & entirtain him with [^the^] same kindness which I (tho' a stranger) received at your hands - God grant that his visit to you may not be in vain; Could [^you^] make arrangements to keep him among you it would afford much pleasure to the well=wishes to our Lutheran Zion in this Country I need not ask of you to facilitate the [illegible] of Mr Senderlings visit- You will introduce him to your Lutheran friends, & countenance, him, by your influence, against the frowns of those, who may put it their interest to oppose him-

Yours in Christian fellowship

[signed]

J. P. Geortner

Mr Peter Wittaker

Powered by / Alimenté par VITA Toolkit
Privacy Policy