• For a number of years, the Protestants in Tamaqua held church in a school house on Dutch Hill and later in a union church building.

• In 1835 the Rev. Hassinger, a traveling pastor, organized a Lutheran and Reformed congregation.• The cornerstone for the first Protestant church was laid on June 18, 1873, and was dedicated on Sept. 19. It was a small frame church having three windows on each side and a window on each side of the entrance leading into the edifice. A bell hung in the steeple. The church was located on the present St. John's Lutheran Cemetery on Dutch Hill. The church was known as the Union Church.• This church was used by both denominations until 1884.• In 1887, the Lutherans erected a bilingual school building on the corner of Mauch Chunk and Pine streets.• German Lutherans gained financial control in 1875, and teaching using the English language was terminated at the school. The English Lutherans moved to the basement of the Union Church.• On Jan. 27, 1876, Zion English Evangelical Lutheran Church began as a congregation of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania.• On June 26, 1876, a chapel, "The Little church on the Schuylkill," was dedicated, and it stands today and is known as the Italian Club.• In 1916 under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. George A. Gebert, the congregation purchased land on the corner of Mauch Chunk and Greenwood streets, with additional footage being purchased in 1932. The total cost was $9,750. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in 1924.• On Sept. 23, 1928, the church was dedicated. The day marked the Rev. Gebert's 71st birthday.• Between 1928 and 1947, church services were held in the social hall located on the first floor. After World War II the congregation, with the guidance of Pastor J.O. Schlitzer, made the commitment to complete the construction. On the day of dedication in 1947, Zion was called "a towering edifice which stands out as a testimony of a devoted pastor and people to their God."• In 1976, the 100th anniversary of Zion was celebrated, and a banquet closed the year celebration with 350 in attendance.• In 2001, the 125th anniversary of Zion was celebrated.Zion Pastors• Jan. 1876-Sept. 1877: Rev.

D.W.S. Erb• Sept. 1877-Sept. 1883: Rev. W. H. Laubenstein• Jan. 1884-April 1886: Rev. G.H. Drumheller• Jan 1886-1890: Rev. J. O. Schlenker• Sept. 1891-1939: Rev. Dr. George A. Gebert• 1939-1944: Rev. Maynard C. Hallock• 1944-1951: Rev. Charles C. Schlitzer• 1951-1956: Rev. Stanley B. Jennings• 1956-1961: Rev. Luther K. Mohr• 1961-1970: Rev. Robert M. Heiberger• 1971-1987: Rev. F. Peter Muhr• 1988-1991: Rev. Robert W. Bush• 1992-2006: Rev. Fred T. Crawford• 2006-2008: Rev. James C. Covert, Interim• 2008-2010: Rev. Debra K. Ernst• 2010-2013: Rev. Jeffrey P. Kistler, Interim• 2013-2016: Rev. Virginia Goodwin, Interim• 2015-present: Vicar Cindy White