Church History: Conestoga Reformed Church, Conestoga Center, Lancaster Co., PA

Copy 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/lancaster/
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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. 288-290

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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CONESTOGA REFORMED CHURCH, CONESTOGA CENTER

The Congestoga Center Charge, for so it was first called, originated in the 
following manner.  In 1842, Mr. C. F. Hoffmeier, then a student for the ministry 
under Rev. G. W. Glessner, at Lancaster, was sent by the Lancaster County Bible 
Society to the village of Conestoga Center and vicinity to furnish the Word of 
God to families destitute of it.  In his travels he met Reformed families not 
actively connected with any church.  There was then in Conestoga an old log 
Church, built conjointly by the Reformed and Lutheran people, but the Reformed 
people had not been organized into a congregation.  Mr. Hoffmeier commenced 
preaching there in 1842, and continued his services until he completed his 
studies in 1843, having as a result twenty-three members in eleven months, also, 
two classes of catechumens, one numbering twelve and the other eleven.  The 
members of these classes were confirmed by Rev. G. W. Glessner.  The 
congregation was organized November 30, 1842.  The new church was built in 1844, 
and was called the German Church.  In 1845 Rev. Peter Sweigart became pastor.  
He organized congregations at Millersville and Rohrerstown and these were added 
to the Conestoga Charge.  After one year of faithful service, Rev. Sweigart, on 
account of failing health, was obliged to resign.

After several years of supplies by Revs. Heffelfinger and Zahner, Rev. E. 
Reinecke became pastor in 1848.  At the close of 1849, Rev. Herman Rust became 
pastor and in 1851, Rev. Joel Reber.  The charge was vacant from 1854 to 1856 
when Rev. J. W. Hoffmeier was called.  He served until Janaury 1, 1858, when 
Conestoga was detached from this charge and added to the New Providence Charge 
of which Rev. J. V. Eckert was the pastor.  In 1867, the church was reunited 
with the congregations with which it had been affiliated, but then these three 
congregations were called the Millersville Charge.

Rev. L. D. Steckel was pastor from September 1867 to August 1868; Rev. A. B. 
Shenkle, from Spring 1869 to April 1878; Rev. J. P. Moore, from July 1878 to May 
1883; Rev. J. P. Stein, from January 1884 to May 1888, when the congregation was 
united with the Maytown Charge.  Rev. J. F. Mackley was pastor from January 1889 
to May 1890; Rev. M. M. Noacher, from July 1890 to October 1893.

In December 1893, the congregation was detached from the Maytown Charge and was 
supplied by a committee of Lancaster Classis until December 1894, when it was 
united with the Willow Street Charge, which was served by Rev. D. W. Gerhard.  
In 1898, Rev. O. B. Wehr became the pastor, and continued until 1901.  Rev. 
Herman S. Shelley became pastor in 1902, and served until 1916, when Rev. G. A. 
Stauffer succeeded him.  Rev. Mr. Stauffer resigned in 1923.  In 1924, Rev. 
David Scheirer became pastor and continued until 1934, when his son, Rev. Paul 
C. Scheirer became his assistant, and served the Conestoga congregation until 
1936.  Rev. Raymond C. Strine was pastor from 1936 to 1939.  In February, 1939, 
the Conestoga Church was detached from the Willow Street Charge and constituted 
a separate supply point.

Among the prominent members of the church was Mr. Jacob R. Yentzer, who was a 
member from 1855, until his death in 1933, at the age of 83 years.  Mr. Yentzer 
played the first organ used in the church and had charge of the music.  The 
congregation did not have an organ in the church, so he bought a melodeon, and 
each Saturday evening four men would carry the melodeon to the church, and on 
Monday morning carry it back to his home again.  They did this for a long time 
until the congregation was finally able to buy an organ.
                                          --Miss Blanche B. Zercher