William Hendel
William Hendel [1]
one of the pioneers of the German Reformed Church in the United States, was born in the Palatinate in the first half of the 18th century. Having completed his theological studies, he came to America in 1764, and in Jan. 1765 became pastor of the German Reformed congregation at Lancaster, Pa. During the years 1769-1782 he had charge of the congregation at Tulpehocken and neighboring congregations. Indeed, he served as many as nine at a time, besides making frequent missionary excursions. In Sept. 1782, he accepted a call to return to his Lancaster congregation. He was made D.D. by the College of New Jersey in 1788. In February, 1794, he removed to Philadelphia, which was his last station. Shortly after his arrival the yellow fever broke out the second time, and while faithfully ministering to the sick and dying, he died of the fever Sept. 29, 1798. Dr. Hendel was a good scholar, and a man of great pulpit talents. — Harbaugh, Fathers of the Reformed Church, ii, 120 sq.
