[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 163 (Wednesday, October 11, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF 
                            CHRIST, TAMAQUA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 11, 2017

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Trinity United 
Church of Christ, Tamaqua which is celebrating its 150th anniversary 
this year. For a century and a half, Trinity has served as a place of 
worship and community for the residents of Tamaqua, from the early 
German settlers of the region to modern congregants from diverse 
backgrounds.
  In 1835, Trinity's parent church, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran and 
Reformed Church, was founded by the German population of Tamaqua. In 
1867, twelve men and their families left the congregation of St. John's 
to form Trinity Church under the guidance of Reverend Levi K. Derr. One 
of the original twelve, Daniel Shepp donated land to build the church 
at the comer of Lafayette and Washington Streets. In September 1868, 
Reverend I.E. Graeff became the first full-time pastor, serving until 
March 1873.
  In 1961, the present church was dedicated and, over the following 
decades, improvements were made to the building and grounds. The 
church's distinctive exterior is marked by the Trinity chime, a 
landmark in Tamaqua. Additionally, Trinity is unique in that it is one 
of the very few churches that have its own hymn. In 1942, Rev. Dr. 
Henry A. W. Shaeffer wrote the words, and Mrs. Gertrude Wagner wrote 
the music to the signature piece.
  Today, Trinity, under the leadership of Pastor Darry Kensinger, 
celebrates a diverse, vibrant congregation dedicated to serving Tamaqua 
and the surrounding community in the tradition of the United Church of 
Christ, known for being open minded, inclusive, and welcoming.

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