Sketch of the Rader Lutheran Church and its servey.
By Harry M. Strickler 1927
(from page E of "Record Book of the Rader Lutheran Church"
by D. William A. Rader (1990))
"Rader Church congregation is one of the oldest in the county of Rockingham, having been organized prior to 1766, probably as early as 1750. The meeting house was first constructed of logs. This was replaced in 1806. The present structure is a fine white frame building built in l878. It is located on Fort Run Creek about a mile northwest of Timberville, a public road passing between the old cemetery and the church. The new part of the cemetery is on the same side of the road as the church. It was Jointly owned by the Lutheran and Reformed Congregations until about 1880 when the latter built a new meeting house in the town of Timberville. As a center this old church antedates the town of Timberville.'
"Located on the church lot as early as 1813 was a school house which proves that these pioneers were interested in education. Why was the stream on which the church property is located called Fort Run? It is more than likely that the name was derived from an early fort that was located thereon and that fort was at or near the church. In fact during the early days of the settlement it is highly probable that the fort was also used as a meeting house. This was the custom at other places.'
"An early deed recites that the church is located in the "forest". A large section of Rockingham County north of Timberville was known as the "forest" in early times and in fact I have heard the name used in my time. So far as I know no store, church crossroads corner, or other definite place has that name. It is an indefinite name and applies to a large and indefinite section, in pioneer days probably heavily timbered. This evidently suggested the name of the town of Timberville, a thriving village on the south side of the southern railroad and on the bank of the Shenandoah River, where I was born.,
"The Rader family was a prominent one in the early days. Anthony Rader was the first Justice for a long time and in 1777 he was Captain of militia and Adam, Jr. was vice Captain. Adam Sr., who deeded the land for the earlier church by that name, died in 1773, teste, leaving surviving him five sons and three daughters The name of the sons were George, Samuel, Mathias, Anthony and Adam. On May 20, 1765 Adam Reider [Rader] and Anna, his wife, Alexander Painter [Peinter, Bender] and Margaret, his wife, conveyed three acres of land to Peter Scholl on behalf of the Presbyterian Congregation and to Michael Neice on behalf of the Lutheran Congregation. At this time a meeting house was standing on or near the lot conveyed by this deed which contains this expression "Back of said meeting house where it now stands.'
"On May 7th, 1812, Adam Rader and Nicholas Cern (Karn) convey to Henry Stolp on behalf of the Presbyterian Congregation, and John Roller on behalf of the Lutheran Congregation. The deed recites that the description in the deed of 1765 was not satisfactory which is the reason for the execution of this deed; that Adam Rader, the Elder, and Alexander Painter had long since died and the above Adam Rader and Nicholas Carn were their legal heirs, respectively