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Congregational History & Genealogical Research
A long, long time ago...
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Red Hill, is one of the oldest congregations in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with its founding taking place between 1730 and 1739. In the first record book of the congregation, baptismal entries were made in 1736 and there are systematic records of pastoral acts and congregational activities recorded as early as 1739.
First there was land...
The congregation originated through John Henry Sprogell, who donated six acres of land for cemetery purposes near East Greenville. On the land near East Greenville, St. Paul’s and the Reformed Church, now New Goshenhoppen United Church of Christ, joined together as a union church. Records show that St. Paul’s sold their share of the land to the Reformed congregation and moved east of Pennsburg and Red Hill, where the present church building now stands.
And then we had walls...
The first St. Paul’s church was built in 1750 out of wooden logs on the present site. From this site, the congregation of St. Paul’s has continued to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ for more than two centuries. In 1803 the original “six corner” church was built with local brown stone and was a handsome and substantial building for its time drawing people long distances to catch a glimpse. The third church was erected in 1878, the old building having been outgrown by a growing congregation and was equipped with a basement which provided space for Christian education. The first Sunday Church School was organized in 1869. Unfortunately, the third church was destroyed by fire on December 1, 1895, due to a faulty heating system and the present building was erected in 1897. The educational building and fellowship hall were added in 1957.
Make room for the children
The founding of the Upper Perkiomen Child Care Center in 1986 offered the Upper Perkiomen community the first weekday early childhood education and school age programming for children from six weeks old to 5th grade.
Genealogical Research?
Interested in researching the genealogical records library of St. Paul’s – Red Hill? Complete the request form and we will help you get the information in our self directed Google Drive. Due to the fire in the 1800's, some of St. Paul's records have been lost.
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