A History of Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church​

 

For more than one hundred years, Bethlehem remained a Moravian settlement. Soon after its incorporation as a borough in 1845, members of another denomination began to purchase property and build homes there, including a number of Lutherans and Reformed. By 1849, there was sufficient interest to begin a union congregation; and with the help of local Moravian pastors, the Salem Union Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed Church was formed. On August 24, 1850, a constitution was adopted; and on September 1, the cornerstone was laid for the church building which was dedicated on Easter Sunday of the next year.

 

Also, during 1851, a plot on Church Street was purchased for a joint cemetery. The United Cemetery Association of Bethlehem still exists, with three members each from Salem and from Christ Church UCC serving on its board. In October of 1851, the Rev. Christian F. Welden accepted the call to become the first fulltime pastor of Salem. Born in Germany, Paster Welden was fluent both in German and English and conducted services in both languages. The congregations grew rapidly as more and more people moved into town. A steeple was added to the building in 1852, the Sunday School was organized in 1853, and a cabinet organ was installed in 1854.