Rev. Christopher Kriebel

Arrived in America with his parents in 1734 and settled in Lower Salford T ownship, in what is now Montgomery Co, PA. He was naturalized 24 Sep 1745.

Rev. Christopher Kriebel inherited his father's farm in 1741, but did not receive his conveyances until June, 1750. On May 6, 1784, he sold 125 1/2 acres of his farm to his son, Jeremiah, for 700 pounds in specie. He also owned other land which was bought and sold at various times.

Having been chosen teacher of the young, for more than thirty years (1 764-1797), Rev. Kriebel met his class in Bible study every two weeks. He encouraged his pupils to write out comments on the assigned topics or scripture passages. In this way he spent eight years studying the Gospel of S t. John, recording his own questions and answers which cover more than one thousand pages of manuscript. In the same manner he studied other parts of the Bible, and penned a number of volumes so systematically that a study of four volumes shows a variation of not more than two lines to a page.

In 1782 he was elected a minister of the Schwenkfelder Society, and served faithfully until 1796, when he asked to be relieved and was succeed ed by Rev. Christopher Hoffman.

He was an important factor in the organization of the Church in 1782. Many of his sermons are preserved as well as eight hymns which he composed and published in 1762. His home was often used as a meeting place for divine worship as well as for conferences for the welfare of the Schwenkfelder body.

Christopher Kriebel's Letter Book, termed by the author a "Schrifft en Sammlung," is a collection of more than sixty different letters copied from originals from the "Heintze Correspondence" which was carried on between the Schwenkfelders who came to Pa. in 1734 and those of the same faith who remained behind in Silesia. The principal correspondents were Christopher Kriebel and Christopher Schultz of Pennsylvania on the one hand, and Carl Ehrenfried Heintze of Silesia on the other.

This book contains 368 pages and comprises more than 60 letters. Rev. Kriebel began compiling them in 1765 and completed the task in 17 92 at the age of 72. The author states that his object in compiling this collection was that poster might read them and profit thereby.

The entire book is written in German manuscript in very small type, and closely written, but of great clearness and beauty. These letters are a mine of information on both the religious conditions existing in Pa. and Silesia and also as regards the social conditions prevailing. When in later life Heintze's faith began to waver, both Christophers wrote him such impressive and overwhelming arguments, urging him to remain steadfast, that the former in his reply told them that the next time they wrote they should be brief so that the letters would not require so much postage. In one of these letters, dated 1769, Christopher Kriebel writes:

(Translation)

"We in Cosehehoppe, Shippach and Towamencin have our own burying grounds at each place. Many have burying grounds on their own land for their f amilies. Others who live a considerable distance away have buried their dead in burying grounds of people who are not of our faith, since those of quite different religious views have buried there, for the earth is quite common to such use in our land. We also allow our neighbors who live near us, and are of different religious views, to bury in our grounds."

Rev. Christopher Kriebel led a busy and active life, dying the last day of the 18th century. His tombstone in Salford Cemetery has the inscription, "Christopher Kribel, der Lehrer der Schwenkfelder Gemeinde." (Transl ation)--Christopher Kriebel, the teacher of the Schwenkfelder Congregation .

(From "Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families: Seekers of Religious Liberty who Fled from Silesia to Saxony and Thence to Pennsylvania in the Years 1731 to 1737." Edited by Samuel Kriebel Brecht, A.M. Printed for The Board of Publication of the Schwenkfelder Church, Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. Rand McNally & Company. 1923.)