AREA HISTORY:  Chanceford Township Churches, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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CHURCHES OF CHANCEFORD – Page 736-737

The Guinston United Presbyterian Church – This congregation was first connected with 
the Associate Presbyterian Church, which was formed by a secession from the 
Established Church of Scotland, in 1733.  It was organized either in the fall of 
1753, or early in 1754.  Soon after a rude church was constructed of small logs.  
Accomodations becoming insufficient, in 1773 a house of stone was built, which still 
stands.  Concerning this church, the following was legally recorded:  “To all 
Christian people to whom these present shall come, we, Thomas Curry, James Wallace, 
Guin Allison, Andrew Fulton, Alexander Moor of Hopewell, farmers, John McClurg, John 
McNeary and George Campbell of Chanceford, farmers, John McCay and John Stewart of 
Windsor, farmers, send greeting:  whereas, in and by a certain deed poll bearing 
date April 23, 1773, made between James Cooper of Chester County, of the one part, 
and the before-named trustees of the second part.”  By this act James Cooper 
conveyed two acres of land, on which the “Old Scotch Presbyterian Meeting House 
stood:  whereas there is now to be erected a large building for public worship, 
called and forever hereafter intended to be called, the Scotch Presbyterian Church, 
who are now under the pastoral care of Rev. James Clarkson, and professing to adhere 
to the whole doctrine, worship, discipline and government of the Church of Scotland, 
as the same was exhibited in her public standards; viz.:  The Westminster confession 
of faith, catechisms and propositions concerning church government and ordination of 
members, as these are received in the several acts of Assembly, passed between the 
years 1644 and 1649.”  Concerning its further history the present pastor furnished 
the following:  On August 25, 1773, Rev. James Clarkson was placed in charge, by the 
Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania.  He continued till 1808, when he was released.

After a period of ten years, during which the congregation was vacant, Mr. Alexander 
Gordon was ordained pastor, August 20, 1818.  For many years his full time was 
devoted to this field.  But in 1822 an arrangement was to be made, by which a fourth 
of the time was to be given to Lower Chanceford.  On the 20th of October, 1825, the 
relation of Mr. Gordon to the congregations of Guinston and Lower Chanceford was 
dissolved.

The services of a stated pastor were not now enjoyed for eight years when Rev. John 
Adams, through the action of the Presbytery, on the 11th of September, 1833, was set 
apart as the person who should break to these congregations the bread of life.  He 
continued to be pastor at Guinston and Lower Chanceford till the 26th of April, 1855, 
when he tendered his resignation to the Associate Presbytery of Philadelphia, which 
was accepted.

On the 19th of August, 1856, Rev. Francis McBurney was ordained and installed as 
pastor at Guinston and Lower Chanceford.  This relation continued until after the 
union was formed between the Associated and Associate Reformed Churches, which was 
consummated on the 26th of May, 1858, in Pittsburgh, constituting the United 
Presbyterian Church; Guinston congregation went heartily into this union, and has 
been in it ever since.

The Associate Reformed Church was organized on the 31st of October, 1782, by virtue 
of a union effected between a portion of the Associate Church and the Reformed 
Presbyterians or Covenanters.  Messrs. Marshall, minister, and Clarkson of Guinston 
and some elders did not go into this union, and so kept up the organization of the 
Associate Church.  After long years had passed, it was thought that these two 
branches of Zion, so near to each other in principle and practice, should be united.  
The move made accordingly was successful, and in 1858 the history of the United 
Presbyterian Church had its beginning.  Rev. Francis McBurney remained in Guinston 
till October 6, 1868.   

From that time the congregation was dependent upon supplies till 1870.  A call was 
made out in the autumn of that year, and presented to Rev. Samuel Jamison, which he 
accepted.  He commenced to labor regularly in this field on the first Sabbath of 
December.  On the 25th of April, 1871, he was installed by the Presbytery of Big 
Spring.  It was so arranged, that for a short time he preached every Sabbath in 
Hopewell.  His whole time was then given to Guinston, and so continued.  The 
congregation has a membership of 192.

