Lutherans began arriving in Perry County even before Ohio became a state. In April, 1801, the first Lutheran, Christian Binckley, emigrated from Maryland, according to "Lutheranism in Perry County Ohio," by Prof. C. L. Martzolff, Binckley settled in Reading Township. A widower, he arrived here with his three sons and three daughters, who became the ancestors of numerous families in Perry and Allen counties.

It was not long before they were joined by the families of John Peter Overmeyer, born near Harrisburg, Pa., and Peter Whitmore, a former soldier in the Revolutionary War. The former Joint Synod of Ohio had its founding at Somerset in 1818.

Shortly after the planting of Overmeyertown (New Reading), a Lutheran missionary, Rev. William Foster arrived from Maryland. The first sermon in Perry County was delivered by him in a grove south of the settlement. On June 24, 1805, at Overmeyertown, the first Lutheran congregation in Ohio was organized. The following year, Zion Church of Thorn Township was erected by the Lutheran and Reformed congregations. Rev. Foster organized the Lutheran Church at Somerset in 1812. The Lutheran Standard, official organ of the Joint Synod of Ohio, for a time, was printed in Somerset. At one time, the Lutheran Seminary (Capital University] was expected to be located there.

Lutheranism officially moved in the New Lexington area when 17 people gathered in the Second Baptist Church to organize Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church on July 14, 1867, by adopting the original constitution of the congregation.

At a congregational meeting in the old courthouse on December 14, 1867, it was decided to build a brick church of Gothic design. The records tell us that the members of the first church council were George Garlinger, William Story, Samuel Kochensparger, Joseph Bowman, David Yarger, Frederick Kochensparger and Jacob Yarger.

Three loyal families were moved to sell part of their land to help the young congregation meet its obligations.

Services for this struggling new congregation were conducted by Rev. George Yung, who also was serving a parish in Junction City, St. John's and St. Paul's in Monday Creek Township. Pastor Yung was the first of many pastors to serve the church. They are:

                        GeorgeYung 1867- 1877                                                             W.A.Wiseman 1877-1880
                         M. R. Walter 1880 - 1886                                                           L. H. Burry 1886- 1889
                         E. A. Young 1889 - 1897                                                            Andrew Dietrich 1897- 1900
                         Luther Pflueger 1900 - 1904                                                       C. D. Fischer 1904- 1905
                         A. L. Swinehart 19 05 - 1912                                                      W. F. Wolfe 1912- 1915
                         J . H. Dobbyn 1916 - 1918                                                           F. T. Florstedt 1918 - 1920
                         E. E. Spoehr 1920 - 1925                                                            J. Kurz 1925- 1925
                         C. H. Herrnstein 1926 - 1936                                                       HenryYoung 1936- 1937
                         Albert SchiffJ r. 1937 - 1942                                                       Carl Yahl 1942- 1948
                         Ewald J. Bash 1948 - 1953                                                           Armin L. Barnick 1953- 1954
                         David Risch 1955 - 1958                                                              K. Bernall Boehm 1959- 1961
                         David Frey 1961 - 1965                                                               William Nadell 1966- 1969
                         Alfed Schiff, Jr. 1969 - 1974                                                        Jack Young 1974 - 1977
                         Gary W. Hilfinger 1977 - 1984                                                     Matthew Smith 1985 - 1986
                         Ronald Haseley and King Bradow (interim pastors) 1986- 1988
                         Robert Heinlein 1988 -

Pastor Yung served until 1877 when he was followed by Rev. W. A. Wiseman, who added a congregation to his charge at Whippstown in Saltlick Township. Pastor Wiseman served until 1880 when Holy Trinity was transferred to the Somerset Charge under Rev. W. R. Walter, who arrived until 1886 when he moved to Thornville.

The old minute book listed 34 communicant members in 1881 and 36 the next two years. Among the names were Wolfe, Yarger, Bowman, Motz, Conn, Rarick and Garlinger.

Rev. L. H. Burry served from 1886 until 1889. At the dedication of the present building in 1926, Rev. Burry sent a letter to be read. It said, "The New Reading Congregation was the largest in the parish in my time, but  St. Paul's (Monday Creek Twp.) was the most active. Holy Trinity was very weak and indeed I wondered at times whether it would survive. . . It was with great delight to me to learn that you were about to dedicate a new church, which means that you have grown to manhood and strength and that in the future you will take a new and prominent place in the city. God Bless Holy Trinity Church and crown her faith with abundant blessings."

