AREA HISTORY: Churches, Washington Township, York County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/ _______________________________________________ History of York County, Pennsylvania. John Gibson, Historical Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886. _______________________________________________ HOUSES OF WORSHIP – Page 673-674 Bermudian Meeting House – The German Baptists, or Dunkers, were among the first persons who settled in Washington Township. In the history of that denomination, found in a chapter in this work on that subject, it will be found that an organization was effected near the Bermudian as early as 1738. Religious worship was conducted for nearly a century in the houses of members. In 1857 the present stone meeting-house was built one-half mile from Mulberry Postoffice at a cost of $1,500. This denomination do not have dedicatory services. The congregation has about seventy-five members. The preachers are Daniel Altland, John Raffensberger, Peter Trimmer and William Wiley. The deacons are William Harbold, John Wolf, Rolandus Altland, George Firestone and Isaac King. A deacon in this denomination is elected for life. See page 388. _______________________________________________ St. Paul’s Lutheran and Reformed Church – This church is familiarly known as the “Red Run” or “Sower’s” Church. The first was given it from the small stream by that name in the vicinity, which flows through the red shale formation of that section. The congregations that now worship in the building were formed in the year 1844; the Lutheran by Rev. Peter Sheurer, and the Reformed by Rev. John E. Albert. The corner-stone was laid April 21, 1844, and the building consecrated October 5 and 6 of the same year. The building committee consisted of George Sower and John Shive, from the Lutheran congregation, and John H. Smith, from the Reformed congregation. The first church council was composed of the following- named members: Lutherans – John Leib, elder; Jacob Emig and Solomon Gross, deacons. Reformed – Christian Guber, elder; George Spangler and Peter River, deacons. Samuel Sheaffer and John H. Smith have since served as elders, and John Liebenstine and Jacob March as deacons. Rev. Sheurer, who organized the Lutheran congregation, was succeeded by Rev. A. G. Deininger, who continued until his death in 1879, when the present pastor, Rev. D. Sell, was elected. Rev. Mr. Riegle, of Dillsburg, has ministered to the Reformed congregation almost continuously since it organized. The Lutheran membership is 225, Reformed about 150. _______________________________________________ Emanuel’s Church of the Evangelical Association, is known as “Bower’s Church.” It was built about 1855. The building committee were Abraham Byers, Daniel Shelley and M. S. Bower. The membership at present is small. John Anthony and W. Beaumont are the pastors. A Sunday-school is held in the church, of which Peter Detter is superintendent. _______________________________________________ Salem Lutheran and Reformed Church, one of the landmarks of Washington, is what is known over a wide extent of the country as the “Barren’s Church.” The date of its origin was about 1800. It is located near the upper end of the township. The Lutheran pastors who officiated here, as far as could be ascertained, were Revs. Conrad Reiman, in 1807, John Weible, J. Garman, Samuel Henry, Joseph R. Focht, Aaron Finfrock, Peter Warner, Jacob Bricker, Emanuel Studebecker, and the present pastor, Henry Seiffert. Membership about 150. Of the Reformed pastors Rev. Jacob Lischy conducted services in the community as early as 1750. Rev. Edward Vandesloot officiated for a time, and was succeeded, in 1839, by Rev. Daniel Riegle, who still ministers to the Reformed people here, having begun his work forty-seven years ago. The membership is 125. The old church was torn down in 1863, and the present brick one built. A Union Sunday- school is held in the church.