CHURCH HISTORY: Wenrich's Reformed Church, Paxton 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. 253-255

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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WENRICH'S REFORMED CHURCH

Rev. Elias H. Phillips, Pastor

The authentic history of Wenrich's Reformed Church began in the year 1791, when 
the first congregation was organized.  As early as 1730, however, there were a 
few scattered members of the Reformed faith who worshipped in a school house not 
far from the location of the present place of worship.

The church was named after Francis Wenrich, who settled in Paxton Township, 
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in 1784.  From Andrew Berryhill he purchased a 
twenty and one-half-acre tract deeded by King George III through the Penns.  To 
four denominations, Lutheran, Reformed, Presbyterian and Episcopal, he donated 
two and three-quarter acres as a site for a house of worship and parochial 
school.  The tract was surveyed in 1792, and the deed bears the date of January 
9, 1793.  Thus in the year 1794 the second house of worship, also a log building 
was built and dedicated.

In the year 1856 the corner stone of the third building was laid and the church 
dedicated in 1857.  This was a brick building.  In 1892 it was remodeled and 
rededicated, and has remained unchanged architecturally until the present.

The first pastor was Rev. Anthony Hautz, who served from 1791 to 1804.  Three 
congregations comprised the charge:  Harrisburg, Shoop's and Wenrich's.  Rev. 
John Helffenstein succeeded him, serving from 1805 to 1808.  During the 
pastorate of Rev. Philip Gloninger, 1808 to 1814, the Charge consisted of 
Harrisburg, Middletown, Shoop's, Hummelstown and Wenrich's.  Rev. Frederick 
Rahauser served the same Charge from 1816 to 1819.  The congregations comprising 
the charge during the pastorate of Rev. John Winebrenner (1820-1826), who left 
the Reformed Church and founded the Church of God, organized the first 
congregation in Linglestown.  In 1827, he built the first "Bethel" or House of 
God of the denomination in America.

During the pastorate of Rev. Peter Fisher 1826 to 1832, Shell's was added to the 
Charge.  Rev. Augustus Paulis served from 1833 to 1834.  Rev. F. M. Rascheg from 
1934 (sic) to 1835; Rev. David Bassler from 1835 to 1852; the Charge now 
consisting of Hummelstown, Harrisburg, Shoop's, Binafe's (Bindagle's) Brick 
Stone, and Wenrich's.  It was during the pastorate of Rev. D. Y. Heisler, 1853-
1856, that preaching in the English language was introduced, the charge being 
known as the Hummelstown Charge.  Rev. M. A. Smith served from 1856 to 1866, the 
charge consisting of Hummelstown, Union Deposit, Sandy Hollow, Shoop's and 
Wenrich's.  From 1867 to 1880, Rev. Samuel Kuhn was pastor.

During the year 1881 the charge was vacant, being supplied by Revs. John G. 
Fritchey and E. V. Gerhart, the latter becoming pastor and serving until 1882.  
The Charge was now called the Hanover Charge and comprised Shoop's, Shell's, 
Wenrich's and Union Deposit.  Apparently there was an unceasing allocation and 
re-allocation of congregations in the charge for in the pastorate of Rev. John 
F. Moyer, 1888 to 1892, the Charge comprised Hummelstown, Union Deposit, Shoop's 
and Wenrich's.  From 1892 to 1893 Rev. Rufus Miller was pastor; from 1894 to 
1899 Rev. Frank Kerr; from 1899 to 1900, Rev. W. H. Landis; from 1901 to 1904, 
Rev. H. R. Kreider; and from 1905 to 1907, Rev. George B. Raezer.  During Rev. 
Raezer's pastorate another change was made in the Charge.  Penbrook was added to 
Shoop's, Wenrich's and Shell's, and the charge was known as Shoop's Charge.  In 
1907, Rev. D. D. Brendle became pastor and served until 1910.  During his 
pastorate Penbrook was assigned to another Charge.  Rev. Lewis Reiter began his 
pastorate in 1910 and ministered until 1919.  He was succeeded in July, 1920, by 
Rev. Elias H. Philips who is the present pastor.  In the year 1925, the name of 
the Charge was changed from Shoop's to Colonial Park, and now comprises Colonial 
Park, formerly Shoop's, Wenrich's and Shell's.