Spruce Run Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church, also known as Spruce Run Lutheran Church, is located at 442 West Hill Road in the Spruce Run section of Lebanon Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The congregation is a member of the New Jersey Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

The congregation was organized in 1774 by thirteen members who worshiped in the barn of Frederick Fritts in the summer, and in his home during the winter. Initially, services were conducted every four weeks, and were exclusively in German.

In 1861, Spruce Run Lutheran Church was the site of the first convention of the New Jersey Synod of churches. The new Synod met there again in 1868.

Church building The first church building was built in 1800. Of frame construction from yellow poplar, the church was known as the “red church.” This was a Union church, combining Reformed and Lutheran congregations.

In 1835 a new stone church was built to the left of the old frame church.

The cornerstone for the present church building was laid on July 30, 1870, and the church was dedicated on March 9, 1871.

Cemetery

The original cemetery is located across the road, featuring “God’s Acre” at the top of the entrance gate. It is the oldest church cemetery in the township.

Clergy The church’s first pastor was Reverend William Graf, who began serving the congregation in 1774. His formal call as pastor began in July 1775; he served until 1800, as part of a circuit of six other area Lutheran churches.

On September 2, 1834, the church called its own pastor, Rev. Robert Collyer. From that time on the church maintained complete independence from the other circuit churches.

List of clergy The church has had 22 pastors, comprising 23 pastoral tenures (Rev. Steven Traver served twice, from 1900-1905 and 1927-1947). Pastor Name Tenure Start Tenure End William Graf 1775 1808 Ernest Lewis Hazelius 1808 1815 David Hendricks 1816 1822 Henry Pohlman 1822 1833 Richard Collier 1833 1860 Philip A. Strobel 1860 1864 David Kline 1864 1877 Chester H. Traver 1877 1885 Valentine F. Bolton 1885 1895 Charles Bickle 1895 1900 Stephen Traver 1900 1905 John I. Hummer 1906 1909 Stanley Haverly 1909 1921 Eugene F. Sherman 1921 1927 Stephen Traver 1927 1947 George R. Koehler 1950 1959 Folkers V. Freimanis 1960 1965 Richard R. Shenton 1966 1973 Elmer Eiche 1973 1980 Galen Tinder 1981 1990 Gary L. Salmon 1990 1997 Gary V. Ettlemyer 1998 2019 Christopher L. Halverson 2020 Present

References

External links

Spruce Run Lutheran Church official website