The History of Zoar
Zoar Lutheran Church was established after the Indian raid that burned down the Swatara Church in 1757. Some of these displaced congregation members built a small church in Mt. Zion in 1765 and named it Zoar because it suggested to them a place of refuge from danger. It was commonly known as “Die Ziegell Kirche,” the church with the red tile roof.
A stone church was built on this site in 1811. The third church to be built on this site was constructed in 1853. This brick church is the church still in use today.
In 1923, Zoar together with St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg and Zion Lutheran Church of Mt. Zion decided to form a parish that was to be called the Mt. Zion United Lutheran Parish. This relationship between Zoar and St. John’s still exists to this day.
In 1955, an invitation was extended by the Zoar congregation to the Zion Lutheran congregation of Mt. Zion to merge with them. This invitation was accepted, and in 1957 the Zion Lutheran and Reformed congregation of Mt. Zion was dissolved and a united Lutheran congregation was organized at Zoar. The Reformed congregation continues to meet at Zion Gosherts Reformed Church (the Upper Church).
In 1974, Zoar dedicated the Educational and Fellowship Center that is located directly across the road from the church building. In 1996, the original mechanical pipe organ was modernized with electronic controls. In 2001 the 100-year old “Ascension” painted mural behind the altar was cleaned and restored.
