Church: History: St. Paul's (Millbach), Schaefferstown Charge: Lebanon Co, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Linnea T Miller
 ltmiller@geocities.com

USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals
		and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices
		and submitter information is included. Any other use,
		including copying files to other sites requires
		permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to
		any other sites. We encourage links to the state and
		county table of contents.
____________________________________________________________

Centennial History of Lebanon Classes of the Reformed Church in the U.S.,
 1820 - 1920, Compiled by Prof. Thos. S. Stein, Lebanon PA: Sowers Printing 
Company.

Excerpts from Chapter VI: "Sketches of Congregations"

St. Paul's (Millbach), Schaefferstown Charge.
Rev. A.J. Bachman, Pastor.

	This congregation was organized in the year 1747 by the Rev. Conrad
 TEMPELMAN. The first church was a small log house erected in 1753. The
 building was superseded by a frame building which stood until 1790, when
 the present substantial stone structure was erected. The building committee
 were Adam STUMP, Alexander SCHAEFFER, Martin HECKENDORF, Jost HOFFMAN and
 ___ BOLLMAN.
	The centennial was celebrated on October 8, 9 and 10, 1847, when, besides
 the pastor, Rev, Thos. H. LEINBACH, Revs. Henry WAGNER and Joel L. REBER
 assisted in the services. The report states that there were also present
 two students, Aaron S. LEINBACH and Jonathan E. HIESTER.
	The Millbach congregation was exclusively Reformed. The building was
 remodeled and rededicated November 27th, 1853. Rev. Isaac K, LOOSE preached
 on the theme, "Thy Kingdom Come."
	The present church building was enlarged and improved at considerable
 expense and dedicated May 31st, 1891.
	The centennial and sesqui-centennial were observed. At the
 sesqui-centennial Dr. J.H. DUBBS delivered the sermon. Three houses of
 worship were erected at this place. The first baptism recorded was by Rev.
 TEMPELMAN, March 15th, 1747. A good record is kept of the ministerial acts
 of the pastors.
	Mr. MILLER gave the ground, with the stipulation that a stone church should
 be built, and if the Lutherans would help in its construction, they should
 have a share in it. But the Lutherans did not help; so it was erected as a
 Reformed church. The ground where the school house is erected was donated
 for school purposes. Michael B. MOORE and his sisters, Rebecca and
 Catharine, donated an acre of ground for cemetery purposes reserving a lot
 for their burial. John ZELLER, Daniel SPAYD, George BECKER, Wm. BECKER,
 Philip MOORE, Jonathan MOORE, Jacob WEIGLEY, George MEISER, John B. MOORE
 were superintendents of the Sunday School for a number of years. Morris A.
 MOYER has been treasurer for some time and his predecessor was Michael M.
 MOORE, who held this office for years.
	Harriet FORRY, wife of Rev. Chas. H. LEINBACH, D.D., was born and raised
 here and was a member of the congregation. Dr. Levi ZIMMERMAN and his son,
 Curtis, also a doctor, are members. Lucian ZIMMERMAN willed $1,000 to the
 church lately.
	The pastors were the following from the time of the organization:
		Rev. Conrad TEMPELMAN, 1747 - 1752.
		Rev. Wm. STOY, 1752 - 1765.
		Rev. John Jacob ZUFALL, 1765 - 1769.
		Rev. Wm. HENDEL, Sr., 1769 - 1783.
		Rev. Daniel WAGNER, 1785 - 1793.
		Rev. Wm. HENDEL, Jr., 1793 - 1822.
		Rev. Thos. H. LEINBACH, 1822 - 1867. 
 	Rev. LEINBACH was assisted by his sons, Thos. C. and Samuel A., during this
  last years.
		Rev. Stephen SWEITZER, 1868 - 1870.
		Rev. James A. SHULTZ, 1871 - 1873.
		Rev. A.H. LEISS, 1874 - 1877.
		Rev. A.J. BACHMAN, 1878 - .

	Millbach has contributed a number of its members to the organization of
 Grace Reformed congregation, Richland, Pa.
	There is no history of the congregation in existence, but they have a
 pretty good church record.
	The Newmanstown people worshipped in this church, as there was no Reformed
 church there until lately. Conrad TEMPELMAN was the pioneer.

A.J.B.