About Us
St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Riegelsville, PA
St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Riegelsville, PA serves Upper Bucks County, PA and Hunterdon/Warren Counties, NJ. Member of the Palisades Cluster of Lutheran Churches and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
A Brief History of Our Church
"Travelers north or south along Easton Road (Route 611), are struck by the beauty and
architecture of Riegelsville, a Delaware River town, as they pass through this remarkable
Victorian town."
"Although it is contained in a mere square mile on the northeastern tip of rural Bucks
County, Riegelsville is home to a legacy of post-Civil War development and former
industry” (Source: Area Guide, Bucks County Herald, August 18, 2016, page C10,
Bridget FitzPatrick). Riegelsville is close to Easton, Bethlehem, and Allentown and near
the I-78 corridor.
The history of the Riegelsville congregation, as an organization, dates back to 1850. The
Lutheran congregation adopted a constitution on May 20, 1850. A private record gives
information that there was preaching as early as January 27, 1850 by the Rev. George
Diehl of Easton, PA and by the Rev. John McCron on March 24, 1850.
During the year 1850, the Lutheran and Reformed congregations of the area joined
together and began to erect a church building. The work was begun in April, 1850 and
dedicated on January 1, 1851. Each congregation used the building on alternate weeks.
The Rev. John McCron served as the first Lutheran pastor from January 1, 1851 to April
1, 1851. The Rev. George Diehl was next and served three months until July 1, 1851.
During this time a Call was issued and the Rev. John Wilcox was elected as the
permanent Pastor and he served for nine years and six months. In October, 1861, the
Rev. C. L. Keedy was elected Pastor and only served for one year.
The Rev. Nathan Jaeger was the next Pastor elected March, 1863. In November of 1863,
while traveling to Easton, he was thrown from his horse and buggy and was fatally
injured. He died January 2, 1864 at the age of 43. He is buried in the cemetery next to
the church. In May, 1864, Rev. Theophilus Helig was elected as the new Pastor. He
served for 12 years and four months. During this time period, the first parsonage was
purchased for $3,200.
In 1871, although the two congregations had been worshiping together in peace, there
was a growing desire to separate. On January 10, 1872, at a congregational meeting, it
was resolved to purchase the right and title of the Reformed congregation in the church
building and lot for the sum of $2,200.
Another historical event took place at this time—on November 12, 1876, the
congregation assembled and by a vote of 33 to 2 decided to join the East Penn Synod.
On March 9, 1878, a meeting was held to consider if the church building should be
repaired or a new building should be erected. The vote was to repair the existing building
at a cost of $1,300. The property further increased in value when a lot next door was
purchased that had a number of sheds used to house horses. In 1861, the basement of the
church was remodeled to adapt a Sabbath School.
On July 17, 1887, the Rev. Cyrus L. Fleck was elected and became the longest serving
Pastor at 34 years and two months until September 16, 1921. He preached in Riegelsville
three successive Sundays in the morning, in Upper Tinicum every fourth Sunday, and at
Raubsville every two weeks in the afternoon.
At a meeting on December 1, 1888, it was decided that the building was in need of too
much repair and a new church would be built. The old building was torn down in
February, 1889, and the work was begun on a new church. The corner stone was laid on
May 5, 1889. The present church was dedicated in September, 1890. The cost of the
church was $12,000 and the architect was the Rev. A. K. Felton. After the church was
completed, it was decided to have services every Sunday. At this time the Pastor’s salary
was $700. On April 15, 1923, the present organ was installed by M. P. Moller Company.
In 1925, an addition was erected at the northwest end of the building to be used for
Sunday School and meeting rooms at a cost of $18,000. The Rev. Raymond Miller was
elected Pastor on July 5, 1925 and served until March 1, 1931.
On June 14, 1921. Rev. R. Henry Neikirk was elected Pastor and served the third longest
term of 27 years and two months, retiring September 1, 1948. Following Rev. Neikirk,
the Rev. Vinton G. McClellan held the position for only four years. Beginning
January 16, 1952, the Rev. Paul Gleichman began a tenure of 18 years and six months,
the fourth longest term.
On November 1, 1970, Rev. Stephen F. Blank was elected Pastor. Rev. Blank retired on
April 30, 2003 after 32 years and six months. This is now the second longest Call in the
history of St. Peter’s.
During this time a new parsonage was erected in 1978 next to the church and across from
the church parking lot. In 1990 the Parish Center was purchased for $200,000 and this
loan was paid off in four years. This property joins the parking lot allowing the church,
parsonage, and Parish Center to touch each other as one large parcel. In 1995, the Parish
Center’s original slate roof was replaced at a cost of $65,000. In 2000, the church saw a
total upgrade of the electrical wiring system at a cost of $70,000. This was paid by the
congregation in two years. In 2000, St. Peter’s celebrated its 150th year anniversary.
Upon the retirement of Rev. Blank, an Interim Pastor, Rev. Robert Bohn, served from
June, 2003 to May, 2004.
From June 1, 2004 until September 30, 2015, the Rev. Deborah Dawson served as Pastor.
The congregation demonstrated strong support of the worship and activities under the
leadership of Rev. Dawson. During her tenure at St. Peter’s, there were three major
Delaware River flooding events within the borough. St. Peter’s continued its reputation
as a community service congregation providing relief efforts.
From October 1, 2015 until February 21, 2016 the church operated without pastoral
leadership until Interim Pastor Rev. Elaine Quincey came (February 22, 2016 – March
31, 2018) to assist with the transition and call process for a new pastor. During this
period of reflection and decision making, the parsonage which was built in 1978 was sold
in December, 2017.
On February 1, 2018 Bradley D. Gow was called to be St. Peter’s sixteenth pastor. His
ordination and installation took place on Saturday, February 17, 2018.
