Church History: Center Reformed Church, Terre Hill, Lancaster County, 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. 244-245

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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CENTER REFORMED CHURCH, TERRE HILL

Rev. Winfield Scott Brendle, Pastor

Earliest records of the Center Church Congregation date back of the year 1777, 
at which time the first recorded burial took place.  A sandstone slab, bearing 
this date, marks the grave of Elisabet Schneder, a daughter of one of the early 
settlers, Jacob Schneder.  This same Jacob Schneder was a remote ancestor of the 
world famous missionary, Rev. David B. Schneder, D.D., LL.D., who served 
faithfully in our Japan mission field for half a century (1887-1937).  For about 
a quarter of a century he was the president of North Japan College in Sendai, 
Japan.

Center Church holds the record for sons in the ministry.  The following 
ministers have come from Center:  Rev. David B. Schneder, Rev. Charles B. 
Schneder, Rev. Horace Shiffer, Rev. A. C. Eshelman, and Rev. Ralph S. Weiler.  
Glenn Weaver, a member of this congregation, is a present a student for the 
ministry at Catawba College, Salisbury, N.C.

The present church edifice is a substantial stone building and is the third 
church building erected by this congregation, the first having been a log 
building.  Among her first pastors were Revs. Guldin and Hartz.  Among the later 
ministers who served Center Church, we find the following:  Rev. Stephen 
Schweitzer, Rev. J. V. George, Rev. L. J. Mayer, Rev. J. A. Wickert, Rev. Wm. D. 
Marburger.  The present pastor, Rev. Winfield Scott Brendle, has served since 
1920, a period of twenty-one years.

The present membership is approximately three hundred, an increase of 87 per 
cent. during the past twenty years.

The present officers are the following:  Elders:  Amos B. Schnader, D.D.; Wayne 
Stauffer, Isaac E. Weinhold; Deacons:  Benjamin Zimmerman, George Martin, Irwin 
Bauder, Alvin Stauffer, Warren Benner and Emanuel Weaver.  Trustees are Elmer 
Horning and Paul Burkhart.

Superintendent of the Sunday School is Alvin Stauffer, and the organist, Mrs. 
Elmer Zimmerman.