AREA HISTORY:  Churches, York Township, 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 – Page 721

Church of the United Brethren in Christ – The first religious services of this denomination, in 
and around Dallastown, were held in the private houses of Jacob Sechrist, Jonathan Neff, Jacob 
Hartman, John Keller and John Dougherty, until 1850, when the present comfortable brick church 
was built at a cost of $1,500.  The corner-stone was laid and church dedicated by Rev. J. C. 
Smith, of York.  It was then named “Bethlehem United Brethren Church, of Dallastown.”  The 
services, ever since organization, have been conducted in both the English and German languages 
by the following-named clergymen:  Rev. Raber, Enterline, Wentz, Brown, Grim, Tripner, Corl, 
Young, Craumer and Lightner.  Rev. L. Kohr, since 1882.  This church is the central point of 
the Dallastown Circuit of the United Brethren Church.  The parsonage of this circuit adjoins 
Bethlehem Church.


St. Paul’s Lutheran and Reformed Church is located near the north end of the borough of 
Dallastown.  The land upon which the building stands was purchased of Henry Miller for $40.  
The corner-stone was laid on Whitmonday, 1855, when services were conducted by Revs. A. H. 
Lochman, J. Martin, F. W. Vandersloot, Daniel Ziegler and the pastor, Rev. Kempfer.  On the 
following Whitmonday, 1856, the building was dedicated by the same clergymen.  The contractor 
was Charles Neff, who also built several other churches in the town and vicinity.  It is a 
brick structure, 37½ x 47½ feet, with tower and bell.  It cost about $2,000.  The building 
committee were H. Miller, elder; J. Mitzel and H. Miller, deacons of the Lutheran congregation; 
P. Raab, elder; J. Peeling and C. Neff, deacons of the Reformed congregation.  The following-
named ministers have served this congregation since its organization:  Lutheran – Revs. Jacob 
Kempfer, 1855 to 1860; Rev. John Conoway, 1860 to 1870; Rev. Peter Warner, 1870 to 1881; Rev. 
E. Lenhart, the present pastor began November 14, 1882.  To him we are greatly indebted for the 
facts herein given.  Reformed ministers – Rev. F. W. Vandersloot organized a congregation in 
the place in May, 1854, and remained until 1863; he was succeeded for one year only by Rev. 
David Bossler; Rev. Reinhart Smith was chosen in September, 1866, and is still pastor.  
Previous to 1870 the Union Sunday-school was held one year in St. Paul’s Church, and the next 
in the United Brethren Church.  During that year denominational schools were established.  
Membership at St. Paul’s Sunday-school in 1885 was 251 pupils.  This church was incorporated in 
August, 1864.  The board of trustees are Solomon Kauffman, J. F. Spatz and J. Sechrist.  A 
steeple and bell have lately been added to the church.  The church membership is 150 
communicants.


St. Joseph’s Catholic Church – The lot for this Catholic Church was donated by James Peeling.  
The fine stone church now standing was built in 1850, at a cost of $1,800.  Rev. James A. Huber 
is the present officiating pastor, and resides at New Freedom.  He also ministers to the wants 
of two congregations in that locality.  The membership of St. Joseph’s Church is about twenty 
families, or about eighty members.  Service, English and German.  There is no parochial day 
school.  A Sunday-school is conducted by members.  The graveyard adjoins the church.