Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Church of the Holy Trinity —This congregation, although dating its history as an organization no further back than 1865, had really one anterior to that period. For a number of years previous, as a settlement of Germans gradually clustered about Greenville and spread out into the surrounding country, there came to the believers of Lutheran faith a longing for collective worship. In 1826 Rev. Michael Kuchler, one of the pioneer Lutheran ministers of Shenango Valley, began holding regular services in Mercer County, though for several years prior to that date he had been engaged in giving religions instruction.

History of the Lutheran Church in Mercer County

From that time until the permanent organization of the Greenville congregation, he conducted worship in various portions of the valley with untiring zeal. His preaching was always done in the German language. The first step toward the establishment of a permanent congregation was taken by Rev. William F. Ullery, a traveling missionary of the Pittsburgh synod, who made a visit to Greenville in October, 1863, for the purpose of reporting the spiritual condition of the members of the Lutheran faith in the village to the general synod. On his recommendation a mission was established in 1884. The first service occurred on Christmas day, and was held in the old academy building. Exercises were maintained at intervals during the following winter; and on the 14th of March, 1865, a meeting was held to take measures for the erection of a church. The mission had been composed of Germans alone.

Accordingly, on the 15th of April, 1865, the English Lutherans of the vicinity met and formed themselves into a regular organization. A union was shortly afterward effected upon condition that occasional services should be held in the German language. On the 25th of April, 1885, a building committee, comprising Chas. Bortz, George Voltz and Rev. M. Kuchler, was appointed to secure funds for erecting the new house of worship, and Dr. G. D. Kughler was chosen treasurer of the building fund, and Rev. W. F. Ullery, collector. 

Meantime, the old academy building served the congregation as a place of worship until May, when the Baptist Church was secured and occupied during the succeeding winter.On the 23d of September, 1885, the corner-stone of the present commodious brick structure was laid with imposing ceremonies, English and German sermons being preached by Revs. G. A. Wentzel and W. A. Passavant. The church, however, was not ready for occupancy until January, 1867, and was not dedicated until October 13, same year, when the edifice was consecrated by Rev. S. Laird of Pittsburgh, Penn. The first elders of the congregation were Conrad Bittenbanner and Joseph Weber, while the first deacons were Daniel Phillips and Charles Bortz. 

Rev. Ullery remained with the church until 1875. He was succeeded by Rev. H. W. Roth, who served till the coming of Rev. J. Fishburn, February 23, 1879. The latter was released March 25, 1883. Rev. H. W. Roth served as provisional pastor until September, 1883, when the present [1888] minister, Rev. Dr. J. A. Kunkleman, was installed by Rev. E. Belfour, D. D. Connected with the congregation is a Sunday-school enrolling 160 pupils, of which Prof. S. H. Miller is superintendent, and T. E. Heilman, assistant. The congregation embraces a membership of over 200 communicants, and as a whole is in a flourishing condition.

(Source: History of Mercer County, 1888, pages 429)