Zion Lutheran Church of Williamsport, Maryland had its beginnings about the year 1791. Its early history is closely associated with its mother church, St. John’s of Hagerstown. The exact date of the organization of Zion is unknown, but the log church was built around 1798. On January 9, 1807, a plan of incorporation was adopted by the congregation under the name of “Zion’s German Evangelical Lutheran congregation in and about William’s Port Washington County, Maryland.”Zion’s first pastor was the Reverend John George Young - 1792
John George Schmucker 1793-1810
Solomon Schaeffer 1810-1814
Benjamin Kurtz 1815-1820 (last pastor from St. John’s)
Frederic Ruthrauff 1822-1827
John Winter 1828-1834 (formed charge with St. Paul’s Church in Clear Spring)
In 1829, the Maryland Synod met at Zion for its tenth annual convention. Later that year, a red brick church was constructed on the foundation of the log church.
Simeon W. Harkey 1834-1836
Daniel Miller 1836-1838
Christian Startzman 1838-1850
Henry Bishop 1850-1855
William F. Greaver 1855-1857 (died while at Zion)
Joseph Barclay 1857-1859
Christian Lepley 1859-1865
In 1860, the church was remodeled by putting an addition at the back of the church. When the Civil War broke out in the country, the congregation became divided and the congregation dwindled in size. In 1863, Zion was used as a hospital by Federal Troops.
Jesse Berlin 1865-1867
M.L. Culler 1867-1871
1870 marked the year that Zion became an independent organization for the firt time.
W.D. Strobel 1871-1873
Dr. McCron 1873-1874
J.B. Keller 1874-1886
C.M. Aurand 1886-1889
In 1887 the church was remodeled after fire destroyed the steeple and part of the sanctuary. A basement was also excavated for a social room. The Maryland Synod held its sixty-eigth annual convention at Zion.
M.D. Gaver 1890-1910
During his twenty year tenure, electric lights were installed (1899), and a new parsonage was built (the present Parish House) in 1902.
D. Upton Blair 1910-1919
In 1910, the pipe organ was donated by W.D. Byron. In 1911, the congregation decided to build a new church. The corner stone was laid on September 17, 1911 and the new church, costing about $16,000 was dedicated on August 18, 1912 free of debt.
J.S. English 1919-1922
Howard F. Blink 1922-1930
William C. Huddle 1930-1965
In 1925 new Sunday School rooms were completed.
May 1, 1930 marked the beginning of an unparalled era in the life of Zion Lutheran. On that day, the Reverend William Chalmers Huddle began what was to become a thirty-five year ministry. He introduced Zion to the preaching robe, choir vestments, choir processionals and recessionals. Two services on Sunday became necessary to serve the congregation. Pastor Huddle retired in September 1965.
Thomas F. Sinn 1966-1974
In 1966, the old parsonage was remodeled and turned into a Parish House that held offices and education space. The space behind the Parish House was turned into off street parking. 1967 saw the renovating and redecorating of the nave and chancel of the church. In 1969 the sanctuary was air conditioned. Zion entered an intern program with the Seminary at Gettysburg in 1972. Norman Gauch became Zion's first intern.
Eugene A. Gardner 1974-1981
The New Lutheran Book of Worship was adopted in 1978. In 1979, the new M.P. Moller pipe organ was dedicated.
W. Gregory Martin became Zion's 27th pastor in 1982 and is still serving strong as our spiritual leader.
In 2005, a new addition containing Sunday School rooms and a new Fellowship Hall was dedicated. In 2007, Kinder Haven was opened as a child care ministry of the congregation.
