Early History:

Church Founded in 1897

Trinity Lutheran church, Point Township, was organized on December 11, 1896, by the Rev. A. N. Warner, who was then pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Northumberland.  A building committee was formed and a one-half acre parcel of land was donated by Benjamin & Lavinia Bidelspach, “to be used as a place of religious worship, and the church building thereon shall at all times be opened for Sunday School”.  On July 11, 1897, the first Dedication of the building and grounds was held.

The building of the church cost $1,400.00 and all but $535 dollars was paid by that date. The architect was W. W. Neuer.

Note that the church was built on the ground that had a small “Stone School House” were members assembled each study for bible study since May 15, 1892.  Sometimes the offering was only 9 cents in those days, but this group was the nucleus for the Sunday School when Trinity was completed in 1897.

Trinity and Grace Lutheran Churches in Point Township were united with the “mother church” St. John’s, and later separated from St. Johns in 1947 with their own charter from the North Branch Conference of the Susquehanna Synod and became the Point Township Parish.

In 1940, the congregation enlarged the worship space, with upstairs and downstairs classrooms for Sunday School.  In addition a new heat furnace, new pews, an altar, bible, lectern, candle and worship vestments were added to the chancel.  The total costs of the upgrade were $3,500.00.

The Rededication of the Church was held on October 26, 1941.  The program stated, “The new facilities and more beautiful worship auditorium should serve the congregation for many years.” 

In 1950, 75 feet of land was donated to the church by Mr & Mrs Clyde Starook for the parking lot.  In 1951 the hot air system was upgraded to an oil burner for heating the facility. 

Pastors of the Early Years

Rev. A.N. Warner               1888—1898
Rev. C. R. Botsford, DD      1898—1906
Rev. H. C. Michael, DD       1906—1916
Rev. I.S. Sassaman, DD     1916—1925
Rev. John B. Kniseley,DD   1925—1934
Rev. Russel J. Crouse STM 1935—1944
Rev. Paul Curfman              1944—1947
Rev. Joseph Janson            1948—1950
Rev.  Luther A. Gotwald, Jr. 1950—1957

Trinity Lutheran celebrated its 60th Anniversary in 1957 with a special service of Homecoming for friends and family of Trinity. 

In 1963, a well was dug and the first indoor restrooms were installed.  The remainder of the basement was cemented and a new kitchen and new classroom area was created in 1969 and 1970.

Pastors of the Later Years

Rev. Harry Miller, Interim      1957—1959
Rev. R. Eugene Smith          1959—1972
Rev. Alan J. Kieffer              1972—1973
Rev. David W. Clark             1973—1976
Rev. John O. Ballantine        1976—1989
Rev. R. Bensen, Interim        1990—1991
Rev. Roy A. Gutshall            1992—1997

In 1991, Grace, Point Township, petitioned the Synod to dissolve the Point Township Parish.  Dissolution was granted effective January 1992 and Trinity became an independent church with Rev. Gutshall as its own pastor for the first time.

In August of 1992, the church held a special Homecoming Service to celebrate 95 years of ministry in Point Township.

 In 1993 the Fellowship Hall was added in the basement. In 1996 the organ was purchased.  And in 1997, the ladies were authorized to spend $200 on kitchen equipment, including two roasters for the 100 year anniversary of the church in 1997.

Recent Pastors

Rev. Elinor Allison             1997—2008
Rev. Mary Peterhensel      2009—2010
Rev. Constantine L. Havir  2010—20??    

The future is still unwritten…