On December 10, 1897, Andrew Dietrich became the first full-time pastor. As the congregation was small, financial help came from the Home Mission Board. Holy Trinity became self-supporting during the pastorate of Rev. W. F. Wolfe. It was then that the decision was made to build a new building and a fund was started for that purpose.

Rev. Luther Pflueger came from the Seminary in 1900 and preached in Corning and Shawnee in connection with his work at Holy Trinity.  Rev.
C. D. Fischer, newly ordained, served 1904 to l905 and preached in Shawnee and Pleasantville on alternate Sundays. Rev. A. L. Swinehart, newly ordained, arrived in 1905, but due to ill health was compelled to resign in 1912. He was called home by his Lord a few years later.

The church became self-supporting during the service in 1912-15 by Rev. W. F. Wolfe. It was during his tenure that the fund for the new church was started. He was succeeded by Dr. J. H. Dobbyn, who remained until 1918 when Rev. F. T. Florstedt was called. He accepted another call in February, 1920.

In June, 1920, E. E. Spoehr, newly ordained, was installed pastor. During his pastorate, the congregation showed greater progress. World War I was over. The city grew and a new era was at hand. Plans were laid for a new church building and Spoehr's assurance brought the congregation to the decision that the proper time for building had arrived. Pastor Spoehr married a member of Holy Trinity, Florence Rarick. In December, 1924, they left for his new work in Baltimore, Md.

Several months passed without a pastor, but in April, 1925, Rev. J. Kurz came just in time to witness the razing of the old church building which stood on the same location as the present one. Rev. Kurz was privileged to lay the cornerstone of the new church building. The cornerstone laying service was held in the public park opposite the Courthouse. Member of Holy Trinity, townspeople and members of neighboring Lutheran congregations attended this service. Pastor Kurz left the field in September of the same year he came.

For the next six months the vacancy was filled by Dr. C. B. Gohdes of Capital University until in March, 1926, Rev. C. H. Herrnstin was installed.

The new church was erected at an approximate cost of $30,000. The congregation raised $ 13,000 by the time the building was dedicated. Ten year bonds were sold totaling $15,000. Much work was donated. Men of the church worked on the building, digging out the basement with horses, laying brick, installing furnishings and doing various odd jobs. The women, too, pitched in. Dinner after dinner was cooked and served to raise money for the new building. Sometimes as many as three meals a week were served to crowds of over 200 people. Meals were served on real table cloths. Suppers were served in City Hall. During construction, services were held in the Lempco building.

The Willing Workers bought the present altar. They sent a committee to Columbus to examine the altars of several churches to select a design for Holy Trinity. The Willing Workers were organized by Mrs. Sears. It grew from her Sunday School class and a desire to serve.

Other organizations who helped were the Dorcas Society, Life Builders, Luther League, ALCW, the Brotherhood, Ladies' Aid, Women's Missionary  Society, Pairs and Spares, Disciples. The church council made many hard decisions to complete the project.

The total indebtedness above the bounds was $17,000 and a heating plant had not yet been purchased.

It was planned to pay off a $1,500 bond each year, but in a few years the "Great Depression" set in. The congregation struggled desperately to
meet its financial obligations.

At first, the church was heated by coal without the benefit of a tbermostat. The temperature would be kept between 45 and 50 degrees during the week. In cold weather, someone would stay in the church during the night to keep the furnace going.

On June 6, 1926, dedication services were held in a week of well balanced programs. Much of this history up to this time is taken from a souvenir booklet issued at that time. By now, Holy Trinity had a contributing membership of 170 and a baptized membership of 279. Many attended the dedication services.

By 1936, the situation began to look brighter; unfortunately, Pastor Herrnstein. after 10 years of faithful and, on many occasions, frustrating service, accepted a call to Dola, Ohio. It was during the pastorate of Rev. Herrnstein that the Lord saw fit to have Holy Trinity offer a helping hand in sharing its pastor with Solomon's congregation at Eagleport.

