History of Trinity United Church of Christ Evangelical and Reformed Church Thornville Trinity Congregation

Prepared by Allen Alspach for the Centennial Celebration November 4, 5, and 7, 1937 and updated in 1976 by Mr. and Mrs. Mike Clum

The pioneer minister of the Reformed Church in Ohio was Rev. George Weiss of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.
At a meeting of the Synod of the Reformed Church at New Holland, Lancaster County, Pa. he was commissioned to visit New Lancaster and neighboring localities in the State of Ohio, whence petitions had reached Synod earnestly calling for ministers. He arrived in Lancaster, Ohio October 20th, 1816 and spent two months visiting localities in Fairfield, Perry, Pickaway and Ross Counties.

He then returned to the east and completed his studies under Dr. Helffenstine in Philadelphia, returning to Lancaster, Ohio the following year. At that time he was the only Reformed minister in the vast field of Central Ohio and first he supplied thirteen congregations which were scattered over four counties, at a distance from each other varying from twenty to fifty six miles.

The whole classis of Lancaster, excepting the Columbus and Delaware charges grew out of this extensive field of labor. On the 23rd of April, 1820, the first classis of the Reformed Church, west of the Allegheny Mountains was organized in Lancaster, Ohio. Five ministers and four Elders were present. The Synod of Ohio was organized June 1824.