Bender’s Evangelical Lutheran Church: 245th Anniversary Open House

Bender’s Evangelical Lutheran Church celebrates its 245th anniversary with a special open house on Saturday, September 12, from 2–5 p.m. at 1385 Rentzel Road in Biglerville, PA.

As the oldest active Lutheran church in Adams County, Bender’s traces its roots to early worship gatherings at White Church, an Episcopalian mission church, as early as 1769. In 1781, Jacob Bender gave the land where Bender’s Church now stands. The congregation built a log church on the property before replacing it with the current brick church in 1811.

The 245th Anniversary Open House highlights this rich local history through tours of the historic 1811 church and Historic Bender’s Cemetery. The cemetery serves as the final resting place of veterans of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War.

Inside the church, rare historical artifacts and original documents offer a closer look at the congregation’s heritage and the region’s early religious and architectural history. Highlights include the original 1781 land indenture signed by the church’s founders and the recently acquired original agreement for construction of the 1811 brick church.

Music adds to the anniversary celebration, while light refreshments are served in the Social Room.

Bender’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
1385 Rentzel Road, Biglerville, PA 17307
717-677-7409
[email protected]