Rev. Henry Young was installed on April 5, 1936. He was here about one year when a Seminary graduate, A. C. Schiff, accepted the call of Holy Trinity. In June, 1941, the congregation celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of the dedication of the new church building. Rev. W. F. Wolfe and Rev. C. H. Herrnstein were the guest speakers at the special services. When World War II started, Pastor Schiff left Holy Trinity to accept a commission as chaplain in the U. S. Army. He conducted his last service here in Juty, 1942,

Rev. Carl Yahl became the next pastor. He was an accomplished organist and soon aroused enthusiasm in the congregation to replace the old pedal organ with the present Shantz Organ. On August 28, 1945, a fund was started to purchase a new organ, since the church building debt was practically paid off. On September 30, 1945, mortgage building ceremonies were held. By the end of 1947, the organ was installed, paid
for and dedicated to the Lord's service. In March, 1948, Pastor Yahl accepted another call.

From 1933 to 1978 the church enjoyed the service of a dedicated organist, Miss Gertrude Lee, who rarely missed a Sunday.

The Seminary provided another graduate in the person of Ewald J. Bash. Since the last several pastors were bachelors when they first came to New Lexington, it was decided that the big old parsonage would be sold and replaced by a smaller dwelling. On January 15, 1950, a "New Parsonage Fund" was established. By 1952 a personage was purchased on Eastern Avenue and a short time later, the old parsonage was sold.

On Sunday, June 24, 1951, a 25th anniversary service commemorated the present edifice. The morning sermon was by Dr. Edgar Ebert, Capital University. At the afternoon service, the sermon was by Pastor William Wolfe, Junction City, with whom the vision began and words of remembrance were offered by Pastor Ernest Spoehr, who led the vision to reality.

Pastor Bash served until 1953 when he accepted a call to a congregation in Cleveland.

Pastor Armin L. Barnick, another newly graduated seminarian, and his wife came here on July 5, 1953. They left on July 11, 1954, for a new charge in Dillsboro, Indiana.

For almost a year, Holy Trinity and Solomon's were without a pastor. Once again the Seminary was called upon. On June 26, 1955, Rev. David R. Risch was installed. Chimes and amplification systems for the organ and the pulpit and lectern were presented by Miss Ann Nixon on October 4, 1955. Pastor Risch instituted a system of anticipating needs of the church, then completing one project before starting another. In this way, a constant improvement would be accomplished and the membership would feel a sense of unity in serving the Lord. Two other projects were completed in 1956; new pews and a new bulletin board at the front of the church were installed.

In 1958, new Service Books and Hymnals were purchased to replace the old ones, which were sent to the mission field in New Guinea. Pastor Risch accepted a call to Faith Lutheran Church in Whitehall in November, 1958.

Just before Pastor Risch left, the property adjoining the church on High Street was purchased. This was to provide growing space for a growing congregation. At this time, the baptized membership was 525 and it seemed more room would be needed.

Until July 19, 1959, the congregation again was without the services of a regular pastor. At that time, Rev. K. B. Boehm was installed. He too had just graduated from the Seminary. In January 1960, a gift of $100 was received to provide a roving microphone to be used at congregational meetings. In honor of the 100th birthday of Mr. Fred Yarger, his family donated a drinking fountain for the church basement.

Fred Yarger was the father of the only son of the congregation to become a pastor ó S. W. Yarger.

Pastor Boehm accepted a call to Divinity Lutheran Church at Parma Heights, Ohio on July 2, 1961. A few weeks later, in July, 1961, Pastor David Frey was installed. A much-needed improvement in the lighting in the church was made in July 1962, when the present lights were installed.

By late 1964, it was evident that the old heating plant needed replacement after some 35 years of service. A committee was appointed to study the matter and recommend something to the congregation. The present gas boiler was recommended. It soon was purchased and placed in operation in the fall of 1965 and fully paid for by March, 1966.

On November 14, 1965, Pastor Frey accepted a call to a parish in Illinois. Until July 3, 1966, the District Office and Seminary again faithfully performed their service of providing supply pastors for Holy Trinity. On this date Rev. William Nadell was installed as pastor. In this centennial year of the congregation, the baptized membership of Holy Trinity had slipped to 344.

In 1966 Rev. Albert Schiff, Jr., returned as pastor of Holy Trinity. It was during his pastorate that one significant change in worship took place. Holy Communion, which for many years had been celebrated four times a year was increased to 12 times a year.

In days gone by, the live Christmas trees placed in the church during the Christmas season, were lighted by candles, of course under someone's watchful eye. Who can remember the date when the first strings of electric lights adorned the trees.

Pastor Jack Young came to serve the congregation from 1974 to 1977, followed by Pastor Gary Hilflger from 1977 to 1986. Pastor Hilfiger can be credited with many of the facts and events related in this history.

