Church History: St. Paul's Reformed Church, Quarryville, 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/ ________________________________________________ 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. 310-316 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. ________________________________________________ ST. PAUL'S REFORMED CHURCH, QUARRYVILLE Rev. C. H. Kichline, Pastor St. Paul's German Reformed Church of Quarryville, Pa., is marked by two well- defined periods in its history. The first from June 2, 1851 to June 1, 1900, when it constituted a part of the Zion New Providence Charge, and shared its pastor and its parsonage; the second from June 1, 1900, when it was constituted a separate pastoral charge, until the present. The congregation has the unique distinction of having had a church building erected before its congregation was organized. Prior to its organization, Quarryville was a mere hamlet, with a small population, surrounded by many good people in the immediate vicinity. Some attended divine services at Octorara, others at Chestnut Level, both Presbyterian churches, while quite a number were attendants and members of Zion Reformed Church at New Providence. Private homes and school buildings were utilized in the community as places for worship until the erection of the church building. Inasmuch as the congregation at the time of its organization, automatically became a part of the Zion New Providence charge, the best history for the beginning, organization, and progress of the congregation must be gleaned from the records of Zion Reformed Church, New Providence. We quote from Zion's record, Vol. III, pp. 8-16; 161-166: The want of a house of worship in the vicinity of Quarryville was long and seriously felt, and was often a subject of conversation among the friends of religion, morality, and good order, but not until the Second of June, 1851, was any active effort made towards the accomplishment of so laudable and desirable an object, when a few individuals met at the house of Geo. W. Hensel, in Quarryville, and drew up a form of subscription, and opened a book for subscribers, for the purpose of raising a sum of money sufficient to erect a house of worship, or a church under the name and title of "St. Paul's German Reformed Church, of Quarryville, Pa". The principal actors in the enterprise were the Rev. E. H. Hoffheins, pastor of Zion Reformed Church, New Providence; Messrs. Daniel Lefevre, Geo. W. Hensel, Jno. Mowrer, Peter Bush, Jacob Aument, Geo. Aument, and others. At a subsequent meeting Messrs. Daniel Lefevre, Geo. W. Hensel, and Geo. Aument were appointed a building committee, and were authorized to contract for the building of the church. Mr. William Philips was engaged to do the mason work at the rate of 85 cents per perch, and find his board, and do his own scaffolding. Mr. Jacob Johnson was employed to do the carpenter work at 90 cents per day; Mr. McKim the plastering, and Mr. Tomlinson the painting. The necessary preparations for the erection of the church were speedily made, and on the 16th day of August, 1851, the corner stone was laid with appropriate religious services. The following pastors were present and participated in the services: Rev. E. H. Hoffheins, pastor of Zion's Church, New Providence, Lancaster County, Pa., Rev. H. Harbaugh, of the First German Reformed Church, Lancaster; Rev. N. A. Keyes, of the Second Reformed Church, Lancaster; Rev. J. C. Bucher, Agent of Franklin and Marshall College; and Rev. Solomon McNair, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Octorara. The sermon in the morning was preached by the Rev. H. Harbaugh, the 50th Psalm, second verse. In the afternoon the Rev. N. A. Keyes preached from the words of Isaiah 28:16, after which the corner stone was laid in the presence of a large concourse of people by the Rev. E. H. Hoffheins. The work after the laying of the corner stone progressed rapidly, and was completed by the month of February, 1852. On the 29th of February, the church was solemnly dedicated to the services of Almighty God. The ministers present on the occasion were the Rev. E. H. Hoffheins (pastor elect), Rev. H. Harbaugh, Rev. N. A. Keyes, of Lancaster City, and Rev. W. Goodrich, of Columbia. The services in connection with the dedication of the church, commenced on Friday evening, the 27th, with a sermon by the Rev. W. Goodrich. Services were held on Saturday morning, afternoon and evening. On Sabbath the church was solemnly set apart to the service of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. After a sermon by the Rev. N. A. Keyes, Lev. 19:30: "Ye shall reverence my sanctuary". The Rev. E. H. Hoffheins read the Liturgical Service. In the afternoon of the day of dedication, the congregation was organized, after a sermon by Rev. H. Harbaugh, consisting of about 30 members. The following named persons were installed as officers of the congregation, by the Rev. E. H. Hoffheins, viz: Elders, Daniel Lefevre, Peter Bush, and Daniel Swinehart; Deacons, John Mowrer, Jacob Aument, and Henry Pennypacker; Trustees, George W. Hensel, George Aument, and Richard Edwards. All the elders and deacons were members of Zion, New Providence except Jacob Aument. On Sabbath, March 7, 1852, the Lord's Supper was administered for the first time in the new church, and the rite of confirmation administered to nine persons by the Rev. E. H. Hoffheins. These persons had previously been baptized in Zion Reformed Church, New Providence. Soon after the organization of this congregation, Rev. Mr. Hoffheins accepted a call from the Littlestown Charge, in Adams County, where he labored until his death. The newly