Reflections of Trinity’s Past
“Our 138th Year” 1871 – 2009
This is the firts article in a series of Trinity’s heritage and Jacob Albright's
founding of the Evangelical Association
which is known today as the Evangelical Congregational Denomination.
Trinity has had many new members attending, so in order for a better understanding of its heritage, the Historical Committee of Trinity, comprised of Ron Reedy and Aaron Fry have decided to put in writing “Reflections of Trinity’s Past.” These articles will appear in the Trinity Trumpeter beginning with this issue and continuing every other month throughout the year. Our first article will give insight on the history of Jacob Albright’s ministry which led to the founding of the Evangelical Association.
Although the Evangelical Congregational Church began its official existence in 1923, we must go back through the United Evangelical Church which was formed in 1895. Then beyond that to the days of the Evangelical Association which held its first General Conference in 1816 that present day Trinity was founded. The story begins with a man whom God used; his name being Jacob Albright.
His parents were German immigrants who came with thousands of others from the Palatinate region of Germany to escape political and religious oppression in Europe. The great migration took place between 1727 and 1776. Many found a friendly welcome in the colony of William Penn. These German people soon occupied a large section of the colony from Philadelphia north and west to the Allegheny Mountains. In some sections there were strong churches bearing the names of Lutheran, Reformed, Mennonite and Brethren. Many of the communities were without pastors or churches and many of the churches were served by men unqualified. This resulted in a spiritual decay that was appalling.
Into such a world, Jacob was born May 1, 1759 and was christened in the Lutheran Church of New Hanover, near Pottstown. Here the Albrights lived and farmed. Jacob was catechized in the faith of the Lutheran Church. As he grew into manhood, on three occasions he served in the Revolutionary War effort. At the age of 26 he married Catherine Cope and moved to a fertile farm in Lancaster County, in the area of Hinkletown, where in addition to farming, Albright supplemented his income by making clay tiles.
Albright was awakened to a spiritual need when dysentery took the lives of several of his young children in the year 1790. A Godly reformed Preacher, Rev. Anthony Hautz, was called to conduct the funerals and it was during this preaching that Albright was brought under conviction. It is evidenced that Albright was more favorably impressed with the evangelical type of Christianity in contrast to the formal type of his own denomination.
Though a Lutheran by confirmation, he was awakened to his spiritual needs and later converted in a Methodist prayer meeting. He continued his membership in the Bergstrasse Lutheran Church near Ephrata, but his Church had no prayer services and no leader to provide spiritual nourishment.
The Methodist soon observed his ability of public speaking and elected him an Exhorter. The services of the Methodists were conducted in the English language. Albright had a burning desire to preach to his fellow Pennsylvania Germans. He organized classes and preached in homes and barns to his converts, little realizing that a new Denomination was being born.
He was alone, humanly speaking, when he went forth to save his fellow countrymen. He failed even to have the sympathies of his own family. It must have been discouraging at times; there was no church, no society to cheer him and pray for him even though he brought a message of peace. However, the Lord blessed his work with a considerable number of converts. Bishop Asbury of the Methodist Church was very much opposed to receiving the Albright converts unless they used the English language. Thus it was natural for the various groups to send delegates to a Conference of their own. This was done in 1807 and to give their leader the standing he needed, they provided for his ordination.
The first Conference met in the home of Samuel Becker, near Kleinfeltersville, in Lebanon County, which included five ministers, three local preachers and twenty class leaders.
Albright traveled much and far amidst deprivations, cold, heat, and stony persecutions, and all manner of hardships; but he never despaired and never faltered. In his circuit riding he exposed himself to all kinds of weather and his physical strength was not equal to the strain.
Go to Part 2 Ron Reedy, Church Historian
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