Church History: St. John's Reformed Church, Denver, 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. 248-249

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. JOHN'S REFORMED CHURCH, DENVER

Rev. Winfield Scott Brendle, Pastor

St. John's, Denver, is the youngest Congregation in the Reamstown Charge.  This 
congregation is not only the youngest, but at the same time numerically the 
strongest.  Within the last score of years the membership has increased from 150 
to 375 or 75 more than double the membership in 1920.

The laying of the corner stone took place May 25, 1890, and the church was 
dedicated November 30, 1890.  The clergymen present on this occasion, 
representing the Reformed Church (for it was then a Union Church) were Rev. R. 
C. Schiedt, Rev. J. V. George and Rev. Stephen Schweitzer.

Five charter members are still living, among them are two who are still faithful 
members of St. John's at the time of this writing.  They are Elder John S. 
Steffy and Mrs. Lizzie Pannebecker.

The first pastor was the Rev. J. V. George.  Rev. George resigned in 1891 to 
accept a call to the Allegheny Charge.  The pastors following him were:  Rev. L. 
J. Mayer, (1891-95); Rev. J. A. Wickert (1895-1915); Rev. W. D. Marburger (1915-
1920) and Rev. W. S. Brendle (1920-present).

Appropriate services in recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of the 
dedication of St. John's were held Sunday, November 10, 1940, with all-day 
services.  The speakers for this occasion were Rev. A. Fred Rentz, Rev. E. L. 
Leisey, Rev. W. R. Knerr, and the pastor.

The officers of St. John's, Denver, are the following:  Elders:  John Bitler, 
Herman Althouse and Milton Steffy; Deacons:  Ira Brendle, Elmer Davidson, Eugene 
Glass, Paul Sayer, Walter Bender and Cloyd Brendle.

Trustees are Wm. B. Walter and Ray F. Bender.  The present Superintendent of the 
Sunday School is Paul Sayer, and the organist, Clifford Althouse.