CHURCH HISTORY: St. Jacob's Reformed Church, Jackson Twp., Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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History of the Classis of Lancaster of the Eastern Synod of the
Reformed Church in the United States, 1852-1940;

Part II, Histories of the Congregations of the Classis of Lancaster, Pg. 274-275

Printed by The New Holland Clarion, New Holland, PA;
Editors Rev. Daniel G. Glass, Rev. C. George Bachman, Rev. Harry E. Shepardson,
Rev. John F. Frantz, Rev. J. N. Le Van, D.D.
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ST. JACOB'S REFORMED CHURCH, MILLER'S

(In Armstrong Valley, Jackson Township, Dauphin County, Pa.)

Rev. George W. Moyer, Pastor

The early record of this congregation bears a date of baptism as early as April 
23, 1828, and deeds show that the nine acres of land, now the joint property of 
the Lutheran and Reformed Congregations, were donated in small tracts, by 
several of the members, a number of years after the date of the first baptism.  
The first house in which worship was held was a combination school-house and 
church, with a shifting partition.

January 1, 1849, a congregational meeting was held, at which it was resolved to 
erect a new church building, the result of which was the present frame edifice, 
built in the summer of 1849, and dedicated in the fall of the same year.  In the 
year 1873 this building was improved by the erection of an addition to the 
church, with a steeple and bell.  While there is no sure record, there is strong 
evidence that the Reformed congregation was organized by Rev. Isaac Gerhart.

During the forties a split took place in both Lutheran and Reformed 
congregations (not much information can be obtained), and a faction built what 
is known as Strow's Church, about a mile distant.  The membership has always 
been small, as the location is not favorable for great growth.

In 1930 the church (Miller's) was renovated and it is now a beautiful little 
sanctuary.  As far as can be learned this congregation has always been a part of 
the Armstrong Valley Reformed Charge, and the chronological order of the 
Reformed Pastors is the same as that of St. Peter's (Fetterhoff's).