Berkenmyer William Christopher

Berkenmyer William Christopher a Lutheran minister, was born at Bodenteich, Germany, and was thoroughly educated in his native land. He received and accepted a call from the Amsterdam Lutheran Consistory, to take charge of a congregation in New York. He was ordained by the Consistory of Amsterdam, May 25, 1725, and immediately commenced his pastoral labors. He was pastor of the Trinity Lutheran Church, corner of Broadway and Rector streets, New York city, being the successor of Rev. Justus Falkner, who was called to this pastorate in 1703. Mr. Bergenmyer resigned in 1732. Under these two-ministers the Dutch Lutheran Church in New York city prospered greatly. The log building was taken down, and a substantial stone edifice with belfry and bell was erected on the same site, collections for that purpose having been sent from Hackensack, Albany, London, Amsterdam, etc. He is said to have divided his time between New York and Albany, where he continued to labor until the close of his life in 1751. In 1728 he published a work. entitled, Getrouwe Herderen wachter- stem aan de Hoog-en Needer Duitsche Lutteriaanen in dese Gewesten, een-stemmig te Zyn, etc. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, i, 14; Quar. Rev. of Evang. Luth. Church, 7:272.