AREA HISTORY:  Calvary Presbyterian Church, York County, PA

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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CALVARY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – Page 536

Calvary Presbyterian Church – This church is located on South Duke Street.  It grew from a Sabbath-school, opened on the 6th of August, 1882, 
in a copper shop, located on South Duke Street, just beyond Cottage Avenue.  On the first Sabbath of its meeting, there were present twenty-
seven scholars and seven men present twenty-seven scholars and seven men and women interested in the work.  These persons were Mr. and 
Mrs. J. C. Luitweiler, Hattie Luitweiler, Clara B. Cross, Maggie W. Cross, Samuel Small, Jr., and H. S. Myers.  Mr. Small was chosen 
superintendent.  The next Sabbath a number were added, viz.:  Mrs. B. F. Willis, Mrs. Dr. McDougall, Mrs. Annie Stair, Miss Mary Edie and 
Miss Belle Small.  On a piece of ground, donated by Samuel Small, Sr., was built a chapel at a cost of $2,500, by a few members of the 
Presbyterian Church in the town; and on the 19th of November, 1882, the school left their quarters in the cooper shop, and went to the new 
chapel, which seated about 250 persons.  In the spring of 1883, when the work had been carried on only a few months, it was felt necessary to 
secure the services of a minister.  Rev. George L. Smith, then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Cedarville, N. J., came permanently in 
August, 1883.

Application was made to the Presbytery of Westminster, September 25, 1883, for the organization of a new church, to be called the Calvary 
Presbyterian Church.  A committee, consisting of Rev. Dr. Niles, Rev. T. M. Crawford and Rev. Eby (ministers), Samuel Small, Sr., and Mr. 
Purple (elders) to meet on the 9th of October, and organize the church.  Stephen Cunningham, William Gamble, J. C. Luitweiler and B. F. 
Willis were elected elders.

On the 17th of October the new congregation called the Rev. George L. Smith, who had for a time been laboring among them, and on the 30th of 
the same months the Presbytery at Westminster met in the Calvary Chapel, and Mr. Smith was installed pastor.  At the installation service, Rev. 
Mr. Eby, of Columbia, presided; Rev. Dr. McDougall preached the sermon; Rev. Dr. Stewart gave the charge to the pastor, and Rev. Dr. Niles 
the charge to the people.

The Sabbath-school grew so that the building was too small, and hence during the summer of 1884, by the gifts of Samuel Small, Sr., and his 
nephew, Samuel Small, Jr., the building was enlarged and improved, giving additional accommodations for perhaps 100 pupils.

On the 7th of October, 1884, Isaac W. Allen was ordained a ruling elder.

The present membership of the Sabbath-school is 250, and that of the church eighty-seven.  During the summer of 1885 a handsome new 
church was built by this congregation.