Jennifer, The Rev. Christian Streit (1749-1812) was the first Lutheran pastor born on American soil. Streit earned B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, and was closely associated with the Muhlenburg family. He served as a chaplain in the Revolutionary War, and held several pastorates before coming to Winchester in 1785 to pastor the Lutheran Church until his death in 1812. Frequently, he preached and performed ceremonies and sacraments in small congregations in the Shenandoah Valley and what is now the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. Rev. Streit's Journal is preserved in the Handley Regional Library, Archives Division, in Winchester. The location of the Old Lutheran Church was in what is now the Mt. Hebron Cemetery in Winchester. Some ruins of the historic church are preserved, namely a limestone wall. Sometimes researchers confuse the Rev. Christian Streit with the Rev. Christy Sine (same initials). Rev. Sine came to the area in 1823 and served churches in Hampshire and Frederick Counties until his death in 1854. He was an early follower of Alexander Campbell, and participated in the development of the Christian Church, sometimes called the Disciples Church, both now merged with the United Church of Christ in this area. Rev. Sine's Journal (1820-1830) has been preserved. If my plans perservere, I expect to publish the Journal, along with maps and supplemental information about the people in his Journal. I have written articles on both of these ministers and their families, for those wishing further information. The published articles are also in the Handley Archives. This is more information than you asked for, but it might be of interest to other subscribers. Wilmer L. Kerns At 03:15 PM 9/26/97 -0500, you wrote: >I'm trying to prove a marriage between Thomas West and Sarah Wright that was >recorded in Old Fred. Co. > 28 Jan. 1790 <. The minister was Christian Streit. > >Does anyone know anything about his denomination? Was he was affiliated with >a specific church and if so, its location? > >Thomas was later a Methodist Episcopal, but he may have started his life in >a different faith. > >If anyone has any information on the families of this couple, I'd be most >appreciative. I have their descendents born in KY; their first born son was >John West, first born daughter, Susan West. > >Jennifer >Jennifer > >Mindscape: a place where ideas, language and the imagination converge >www.netcom.com/~jahmn/today.htm > >