CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS
A HISTORY OF THE
LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONS IN
PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
by
REV. D. H. FOCHT, A.M.
CHAPTER IV
THE PETERSBURG CHARGE
THIS charge was formed in February, 1850, at Bloomfield, by a convention of delegates from the Lutheran congregations in Perry County. A part of what now constitutes the charge was at first missionary ground. Rev. Andrew Berg accepted an invitation in November, 1842, to visit this destitute field. He preached at Petersburg, New Buffalo, Buck's Schoolhouse, Liverpool, and perhaps also at some other places, for about six months, that is, from November, 1842, to the middle of June, 1843. In his annual report, in 1843, the President of the West Pennsylvania Synod says: "On the 21st of October, 1842, I received a letter from Rev. A. Berg, in which he informed me that he designed visiting Petersburg, Liverpool, and other congregations in that region, and requested me to give my consent and advice. I advised him to visit those places, and if possible take charge of them. I promised him, at the same time, towards his support, for the first year, thirty dollars from the legacy in the hands of Synod. But as he resigned this field of labor after having spent in it about six months, I allowed him only fifteen dollars, with which amount he was also satisfied." After the resignation of Rev. Berg, all the congregations now composing of the charge, except Mount Zion on Fishing Creek, were served in connection with Bloomfield until February, 1850, when the charge was regularly constituted.
