Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized about the year 1783, by Rev. Mr. Steck, whose labors extended over a vast region lying on both sides of the Allegheny mountains. The first house of worship was built jointly by members of the Lutheran and Reformed congregations, about the year 1783. It was also used for educational purposes. The second edifice was erected by members of the same congregations in 1820. In 1858, however, the Lutherans built their present church edifice alone, at a cost of about four thousand dollars. They also own other valuable properties, including a parsonage, barns, etc., and thirty acres of land. The congregation now numbers two hundred and fifteen, a flourishing sabbath school has an average attendance of one hundred and fifty.
Among the original members (as heads of families) were:
Henry Baker
Jacob Barnhart
Peter Barnhart
Benjamin Gerfoss
Joseph S. Miller
Frederick Mostollar
George Mostollar
John Mostollar
Michael Mowry Sr.
Christian Spangler
Casper Swank
Thomas Swank
Andrew Woy
The pastors were:
1783 – 1794, Rev. Mr. Steck
1795 – 1808, F. W. Long
1809 – 1823, Peter Schmucker
1823 – 1828, C. F. Heyer
1829 – 1830, Daniel Heilig
1831 – 1835, C. F. Heyer
1836 – 1838, H. Haverstick
1839 – 1843, P. Rizer
1844 – 1849, S. B. Lawson
1849 – 1850, J. F. Williams
1851 – 1857, J. K. Miller
1858 – 1861, Peter Sahm
1861 – 1874, John Tomlinson
1874 – present, J. J. Welsh
(Source: History of Bedford, Somerset & Fulton Counties, PA; 1884)
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