Our History
A few Lutheran families in Petersburg, now Duncannon, invited a newly-licensed minister, the Rev. Andrew Perg (Berg by some accounts), to visit the members scattered along the West branch of the Susquehanna River and as a result, in November 1842, the Rev. Mr. Perg commenced his pastoral labors using the Methodist Episcopal Church for formal sessions.
On one acre of ground donated by Dr. Philip Ebert the small congregation laid the cornerstone of a new church, May 19, 1844 and dedicated the building the following November 10th. It was a stone building, forty feet square, with a gallery at one end and a pulpit at the other.
Below you will find historical content as available for each decade since our church’s founding. Check back often as additional decades will be added over time.
1901-1930
The picture is circa 1900 with the church appears as much as it was in 1885. The frame building of one floor with a dug out basement, but now with a steeple. Where the present day Education wing stands a grove of trees. It front of the church is the current stone wall, built from what many believe to be remnants of the first church. A white picket fence surrounds the rest of the property.
During the early 1900’s Reverend Gus introduced the individual communion service and his wife, Mrs. Guss organized the first Women’s Missionary Society. Mrs. Bucke’s Sunday school class in 1907 organized themselves into a missionary society as well after Mrs. Guss’ was disbanded and met at individual homes. This continued until 1928 when it was changed to include all members of the congregation and held it’s regular meetings at the church.
Due to declining membership, the congregation in Dellville disbanded leaving Zion Lutheran in Marysville and Christ Lutheran in Duncannon sharing a pastor which continued for many years.
