AREA HISTORY:  Houses of Worship, Warrington Township, 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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HOUSES OF WORSHIP – Page 669 – 670 

THE QUAKER MEETING HOUSE – The historic old building located near the village of Wellsville, 
surrounded by a beautiful grove of native trees, is one of the landmarks of the county.  For 
more than a century it was the central point of interest in the township.  A cut of it will be 
found in the article on “The Friends, or Quakers,” in the front part of this work.


SALEM CHURCH OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION – As early as 1820 religious services of this 
denomination were held in Warrington in private houses, and in a schoolhouse.  The church with 
the above name was built in 1849.  The building committee were H. Bierbower, J. M. Ettinger, E. 
Boring, George Glatfelter and M. Lentz.  The congregation was then in the Gettysburg Circuit.  
The membership is now twenty-one.  Trustees are Henry Wentz and Daniel Stickel.  In 1861 the 
circuit was divided and the Conewago Circuit formed.  In 1872 the name was changed to 
Lewisberry Circuit.

The names of the pastors in order of succession from 1849 to 1885 are as follows:

Daniel Kramer, B. F. Hall, J. C. Sunger, E. B. Wilson, S. W. Seibert, Henry Althous, S. W. 
Seibert, S. Aurand, George Hunter, W. C. Detwiler, W. Reeser, J. C. Farnsworth, A. L. Reeser, 
H. A. Detrich, A. W. Kramer, J. A. Irvine, H. N. Wallace, S. E. Davis, B. F. Anthony, L. Dice 
and J. D. Shortess.


BLUE RIDGE BETHEL at Alpine was built in 1856 by the Evangelical Association.  Services were 
held first in a schoolhouse for twenty years before the church was built.  The church lot was 
surveyed by an erratic recluse with considerable native intelligence, and known to all the 
country around as “Sammy Fettrow, the doctor, lawyer and surveyor.”  The building cost $1,000, 
and was dedicated by Rev. Adam Ettinger.  The building committee were William Ramsey, Daniel 
Shetter and Ezekiel Boring.  The pastor for 1885 was L. Dise, of the Lewisberry Circuit, to 
which the church belongs.  Membership about forty.  A Sunday-school is held in the audience 
room.


MOUNT AIRY CHURCH OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION – This church was built in 1883.  About 1868 a 
class was formed in the vicinity, a schoolhouse was purchased and first used as a place or 
worship.  The building committee of the new church were Rev. L. Dise, pastor, C. Bushey, John 
Ferrence, John Miller and Morris Smith.  There is a Sunday-school of seventy pupils.  L. C. 
Bushey is the superintendent.  The church membership is thirty.  Trustees, Frederick Myers, 
John Ferrence and J. B. John.  The church stands on elevated ground.  Fortney Postoffice was 
established here in 1882.  A store was kept at this place by Daniel Bierbower for many years.


CHURCH OF GOD – Religious services were held under the auspices of this denomination in 
Warrington as early as 1855, and conducted at stated times by ministers who served as supplies 
until April 1, 1884, when Frank L. Bardens became the regular pastor.  The church now owned by 
the congregation was built through the energies of Elder R. E. Reever at a cost of $1,000, and 
dedicated May 21, 1883.  Elder G. W. Seilhammer preached the dedicatory sermon.  David 
Brillhart and H. Kapp have served as elders of this church, and William Beitner, G. Spangler 
and Wesley Weigle as deacons.


MOUNT ZION CHURCH of the United Brethren in Christ in Warrington was built more than a fourth 
of a century ago.  It is now in York Springs Circuit, and the pastor resides at Franklintown.  
Pastors’ names will be found in history of the United Brethren Church in Carroll.  The 
membership of Mount Zion Church is forty-nine.  A Sunday-school of sixty pupils is 
superintended by William Morthland.  The trustees for 1885 are Millard J. Blackford, William 
Beitzel and Philip Altland.