AREA HISTORY:  St. Mary’s Catholic 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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St. Mary’s Catholic Church – Page 543

St. Mary’s Catholic Church was founded in 1852, Rev. Martin, an Irishman, who 
did not understand the German language, being pastor of St. Patrick’s Church, 
where the Germans worshipped.  By order of Rt. Rev. J. H. Neumann, Bishop of 
Philadelphia, Rev. J. Cotting, S. J., of Conewago, Adams County, called a 
meeting of the Catholic Germans, when they decided to build another church.  The 
first resident rector was Rev. Father Wachter, a Tyrolean, who started a German 
school and bought a lot for a new graveyard on the Baltimore pike, not far from 
town.  The small congregation of German Catholics, who worshipped in a church 
between New Freedom and Shrewsbury, and which was under the charge of the 
Redemptorist fathers of Baltimore, was then attended by Rev. Wachter, who got 
for an assistant Rev. F. X. Treyer, a Switzer; the congregation of Dallastown 
was also under the charge of these two priests.  June 4, 1859, Rev. Treyer died, 
and was buried in St. Mary’s cemetery.  Rev. Philip Woerner is mentioned as next 
pastor.  He was succeeded, in 1859, by Rev. Matthew Meurer, a young priest, who 
had celebrated his first mass in St. Mary’s Church under Rev. Wachter.  He was 
rector until October 20, 1861, when Rev. Joseph Hamm was appointed.  During his 
term the old schoolhouse was removed to the rear of the church, and a new two-
story pastoral residence of brick was built along side of the church.  In 
December, 1866, Rev. B. Baumeister from Muenster, Westphalia, became rector.  In 
his time the large Diocese of Philadelphia was divided in other different 
districts – Harrisburg, Scranton and Wilmington.  The bishop of Harrisburg, Rt. 
Rev. J. F. Shanahan has under his charge the Catholics of York, and seventeen 
other counties of Pennsylvania.  Rev. J. George Pape, a native of Warrendorf, 
Westphalia, took charge of St. Mary’s congregation of York and missions in 
November, 1868.  In the following year he commenced to build a schoolhouse; gave 
charge over the school to three Franciscan Sisters of Philadelphia, Sister M. 
Hieronyma being the first superior.  In 1883, old St. Mary’s Cemetery becoming 
too small, Rev. J. George Pape bought six acres of ground from William Felty 
(lying along the Baltimore pike, about a mile from the church), for a new 
graveyard, in which, after being dedicated by the pastor, the dead were 
transferred from the old one.  In 1884, a fair was held and funds collected for 
a new church which commenced in March, 1884.  The congregation assisted the 
pastor with their utmost ability; new bells were purchased by P. Pfeffer and J. 
Mayer, and blessed by Rt. Rev. Bishop J. F. Shanahan, December 29, 1884.  
Beautiful stained glass windows and the station of the cross – oil paintings – 
were given by different parishioners and friends of the pastor.  New Gothic 
altars were presented by the societies.  The church has three steeples (the 
center one 185 feet high, with three bells, and a large gilded cross on top) is 
built in new Gothic style 57 x 129 feet; was dedicated on Whit Monday, 1885.  
The cost of the church was about $30,000; the architect being George Bell; 
builder, N. Weigle; superintendent of the carpenter work, M. Little.  The brick 
work was done by Messrs. Garrety,  and the steeple erected by John Plonk, a 
young man of the congregation.  The two large chandeliers were procured by J. 
Mayer, and the iron fence in front of the church by H. Boll.  A new organ was 
bought for $3,000.  The Sisters, with the help of Edward Reineberg, purchased a 
Brussels carpet for the sanctuary and communion-rail.  St. Mary’s congregation 
has about 160 families.