AREA HISTORY:  Churches, Spring Grove, 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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CHURCHES OF SPRING GROVE – Page 690

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – On the east side of Main Street, in Spring Grove, 
stands the conspicuous building, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, which 
was erected in 1879, through the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Glatfelter, 
together with others.  P. H. Glatfelter and Abraham Reiff were the building 
committee.  On Whit Monday, 1879, the corner-stone was laid by Revs. Drs. Hauer 
and Lochman, in the presence of Revs. A. W. Lilly, Peter Anstadt, John H. 
Menges, A. G. Fastnacht, Daniel Schindler, M. J. Alleman, and a large audience.  
The building was completed in 1880.  On the 11th of March, of the same year, a 
congregation was organized by Rev. Daniel J. Hauer, D. D., consisting of twenty-
six members.  On Easter, 1880, the dedication took place.  The ministers present 
were Revs. Hauer, the pastor, Anstadt and Alleman.  The edifice is a handsome 
and commodious brick Gothic building, with a tower, in which is placed, a sweet 
toned bell.  In the audience room the recess behind the pulpit contains an 
excellent pipe organ.  The building is lighted by electricity, and in the winter 
warmed by steam.  It is an ornament to the village, and was designed by J. A. 
Dempwolf, the architect, of York.  The cost of the erection, with the furniture, 
amounted to $13,200.  On the day of dedication it was ascertained that only 
$3,000 had been secured when Mr. P. H. Glatfelter generously came forward, and 
in the name of himself, Mrs. Glatfelter and his children, assumed the payment of 
the balance, viz.: $10,200.

After the dedication, Rev. Hauer resigned the pastorate, and Rev. M. J. Alleman 
succeeded until the autumn of 1881, when he resigned.  Rev. Hauer was then 
recalled.  There are at present 140 persons whose names are on the records as 
members.  The membership of the congregation is 140.  The Sabbath-school, under 
the superintendence of P. H. Menges and Edward Glatfelter, is growing, and more 
room is needed to accommodate the scholars.  

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Mt. Zion’s Reformed Church – On an elevated site to the north end of the borough 
stands the Reformed Church, a fine brick building erected in 1883.  The 
congregation was organized by Rev. H. Hilbish, of Hanover, who was its pastor 
for a time.  The building committee were George Hoke, George Rennoll and 
Zachariah Miller.  Rev. Hartman, of Hanover, in 1885, is the regular pastor of 
the congregation, which has fifty members.  A Sunday school of sixty pupils is 
held in the church.