About Pastor Chris Rothharpt
Hi, my name is Chris Rothharpt. I was born and raised in Berks county PA. I have three daughters (one who is married) who are somewhat scattered about. I was baptized Lutheran, although not as an infant. I have been an active member of a Lutheran congregation for more than 35 years and have served in various capacities at a number of Lutheran congregations in Berks County and beyond for almost 25 years.
I am a 2007 graduate of Lancaster Bible College (as well as having attended three other institutions on my way to earning my degree). I am a 2014 graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. I came to Trinity Lutheran Church here in Pottsville on June 1, 2014 as an intern, and after completing my internship year, was hired by Trinity, then officially called as a Pastor in July 2015. Since October 2018 I have been Senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran church.
Prior to entering the ministry, I had been employed in many different areas and businesses since the mid 1980’s. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family whenever possible, travelling, science fiction television and movies, playing and watching sports, exercise, and reading.
About Trinity Luthern Church
The history of Trinity starts back when German and Dutch immigrants who arrived in Philadelphia Province of Pennsylvania and settled in Berks, Northampton, Northumberland & surrounding counties. In 1740 the first pioneer immigrant-German settlers began to migrate into the Schuylkill River Gap & with them they brought their Lutheran Religion. In 1806 John Pott purchased an anthracite-fired iron furnace near a settlement in Norwegian Township. The settlement which would bear his name was incorporated as Pottsville Borough in 1828. As the number of faithful increased into the area, Lutherans in Pottsville found it necessary to find a regular house of worship. They found an old log school house located in the Mill Creek area of Pottsville & became known as Repp’s Church. Pastor Menning first preached at this site on July 2, 1811. Holy Communion was celebrated there on December 15, 1811. Repp’s Church served as a place of worship until 1828, when the Lutheran congregation moved to a 25-foot square log cabin on the corner of what is now Race & Center Streets. This simple church, set back about 40 feet from the curb, served the needs of several Christian denominations. The Schuylkill County Historical Society building and parking lot currently sit on the former site of this church.
The Lutheran congregation, that is now Trinity Lutheran church was organized on June 29, 1834, when the Rev. William G. Menning of Friedensburg began to conduct Lutheran and Reformed (now UCC) services in the little log church on North Centre St. Early in 1837 the congregation of the German Evangelical Reformed and the Evangelical Lutheran Churches decided to erect a church building on Third Street on the site of our current building. It was named Immanuel’s Church, and the cornerstone was laid on June 18, 1837. The building cost $2,000 and seated 250. Even though the Reformed and the Lutheran congregations joined together, they held service separately every on alternate Sundays. All congregations have disagreements, but those of Immanuel’s led to the breaking away of large groups who formed 3 other churches in Pottsville. When Immanuel’s was formed the use of English in German Lutheran churches had been a point of contention. As a result the English speaking Lutherans broke away and formed English Lutheran Church in 1874 before, reuniting with Trinity in 1974. The English Lutheran Church was at the current location of Schlitzer, Allen, & Pugh Funeral Home on Market St. After the English Lutheran departure some concessions were made and English gradually started to be used in the church. That didn’t sit well with the very strict faction of Immanuel’s members. Among those members was David G. Yuengling, whose family is well-known in Pottsville, and who later became a benefactor to Trinity. David G. Yuengling led the faction that then formed Zion’s Lutheran Church in 1850. They held service at Immanuel’s until they relocated to Thompson’s Church on Market St., which is now the current site of Trinity UCC. After 14 years of bickering the congregations of Immanuel and Zion Lutheran voted to reconcile their differences in 1864. They moved forward requiring German be used at all times.
Last to leave Immanuel’s were a group of members who left in 1852 to form the First Reformed Church. This separation was due to between Lutheran and Reformed members. In 1858, they erected their house of worship on Market St. above 9th St. which is currently next to Yanek’s Service Station.
In 1867, the members of Trinity Lutheran decided to build a large church on Third St. at the site of Immanuel’s. This new house of worship was to be a substantial brick church, 40 by 90 feet and able to seat 700. The structure was dedicated on April 20, 1868. The cost to build the church was $23,000.
The sanctuary in which we worship today was built in 1867 and dedicated in 1868. The sanctuary has seen some changes over the years. It started with 4 plain walls relieved in the rear by a gallery (balcony). There were steps on either side of the pulpit to access it. And walnut pews were arranged in four rows. In 1876 the interior of the church was frescoed and the pews were arranged so that there was a center aisle and two side aisles. In 1901 an addition to house the pipe organ was built on the south wall, a chancel was added along with stained glass windows by Haskins Art Company in Rochester New York. In 1910 due to an increase of Sunday School Students a Sunday School Chapel was added, and the cornerstone was laid on Sunday, March 11, 1911, when the brick was replaced with the stone you see today. The old steeple was taken down and a tower was built on the corner of 3rd and Arch Streets. In 1925 a new organ was installed.
