CHURCH HISTORY: St. Paul's (Enterline) Reformed Church, Jefferson Township, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/
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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. 270-271

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. PAUL'S (ENTERLINE) REFORMED CHURCH

(This Church is also known as "Bowerman's Church")

Rev. George W. Moyer, Pastor

This church is located in Jefferson Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  
Both Lutheran and Reformed congregations were organized in 1825.  The original 
records are in German script, and are faded to the extent of not being easily 
read.  The Reformed congregation was organized by the Rev. Isaac Gerhart, and 
was known as the "German Reformed Church".

The first church building was erected during 1826, and was dedicated on January 
17, 1827.  The building faced East, the dimensions being 25 feet wide, by 35 
feet long.  The structure was built of logs, and was not weatherboarded, and had 
no steeple.  The basement of the building was used for the community school 
room.  The Pulpit in the church auditorium was very high with a long stairway 
and was surrounded by a railing with a little gate to enter.  The auditorium was 
equipped with straight-backed seats, "open to the neck".  The gable ends of the 
building had semi-circular windows.

In 1846 the church was plastered and weatherboarded, and painted white, and a 
new pulpit was put in.  In 1860, a belfry was added, and a bell hung, and in 
1890 an organ was purchased and dedicated.  In 1902, during the pastorate of 
Rev. Paul J. Dundore, the old building was no more safe, and it was decided to 
raze it and build a new church.  A new building was then erected on the same 
spot which is the present edifice.  The corner stone was laid July 2, 1902, and 
the Church was dedicated April 24, 1903, the cost being about $4,000.  In 1924 a 
metal ceiling was placed, and the inside of the church painted, and a new carpet 
laid; and in 1925 a new piano was purchased and dedicated, and altar, pulpit and 
lectern covers were secured.

This church always belonged to the "Armstrong Valley Charge".  The chronological 
order of the Reformed pastors is the same at that of St. Peter's (Fetterhoff's).