organized congregation became a part of the Zion, New Providence Charge, and shared its pastor and its parsonage for a period of fifty years. It was mutually agreed that the pastor should preach in each church, alternating with morning and after- noon services; and that joint meetings of the consistories be held on the first Sunday of each quarter, following divine services. On Sunday, the 28th of November, 1852, the Rev. W. Goodrich preached his trial sermon in the New Providence Charge, with the view of becoming pastor. Immediately after that, the congregations met and unanimously elected him their pastor, and authorized the consistories to make him out a call and obligating themselves in the name of the congregations to pay him the salary of $275.00 yearly, in quarterly payments, with the use of the parsonage. The Classis of Lancaster installed the Rev. W. Goodrich in Zion, New Providence, January 28, 1853. The services were solemn and impres- sive and were concluded with a charge in the German language. Rev. Mr. Goodrich served the charge until July 9, 1854, and was succeeded on October 7, 1854 by the Rev. J. V. Eckert. The record of Sunday School activities at the time of the fall closing of the school, shows that 2,535 Bible verses were committed to memory by the children. When the church debt was to be liquidated in 1855 "a tax was assessed in proportion to each member's wealth", which was seemingly a fair basis. Meanwhile the church was prospering with increasing membership and decreasing debt. The lists of members from the time of the founding of the church, should be inspiring to this generation with such familiar names as: Lefever, Swineheart, Aument, Bush, Mowery, Hensel, Creswell, Kendig, Stanton, Redmond, Keen, Rintz, Hess, Kunkle, and Seiple. On Easter Sunday, 1870, the Rev. Joseph Hannaberry of Shanesville, Ohio, was elected pastor of the charge to succeed the Rev. Mr. Eckert. He entered upon the work the first Sunday of June, and continued until 1875. During that year the charge was supplied by Rev. Walter A. Krebs, a Professor at Franklin and Marshall College. On July 1, 1876, D. B. Shuey, a recent graduate of the Reformed Theological Seminary at Lancaster, was ordained and installed pastor. During his pastorate the envelope system was introduced into the charge for raising the pastor's salary and church expenses. Extensive repairs were made to the church in 1879, including a new steeple and bell, and with the costs provided for, the church was re-dedicated. A number of generous contributions were made by wholesale houses in Philadelphia and Lancaster, with whom the local business men transacted business extensively. Rev. Mr. Shuey resigned the charge, November 1, 1882, having been commissioned by the Tri-Synodic Board of Missions of the Reformed Church, to take charge of the Mission in Emporia, Kansas. The Rev. J. M. Souder, of Lovettsville, Virginia, was installed as pastor of the charge on April 1, 1883. During his pastorate the entire building was remodeled. The work was begun in August, 1893, and on September 30, the corner stone of the first building was relaid by the Rev. J. M. Souder. The building was of stone, handsomely dressed and pointed, and had a fine tall tower inside of which was a large vestibule. The new church building was dedicated June 3, 1894, by the Rev. J. M. Souder. This edifice remained until 1929, when it was razed to be supplanted by the present church building. After a faithful and successful pastor- ate of 17 years and 2 months, the services of Rev. Mr. Souder were concluded when the congregation was erected into a separate pastoral charge May 14, 1900, by the Classis of Lancaster. (End of quotations from records of Zion Reformed, New Providence.) Chapter Two begins with the presence of the Rev. John G. Noss on May 20, 1900, as the special representative of the Classis of Lancaster, to inform the congregation that on and after June 1, 1900, it would be known on the records as a separate pastoral charge. Accordingly the first full time resident pastor was the Rev. A. N. Stubbelbine, who was installed November 4, 1900. He remained the pastor of the congregation until 1904. The congregation being without a pastor for some time, Rev. Walter E. Krebs, of Franklin and Marshall College was again appointed by the Classis of Lancaster to supply the pulpit until a pastor was installed. In May, 1907, the Rev. James Boehm received a call and became pastor. During his pastorate the congregation grew in numbers and took on new interest and spirit. Rev. Mr. Boehm was succeeded by the Rev. E. W. Stonebraker on March 13, 1912. During his pastorate, action was taken to secure an architect to prepare plans for the erection of a parsonage; also to build an addition to the church for Sunday School rooms. While Rev. Mr. Stonebraker was pastor a large men's Bible class was organized, which met in a community hall every Sunday morning, the pastor being the teacher. Out of this class of men some become (sic) pillars of the congregation. In 1916, this pastoral relationship was severed, and Rev. Mr. Stonebraker was succeeded by Rev. Howard Obold. It was during his pastorate that the erection of a parsonage was realized in 1918. The former plans for the additions to the church building were postponed. After a pastorate of over six years, Rev. Mr. Obold was succeeded by Rev. Addison H. Groff, on February 25, 1924. It was during his pastorate that the old church building was razed and the present Church and Sunday School building erected on the same site. Rev. Mr. Groff had a successful pastorate and was succeeded in June, 1932, by the present pastor, Rev. C. H. Kichline.