The Rev. H. Roberts Lorenz

He received a B.A. degree from Maryville College in Tennessee, received a Masters of Divinity from the Philadelphia Divinity School in 1958 and a Masters Degree in Music History from West Chester University. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, Fr. Lorenz served God and his people and with his passion and talent for sacred composition brought his music to his congregations.

Fr. Lorenz first was appointed to St. Luke’s Kensington in the summer of 1958 and soon became rector. During that time in 1966 he was elected Dean of the Deanery of North Philadelphia (Fairmount Deanery) and served for five years. In 1969, he was called to Ascension Episcopal Church, Parkesburg. In 1971 the Bishop assigned the parish of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Compass to his care as well. In 1973 Fr. Lorenz went to St. John’s Compass full time and served there for 27 years. In addition to his parochial duties, he served the Brandywine Deanery as secretary for several years. In his parish he developed choirs for adults, youth, children and cherubs and wrote music for them.  In addition from 1978 to 1980 he directed a community choir which performed at St. John’s Compass and Sandy Hill Mennonite church. Fr. Lorenz retired from St. John's in Compass December 1997. He then served as Liturgical Assistant at St. John’s Lancaster from 1998 to the spring of 2012 when he returned home to St. John’s at Compass.

Fr. Lorenz and Joan moved to Tel Hai Retirement Community from Gap in 2010. Fr. Lorenz sang in the Tel Hai choir and was a participant in the Thursday morning Bible Study Group

The Rev. Lorenz has had a hymn tune for “I Know not What the Day Will Bring,”published in the hymnal, Fear Not little Flock, Volume II in 2007 and wrote a hymn, “Venture” that was sung at the 195th Convention of the Diocese of Pennsylvania.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joan, at Honey Brook, PA, his son, Christopher of Coatesville, PA, his daughter, Jennifer of Gap, PA and his son, David of Brooklyn, NY: also his grandchildren, Nathaniel Hoskins, Jessica Lorenz, Emily Hoskins, Christopher Lorenz, James Lorenz, and Irena Rose Lorenz. He is also survived by his brother, Paul F. Lorenz of Norristown, PA and his brother John M. Lorenz at Linville, PA.

We will celebrate his life and work at a Hymn Festival, Saturday, August 11, at 7 PM at St. John’s Episcopal Church Lancaster, 321 W. Chestnut St. Lancaster, PA.  A Funeral Eucharist will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Compass, 1520 W. Kings Highway, Gap, PA 17527 on Sunday, August 12, at 2 PM.  Clergy are invited to vest and process: white stoles please.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Building Fund at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Compass or the Music Fund at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster.

Arrangements by the Wilde Funeral Home of Parkesburg.  Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com