Space will not allow an extended history of this church; suffice it, that from a 
handful of emigrants, who first met at the house of Alexander Wallace, to renew 
their covenant obligations to their God, they have been blessed by Him in a most 
signal manner, for although they sometimes passed through dark days, which were 
necessary to their health, for we are told that “He loveth whom He chasteneth,” yet 
they were eventually brought forth into the sunshine of earthly prosperity; for the 
desert in which they settled now blossoms as the rose, and their congregation large, 
intelligent and influential, with all the attributes that adorn the highest type of 
Christian civilization, and whose membership and influence are found and felt in the 
hundreds of United Presbyterian congregations scattered over the broad West, speaks 
in language too plain to be misunderstood, that God is indeed with them, and in 
blessing has blessed them in a remarkable degree. 


Lutheran and Reformed Church – The second church in point of age in Chanceford 
Township, is the one known as “Stahle’s Church,” situated in the northern part of 
the township, and founded by Jacob Stahle and George Souders in the year 1784.  Two 
denominations, the Lutheran and German Reformed, united in building the church, and 
held services alternately therein.  The first building was a rude affair, but after 
being somewhat enlarged and repaired served to accommodate the congregations until 
the year 1866, when their present handsome and commodious brick church was built; 
Peter Blouse, Jacob Kohler and George Wise were the building committee.  The 
following are the names of the Lutheran pastors who have officiated here since 1784;  
Revs. Bentz, A. Gearnal, Heisley, J. Harman, J. Kempfer, J. Conoway, P. Warner and 
E. Lenhart.  The Reformed pastors were Revs. G. Hablinstein, W. F. Vandersloot, H. 
Rynecka, Sr., R. Rauhauser.  The Reformed congregation is now without a pastor.  The 
Lutheran membership is about eighty-five and the Reformed twenty.


New Harmony Presbyterian Church – The Presbyterians of Chanceford Township belonged 
to the Chanceford Presbyterian Church situated in Lower Chanceford Township until 
1847, when a meeting was called and committees appointed to select ground and 
prepare to build a house, which was accomplished; and in the following year (1848) 
the house was finished, and December 3, 1848, was dedicated to the worship of God.  
Twenty-four persons presented letters from the Chanceford Church, and four from 
Hopewell or Round Hill.  Hugh Long, Esq., John A. Murphy, and James Stewart were 
elected its first elders, and the name adopted by the organization was “New Harmony 
Presbyterian Church.”  On the 18th of October, 1853, Rev. J. J. Lane, then of 
Wrightsville, was installed the first pastor of the church.  The next pastor was 
Rev. J. L. Merrill, and the next and last was Rev. A. F. Morrison.  Since Mr. 
Morrison’s death the church has been served by supplies, the last six years by Rev. 
J. J. Lane, its first pastor.  From its organization to the present time, the growth 
of the church has been constant and healthy.  It was chartered in 1881, and its 
future career, under the blessing of God, has everything that is hopeful and 
promising.  The number of communicants at this time is 191.


Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church – This is located in Chanceford, near the village 
of Grahamville.  It was founded by Rev. John McKinley and Mr. Daniel Kline.  The 
first church was erected here in 1821, and was used by the congregation until 1870.  
It was during this year the present fine appearing church was built, at a cost of 
about $2,500.  It is located in a shady grove, with an adjoining schoolhouse.  There 
is also a large graveyard near by, neatly fenced and well taken care of.  The roof 
is of an excellent quality of the famous Peach Bottom slate, which lends attraction 
to the appearance of the structure.


Trinity Church of the Evangelical Association – This church was built in 1871, in 
the western part of the Township, and in the Logansville Circuit of the Central 
Pennsylvania Conference; its membership at present is sixty-five.

The Chapel in the northern part of the township, was built in 1872, with a 
membership of about fifty, and Mount Pleasant Church built in 1880, in the southern 
part of the township, and having about forty members; and both of the Evangelical 
Association, are thriving churches, and are evidently doing much good.

One more church and the list ends:  St. James, in the southwestern part of the 
township (sometimes known as the Fifth Ward), was built in 1879, and is of the 
Lutheran persuasion, and under its present pastor, Rev. Mr. Lenhart, is rapidly 
increasing in strength, and is becoming a power for good in the community in which 
it is located.