"The English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Williamsport, Penna. was organized March 7, A. D. 1852, by adopting a Creed of Essentials, and a Form of Government & Discipline."
~ H. Ziegler, Pastor
With
those words, The Rev. Henry Ziegler opened the records
of the Church that is now known as St. Mark's Lutheran
Church. Although Rev. Ziegler was Pastor of the
new church for only about a year, he was perhaps typical
of the Pastors who have since served the Parish.
Rev. Ziegler was a scholar who is believed to have
organized seven Lutheran Churches, and who later became
one of the founders of the Missionary Institute,
Selinsgrove, Pa. (a forerunner of Susquehanna
University).
The
longest serving Pastors, Rev. Ray Houser and Rev.
Frederick Hasskarl each conducted services at St. Marks
for 26 years, in the middle of the 20th
Century. Both were well known and loved members of
the Greater Williamsport Community.
Recently retired Rev. Kenneth Elkin continued in the tradition of his predecessors. Pastor Elkin was particularly interested in sacred music and served the congregation for 20 years.
The current Pastor Brian Vasey joined St. Mark's in November 2019.
The Church's archival records contain many documents and photographs that memorialize the service of its Pastors to the Congregation. The History Committee has gathered here many of those records for public examination.