Letter from J. P. Geortner to Peter Witteker, September 21, 1825

Description
Creators
Geortner, J. P., Author
Witteker, Peter
, Recipient
Media Type
Text
Item Type
Correspondence
Description
Handwritten letter from J. P. Geortner to Peter Witteker on September 21, 1825. Geortner states that the Missionary Committee is sending Jacob Senderling to the Lutheran congregation in Williamsburg Township. Wittaker is to provide arrangements for Senderling's stay and is to introduce him to members of the Lutheran community.
Notes
Some tears and holes in the letter.

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
Sept. 21, 1825
Dimensions
Width: 40.7 cm
Height: 24.7 cm
Subject(s)
Clergy
Missionaries
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Riverside Heights, Ont.)
Senderling, Jacob
Local identifier
S2020_2.4
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 Disc2
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]

Canajoharie

22 September

18 3/4

Mr Peter Witteker

Waddinton

St. Lawrence Cty

[2 Sept 1921}

[page2]

Canajoharie Sep. 21st 1825.

Dear friend/

Your letter dated August 4th was received in due time, and should have been answered sooner - But it came to hand a short time previous to the meeting of our Synod, and I wished to see what could be done for you before I wrote - The circumstances of your church were laid before the Ministerum in my report. and received due consideration from the missionary committee - They [illegible] appointed a young man to visit you, and who may perhaps be with you before you receive this - The Revd Jacob Senderling. will visit & remain with you a month if not longer - During that time you will be able to learn your strength and to determine what you will & can do - Your account is not discouraging - It only needs an active Minister among you to ensure success - If Mr Senderling pleases your people (which I doubt not he will) I think you will be able to gain his consent to remain among you - If. Matilda & Osnaburgh do as much as your place, you can not

[page 3]

fail of success - Our Lutheran friends here feel verry much interested in your spiritual wellfare and will not be unmindful of your wants - Our Synod has been ignorant of your condition or they [illegible] hence given you earlier proof of their good wishes & brotherly feeling - Do therefore not despair of reestablishing your church, in the downfall of which Mr Wigant has been instrumental - Should Mr Senderling not remain with you, you will be kind enough to inform me; and also of your condition - I will always. plead for [illegible] with the missionary committee; and [illegible] known your wants to our Lutheran clergy - Permit [^me^] again to express my grateful sense of your kindness to me whilst with you - I trust you will give Mr Senderling every assistance in your power, and make a strong effort to renew your religious blessings. of which you have been for a season deprived - Give my kind remembrance to your family and to Mr Cassleman's family -

Affectionatly your servant

in the Lord -

J. P. Geortner

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