CHURCH: St. Jacob’s “Stone” Church, Codorus Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

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History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of West Pennsylvania of the United 
Lutheran Church in America, 1825-1925

Edited by Adam Stump, D.D. and Henry Anstadt, D.D.

Published by the Action of the Synod in Celebration of Its Centennial,
Printed For The Synod By J. R. Kerr & Bro., Chambersburg, Penna.,1925 
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Pg 485-486

ST. JACOB'S "STONE" CHURCH, YORK CO., PA.

(Jefferson Charge)

REV. W. H. EHRHART, PASTOR

According to an old deed, Jacob's Union Church is built on land granted by the 
State during Governorship of Thomas McKean.  This is the way the deed reads:  
"Know ye, that in consideration of the sum of Thirty-one Dollars and three cents 
lawful money now paid by George Werner, Andrew Miller, Francis Bachman, and 
Jacob Ruhlman, Elders of the Presbyterian and Lutheran Congregations of the 
County of York, - into the Receiver General's Office of the Commonwealth, there 
is granted, by the said Commonwealth unto the said George Werner, Andrew Miller, 
Francis Bachman and Jacob Ruhlman in trust for the use herein after mentioned - 
a certain tract of land called Teachers' Resort - situated in Codorus Township, 
York Co., - containing Forty-five Acres."  The granting of this land took place 
in the year 1767.

The first church was dedicated on the 4th of July, 1761.  The organization of a 
church was at least five years earlier in 1756.  The Record shows baptisms from 
this early period on up to the present.  It is supposed the services were held 
in a school house until the dedication of the first church in 1761.  The first 
building was a log building and was soon found to be too small owing to rapid 
increase in membership.  In the year 1789 the log church was torn down and 
replaced by a stone structure of larger dimensions, from which also it received 
its name, Stone Church.

In 1855, it again became necessary on account of the rapid growth in membership 
and the increased demand for better facilities, to take the last named structure 
down and build one of larger dimensions.  Steps were promptly taken and the 
Stone Church was replaced by a brick building.  The Corner Stone was laid in the 
Spring of the above named date, Rev. Peter Scheurer being Pastor.

The above name structure was seriously damaged by lightning and fast becoming 
dangerous.  A meeting was called and on the advice of J. A. Dempwolf, architect 
of York, Pa., it was unanimously decided to build.  The vote was taken at a 
second meeting.

May 27, 1889.  Steps were immediately taken to rebuild, a building committee was 
appointed, the Lutheran members being Michael Saubel and J. A. Klinefelter, and 
the work was pushed with all possible speed.  The corner stone of the new 
edifice was laid on August 4, 1889, the late Rev. J. C. Koller, D. D., assisting 
the Pastor, Rev. W. H. Ketterman.  The new building is a modest, yet substantial 
and commodious structure built of brick and Hummelstown brown stone of modern 
Gothic style and architecture costing about $18,000 and could not be replaced 
for three times that amount.  The church has a seating capacity of one thousand.  
The church was remodeled and rededicated May 16, 1920.  The West Pennsylvania 
Synod convened here October 12, 1897, Rev. W. S. Freas, D. D., preaching the 
opening sermon.

The following are some of the ministers who served the congregation:  Rev. 
Frederick V. Melsheimer, 1790 to 1814; John F. Melsheimer, 1814 to 1826; Jacob 
Kempfer, Johnathan Ruthrauff, 1829 to 1837; Jacob Albert, 1837 to 1848; Peter 
Scheurer, 1848 to 1872; W. H. Ketterman, 1872 to 1903; and W. H. Ehrhart, 1903 
to the present time.

The charge is known for its long pastorates, the last three totaling exactly 75 
years.