The below was taken from the plaque mounted on the end of the old church ruins:



"The land was given by Thomas Lord Fairfax by patent dated May 15, 1753 to David Dieterich, Jacob Seibert, Christophen Lambert and George Michael Laubinger, trustees "For the use of the people called Lutherans in the County of Frederick." The corner stone was laid April 1, 1765. Walls and roof completed in 1772. Fully completed in 1793. Destroyed by fire September 27, 1854.



The congregation was admitted to the Ministerium of Pennsylvania in 1762 and the Rev Carl Frederich Wildbahn was the first authorized minister. He was forced by the Indians, whose depredations interfered with his work and the building of a church, to retire to Conewango, PA. Only visiting ministers thereafter preached here. Among them Major-General the Rev Peter Muhlenberg of Woodstock VA until the Rev Christian Streit because them regular pastor on July 19, 1785. He had served as Chaplain of the 8th VA Regt Continental Line during the Revolution and was the only dissenting minister to hold the commission of Chaplain of Virginia troops. He is buried near the East wall of these ruins. During the Revolution the Church was used as barracks for American troops. The two bells in the tower were cast in Bremen, Germany and were the first to call people to worship in Winchester. One of the bells still serves the present congregation. The old church contained the first church organ in this community. Here in 1820 was organized the Synnod of Maryland and Virginia.



A document written in Latin, subscribed by the Rev Johann Caspar Kirchner, officiating minister Ludwig Adamus, scribe, and Antony Ludi, School Master, placed in the corner stone preserved the names of the founders. As follows: Thoas Schmidt, Nicolaus Schrach, Christoph Heuschel, DAvid Dieterich, Christoph Wetzel, Peter Helfenstein, Geo-Michael Laubinger, Heinrich Beker, Jacob Braun, Stephen Fraenchel, Christoph Altrith, Tobias Otto, Eberhard Dorig, Andreas Friedly, Christoph Heinz, Imanuel Buger, Dewald Hiegel, Jacob Trautwein, Joh Sigmond Haenli, Johannes Lemley, Johannes Lentz, Christian Schumacher, Michael Roger, Michael Warnig, Christoph Lambert, Samuel Wendel, Mihael Gluck, Julius Spickert, Balthaser Po, Jacob Koppenhaber, Heinrich Weller, Christian Newberger.



Notable contributors to the building fund were Col George William Fairfax, Col William Byrd III of Westover, and the Hon William Nelson of Yorktown."