AREA HISTORY: Churches, West Manheim 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. _______________________________________________ THE CHURCHES – Page 697-698 Lutheran and Reformed Church – In the extreme southern part of West Manheim, near Mason and Dixon’s line, is the historic site of St. David’s Church, though better known by its local name “Sherman’s Church.” Since the time of its origin in 1750, it has been known by its ecclesiastical name, and has been a Union Church and generally ministered to by clergymen who resided in Hanover. Rev. J. A. Metzgar kindly furnished the following concerning the Lutheran congregation and church building, most of which was obtained from documents in German. In the latter part of 1750, or early in 1751, a meeting of the Lutherans of this community was called, having for its object the organization of an Evangelical Lutheran congregation. Their efforts at organizing were altogether successful. The Rev. John George Bager (Baugher) who was a pioneer of Lutheranism in this section of the county, and who was at this time pastor of the Lutheran congregation at Hanover, organized the Lutheran congregation here. The ground upon which the first building was erected was donated by David Lauer and Peter Zapp. The first church was quite small, rude in construction and in every way harmonized with its primitive surroundings. Services are reported as having been regularly held in this building until 1781, when a larger house of worship was erected. In this building the congregation worshiped a number of years without stoves or fire, and it was as late as 1832, when the interior of this church was plastered. No careful record of communicants was kept, even the number at organization cannot be ascertained. The number of communicants for 1783 was 149. The introduction of night services in German country churches always formed an important epoch in their history. St. David’s congregation first permitted services by “candle light” under the pastorate of Rev. Frederick Ruthrauf in 1843. In 1867 the third church was erected on the original site, during the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Yingling. The building committee of the second church were George Motter, Philip Wolfard, Conrad Sherman and John Wampler. The committee to whom was entrusted the third and present church building, were John W. Hoffacker, Henry W. Craumer and David Garrett. The following is the list of Lutheran pastors from its organization to the present: Revs. Carl Frederick Wildbahn, 1751-52; John George Bager (Baugher), 1753; John Daniel Schroeder, 1790; John Frederick Melsheimer, 1790-1814; John Melsheimer, 1814-29. To this date this congregation was served by ministers from Hanover, Penn., but now began to receive its supply from Manchester, Md. Revs. Jacob Albert, 1820- 39; Jeremiah Harpel, 1839-42; P. Willard, 1842-43; Frederick Ruthrauff, 1843-45; Eli Schwartz, 1845-48; Jacob Kempfer, 1848-53; D. P. Rosenmiller, 1853-57; M. J. Alleman, 1857-63; P. Warner, 1863-65; M. J. Alleman, 1865-68; S. Yingling, 1868- 72; D. J. Hauer, 1873-82; J. A. Metzgar, 1882. The Reformed congregation for a long time was served by the pastors of Emmanuel’s Reformed Church of Hanover. Among those of later date were Revs. Kurtz, Samuel Gutelius, J. D. Zehring, W. K. Zieber and Jacob Sechler. The Reformed congregation at present numbers 150 members. Rev. H. Hilbish, pastor of Trinity Church, Hanover, also serves this congregation. A Union Sunday-school is held in this church. William Klinedinst is superintendent. O. W. Garrett served in this position before him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ St. Bartholomew’s Church – This is a Union Church owned conjointly by Lutheran an Reformed congregations, and is located in the southwestern part of West Manheim, near the Maryland line. The first building which was erected about half a century ago, was constructed of logs and weather-boarded. It burned down in 1879, having caught fire from an adjoining mill which was in flames and was also burned at the same time. The early church records were thus destroyed. The Lutheran pastors whose names can be recalled were Peter Sheurer, J. Lane, M. J. Alleman and D. J. Hauer, D. D. Rev. J. A. Metzgar at present serves the congregation of 125 members. Some of the Reformed pastors were J. Kurtz, Samuel Gutelius, Jacob Sechler, and W. K. Zieber, D. D. The Reformed congregation now numbers seventy-five, and is served by Rev. H. Hilbish. A Union Sunday-school is superintended by John W. Craumer. The present church was built in 1881, at a cost of $3,000. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mount Zion United Brethren Church – Rev. Samuel Enterline first preached the doctrines of the church of the United Brethren in Christ in the present limits of West Manheim Township, and on the 29th of January, 1847, effected an organization. For many years revival services and other religious worship were conducted in the private house of John Wentz. During the year 1861 a building committee was appointed, consisting of John Wentz, Philip Wentz, and Benjamin Wentz, and during the summer of the same year the present church was built as a cost of $1,000. Since the organization the following-named ministers have had charge of this congregation, in connection with others belonging to the same circuit: Samuel Enterline, W. B. Raber, T. T. Hallowell, F. Grim, Jacob S. Wentz, Tobias Crider, Peter Corl, J. G. Clair, W. H. Craumer, J. B. Jones, Abraham Rudisill, Lewis Kohr, L. R. Kramer and J. L. Nicholas. Present church membership thirty-five.