St. Peter’s, in its 170 years (May 20, 1850) has given nine sons and one daughter to the
Christian Ministry. Also, one son has become an outstanding church organist.
architecture of Riegelsville, a Delaware River town, as they pass through this remarkable
Victorian town."
"Although it is contained in a mere square mile on the northeastern tip of rural Bucks
County, Riegelsville is home to a legacy of post-Civil War development and former
industry” (Source: Area Guide, Bucks County Herald, August 18, 2016, page C10,
Bridget FitzPatrick). Riegelsville is close to Easton, Bethlehem, and Allentown and near
the I-78 corridor.
The history of the Riegelsville congregation, as an organization, dates back to 1850. The
Lutheran congregation adopted a constitution on May 20, 1850. A private record gives
information that there was preaching as early as January 27, 1850 by the Rev. George
Diehl of Easton, PA and by the Rev. John McCron on March 24, 1850.
During the year 1850, the Lutheran and Reformed congregations of the area joined
together and began to erect a church building. The work was begun in April, 1850 and
dedicated on January 1, 1851. Each congregation used the building on alternate weeks.
The Rev. John McCron served as the first Lutheran pastor from January 1, 1851 to April
1, 1851. The Rev. George Diehl was next and served three months until July 1, 1851.
During this time a Call was issued and the Rev. John Wilcox was elected as the
permanent Pastor and he served for nine years and six months. In October, 1861, the
Rev. C. L. Keedy was elected Pastor and only served for one year.
The Rev. Nathan Jaeger was the next Pastor elected March, 1863. In November of 1863,
while traveling to Easton, he was thrown from his horse and buggy and was fatally
injured. He died January 2, 1864 at the age of 43. He is buried in the cemetery next to
the church. In May, 1864, Rev. Theophilus Helig was elected as the new Pastor. He
served for 12 years and four months. During this time period, the first parsonage was
purchased for $3,200.
In 1871, although the two congregations had been worshiping together in peace, there
was a growing desire to separate. On January 10, 1872, at a congregational meeting, it
was resolved to purchase the right and title of the Reformed congregation in the church
building and lot for the sum of $2,200.
Another historical event took place at this time—on November 12, 1876, the
congregation assembled and by a vote of 33 to 2 decided to join the East Penn Synod.
On March 9, 1878, a meeting was held to consider if the church building should be
repaired or a new building should be erected. The vote was to repair the existing building
at a cost of $1,300. The property further increased in value when a lot next door was
purchased that had a number of sheds used to house horses. In 1861, the basement of the
church was remodeled to adapt a Sabbath School.
On July 17, 1887, the Rev. Cyrus L. Fleck was elected and became the longest serving
Pastor at 34 years and two months until September 16, 1921. He preached in Riegelsville
three successive Sundays in the morning, in Upper Tinicum every fourth Sunday, and at
Raubsville every two weeks in the afternoon.
At a meeting on December 1, 1888, it was decided that the building was in need of too
much repair and a new church would be built. The old building was torn down in
February, 1889, and the work was begun on a new church. The corner stone was laid on
May 5, 1889. The present church was dedicated in September, 1890. The cost of the
church was $12,000 and the architect was the Rev. A. K. Felton. After the church was
completed, it was decided to have services every Sunday. At this time the Pastor’s salary
was $700. On April 15, 1923, the present organ was installed by M. P. Moller Company.
In 1925, an addition was erected at the northwest end of the building to be used for
Sunday School and meeting rooms at a cost of $18,000. The Rev. Raymond Miller was
elected Pastor on July 5, 1925 and served until March 1, 1931.
On June 14, 1921. Rev. R. Henry Neikirk was elected Pastor and served the third longest
term of 27 years and two months, retiring September 1, 1948. Following Rev. Neikirk,
the Rev. Vinton G. McClellan held the position for only four years. Beginning
January 16, 1952, the Rev. Paul Gleichman began a tenure of 18 years and six months,
the fourth longest term.
On November 1, 1970, Rev. Stephen F. Blank was elected Pastor. Rev. Blank retired on
April 30, 2003 after 32 years and six months. This is now the second longest Call in the
history of St. Peter’s.
During this time a new parsonage was erected in 1978 next to the church and across from
the church parking lot. In 1990 the Parish Center was purchased for $200,000 and this
loan was paid off in four years. This property joins the parking lot allowing the church,
parsonage, and Parish Center to touch each other as one large parcel. In 1995, the Parish
Center’s original slate roof was replaced at a cost of $65,000. In 2000, the church saw a
total upgrade of the electrical wiring system at a cost of $70,000. This was paid by the
congregation in two years. In 2000, St. Peter’s celebrated its 150th year anniversary.
Upon the retirement of Rev. Blank, an Interim Pastor, Rev. Robert Bohn, served from
June, 2003 to May, 2004.
From June 1, 2004 until September 30, 2015, the Rev. Deborah Dawson served as Pastor.
The congregation demonstrated strong support of the worship and activities under the
leadership of Rev. Dawson. During her tenure at St. Peter’s, there were three major
Delaware River flooding events within the borough. St. Peter’s continued its reputation
as a community service congregation providing relief efforts.
From October 1, 2015 until February 21, 2016 the church operated without pastoral
leadership until Interim Pastor Rev. Elaine Quincey came (February 22, 2016 – March
31, 2018) to assist with the transition and call process for a new pastor. During this
period of reflection and decision making, the parsonage which was built in 1978 was sold
in December, 2017.
On February 1, 2018 Bradley D. Gow was called to be St. Peter’s sixteenth pastor. His
ordination and installation took place on Saturday, February 17, 2018.
St. Peter’s, in its 170 years (May 20, 1850) has given nine sons and one daughter to the
Christian Ministry. Also, one son has become an outstanding church organist.