Matthew Smith came as pastor in 1985, but was forced to resign because of a serious illness only a year later.

For one and a half years, the congregation was served by interim pastors Ronald Haseley and King Bradow.

Rev. Robert Heinlein arrived as pastor in 1988 and served as pastor through 1996.

Pastor Betsy Williams served from 1997 through 2001.  When she resigned Pastor Rudy Schildbach served as Interim Pastor from June, 2001 to January 2003.

Pastor Justin Van Orman was installed in August, 2003 and serves as the current pastor.

The last 25 years probably have seen as much change as was experienced in the first century of the congregation. The church building has undergone significant changes. A ramp was built leading to the east entrance, making the building accessible to the handicapped. The altar was moved away from the wall in 1980. Ten years later it was restored to its original condition and moved to the center of the chancel. This allows the members of the congregation to gather around our Lord when he comes to us in his Sacrament.

A new set of chimes was added to the organ to enhance the worship service.

In the basement, a forced-air heating/cooling system was added, the ceiling was lowered, new lights installed and classroom divider curtains were hung.

The Eastern Avenue parsonage was sold and property on West Brown Street was purchased to provide room for future growth of the congregation.

The Lutheran Service Book and Hymnal (the red book) was replaced by the Lutheran Book of Worship (the green book) in October 1983. Many changes in the worship service comes with this new book, which still is a learning experience to many of us who had used the old book since 1959.

Building on Pastor Schiff's increase in the celebration of Holy Communion, the congregation in 1988 again increased it to twice a month.

In January 1988, Holy Trinity became a part of the new Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a new name adopted after the merger of national Lutheran Church bodies.

In 1986, Holy Trinity entered into a Mission Partner relationship with New Life Lutheran in Gallipolis. A $2,000 interest-free loan since has been repaid several times. That same money was loaned to Faith Lutheran, Jackson, Ohio, in 1990.

As early as 1982, the Holy Trinity Congregational Council started discussing a shared ministry with the New Lebanon Lutheran congregation in Junction City. In August 1987, Holy Trinity voted in favor of joining with New Lebanon to form the Holy Trinity-New Lebanon Parish. Both congregations retain their councils, but also formed was the Parish Council which has its own budget, supported by the two congregations, and conducts the Parish Business. There also was established a practice of joint congregational council meetings.

Many of the special church holiday services are held jointly with a rotation of location in the two churches.

In 1991, the Southern Ohio Synod Assembly approved the Southeast Ohio Strategy. This opens the way for area congregations to work together and help each other.

Recognizing the need for recreation opportunities for the youth of the area, Holy Trinity has established "The Alternative" a program for junior high and senior high students. Twice a month, on Friday nights, the church basement is opened to all youth of the community. They have music for dancing and refreshments. The events are well chaperoned and the type of music is limited to mostly light rock. On a recent Friday night as many as 125 young people have attended.

Our facility has been blessed with many physical improvements thanks to the handiwork of Mr. Greg Strohl who made the mailbox, visitor's lecture, the cross hanging at the front of the church as well as refinished the altar and the front doors of the church. The Pairs and Spares provided the furniture for the newly remodeled nursery and the kitchen now has a beautiful new island. The past few years also saw the removal of the front yard tree which marred the view of our circular decorative window. Rick Kokensparger provided the landscaping materials which presently adorn the outside of the church. A new ramp was erected on the High Street side of the church and the old house at the back of the church was demolished to provide the present parking lot. The parsonage was sold and the church purchased the Carney property to provide for future growth. The basement has new carpet, classroom dividers and a lowered ceiling with a new heating system.

H.T.L.C. offers Sunday School, Luther League, junior choir, Bell Choir, Saturday's Sheep, Confirmation, The Alternative, Bible school and new this year, Bible camp for the youth of the church. Besides church council which governs the church, H.T.L.C. has a Senior choir, Congregational Life Committee, Christian Education Committee, A.L.C.W., Dartball, Bible study, Evangelism Committee, Pairs and Spares, Crisis Committee and Prayer Chain.

Other dedications include the hanging cross, bell choir shelves, visitors'' lectern, refinishing of the altar and front doors, all work done by Greg Strohl, and new microphones and sound system in memory of Jim Edwards.

Much has changed, but our Lord has remained unchanged through it all. God is our present help and our future hope.