Our Story

In October 1916, several people decided to start a Lutheran congregation in Southampton. In June 1917, a plot of land on Street Road at the corner of Churchville Road (where the church sits today!) was purchased and a chapel was donated by the Good Shepherd congregation of Philadelphia. The cornerstone was laid a few months later with a Bible, a new dollar bill, a penny and a copy of the Philadelphia Inquirer placed inside. The chapel was completed in October 1917 and the first service was held on Reformation Sunday, October 28, 1917. The congregation was formally organized as the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Southampton in March 1918.

In April 1920, the congregation called the first pastor - Rev. William Heist - as part of a joint parish with Redeemer Church in South Langhorne (now Penndel). Rev. Heist served both congregations until 1945 when our congregation became self-sustaining under his guidance and formally separated from Redeemer Church in 1949. Through the efforts of Rev. Fred Ringham, the congregation began to sponsor worship services in Lower Southampton which later flourished into the formation of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church. Due to exponential growth of the congregation as people rapidly moved to the suburbs following the war, the need for larger facilities was realized in May 1952. The final church service was held in the old chapel on July 10, 1955. The congregation moved to the temporary quarters in the new church basement until the new building was dedicated on September 25, 1955. The new building provided an enhanced and larger space for worship, an office, classroom space in the remodeled chapel and a fine fellowship hall.

By 1960, due to Rev. Richard Boye's tremendous preaching and teaching, the Sunday School had exploded with enrollment reaching 500 pupils. Classes were being held at the nearby Shelmire School, the old parsonage, the Fire Company and the Southampton Rod & Gun Club. In addition, despite three worship services on Sunday, there simply was not sufficient space to accommodate everyone. In order to expand the building, additional land was acquired through three separate transactions. The Nave was redesigned to provide seating for 350 worshippers with an enlarged chancel, improved sound amplification system and ventilation system. An education building with 22 classrooms, parlor, projection room, sacristy and offices for the Pastor and church staff, storage and boiler room was also completed and dedicated in 1963. Later that year, plans began to unfold for a new Lutheran congregation to the north and the congregation cooperated in the founding of Advent Lutheran Church in Richboro.

To help Rev. Boye provide for the large congregation, associate pastors were employed at various points over the next couple decades to assist in different areas. The Good Shepherd Preschool was formed in 1972 and the final building expansion that included the current Sanctuary and office wing was built and dedicated in 1974. Rev. Boye accepted a new call in 1980 and Rev. Calvin Kuder was called to serve in 1981. During his tenure, the size of the congregation plateaued as the Baby Boomers began their own families. Rev. Kuder oversaw the expansion of the Christian education program and was instrumental in the expansion of the congregation's social ministry programs until his retirement in 1995.

Rev. Gary Woodruff was called in 1996. During his tenure, the focus on the music and youth programs allowed them to blossom into the incredible programs that we offer today. The congregation also began to discuss the renewal of the Sanctuary to update the look and technology systems and other maintenance projects in the building. The designs and capital plan were approved by the congregation in 2002 and the project was completed in 2009. At that point, Rev. Michael Carlson was leading the congregation. His unique ability to relate the daily lesson to everyday life, movies, music and current events attracted new members during a time when many churches are losing members.

Rev. Dr. Miles Hopgood was called in March of 2024, and we’re excited for this new chapter in Good Shepherd’s history.