CLOSED CHURCHES WITHIN THE PRESE

CLOSED CHURCHES WITHIN THE PRESENT BOUNDARIES OF THE

SUSQUEHANNA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The information for each church is arranged in alphabetical order within counties. Select a county.

SNYDER COUNTY PA

0. Comments

Evangelical Churches in Snyder County
The Evangelical Association, founded by Jacob Albright and predecessor denomination of the Evangelical Church, suffered a denomination split that began in 1891 and resulted in two competing separate denominations from 1894 to 1922. In the Central Pennsylvania Conference, the vast majority of the congregations belonged to the United Evangelical Church from 1894 to 1922. Those congregations that chose to remain in the Evangelical Association were transferred to East Pennsylvania Conference, where the loyalties were more evenly divided and bother denominations were able to support a Conference. The courts ruled that all property belonged to the Evangelical Association, and those congregations siding with the United Evangelicals had to buy back their buildings or erect a new church structure. The two denominations re-united in 1922 to form the Evangelical Church, which united with the United Brethren Church in 1946 to form the EUB Church.
In Snyder County, one group of appointments chose to remain in the Evangelical Association and were served, beginning in 1894, from the East Pennsylvania Conference. Those congregations formed the Port Trevorton charge and included
Aline [Troutman Church]
Daniels
Fremont
Hoover's [St. Peter's]
Port Trevorton [White Church]
Witmers [Witmers West]

There is a curious statement in the 1940 journal, page 93, which states that “the trustees of the Grace Evangelical Church on the Penns Creek charge request permission to sell the church building, which has not been used as a preaching place for approximately twenty years.” This building is unknown (and may even be in Union County).

United Brethren Churches in Snyder County
    The Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church existed from 1839 to 1952 and essentially covered the western/mountain portion of Pennsylvania. Its approximate eastern boundary was as follows, starting at the Maryland line: north along Tuscarora Mountain to the Juniata River, east along the Juniata River to the Susquehanna River, north along the Susquehanna River (following the North Branch) to the New York Line.
    But while the Allegheny Conference is listed as the "Historic Conference" for Snyder County United Brethren churches, some of those appointments were actually in the Allegheny Conference for relatively few, if any, years. For Snyder County, the United Brethren timeline generally read as follows:
before 1847   original (Pennsylvania) Conference
1847-1870    East Pennsylvania Conference
1870-1901    East German Conference of the United Brethren Church
1901-1952    Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren/EUB Church
1952-1964    Central Pennsylvania Conference (former Evangelical) of the EUB Church
1964-1970    Susquehanna Conference of the EUB/United Methodist Church
1970-            Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church

1. Aline EV
[Troutman]

[no picture]

Location: community of Aline
Municipality: Perry township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
The church building stood on the site of the present cemetery.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Association

Journal references:

Brief History:
The first Evangelical church building here was erected in 1869 and known as the Troutman Church. In 1890 that building was struck by lightening and burned to the ground. A new building was built building erected 1890, just as the unrest that eventually split the denomination was beginning to grow.. When the 1894 denominational split divided the congregation, those siding with the United Evangelicals erected a new building. Beginning in 1894, the original congregation was served by the East Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Association. By 1918, however, the congregation had dwindled to the point where it could not continue. The remaining members joined United Evangelical congregation, now Aline United Methodist Church, and the 1890 building was sold to a Mr. John Basom of Richfield, who removed it from the site.

Final disposition:
The building site is part of the present cemetery.

2. Beaver Springs ME
[a.k.a. Adamsburg ME]

[no picture]

Location: village of Beaver Springs
Municipality: Spring township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
The exact location of the property was not been determined with certainty.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
     1894,67 – “At Adamsburg, Wagner Charge, a church to cost $1800 is in the process of building, to be dedicated in early summer.”
    1896,72 - "The unfinished church in Adamsburg, Snyder County, which was sold by the sheriff before my appointment to the district, has been reclaimed through the aid of the Church Extension Society and a number of generous laymen. It is now nearly completed, and will give us another Bethel in that county, where Methodism is so little known."
    1897,68 - church dedicated 8/2/1896

Brief History:
This community was first known as Beaver Dam, and then Adamsburg, before finally becoming Beaver Springs. The Methodist congregation here was short-lived. The building was erected on the site of the Lutheran/Reformed union church building, and a chronological account of that site is as follows.
•1855 - cornerstone laid on May 28 for the town's Lutheran/Reformed union church building
•1856 - building dedicated November 4
•1877 - the two congregations agree to separate. The Reformed congregations buys out the Lutherans, who relocate to the square.
•1884 - the Reformed congregation also relocates and sells the property, which becomes the GAR Hall
•1893 - property deeded on August 8 to the Methodist Episcopal Church, who raze the building and begin erecting a new structure
•1894 - property sold at sheriff's sale
•1895 - property deeded back to the Methodist Episcopal Church on December 7
•1896 - the new Methodist Episcopal church building was dedicated free of debt on August 2
•1897 - the property is transferred out of Methodist hands for good, for unknown reasons, by the congregation's trustees on March 27
The congregation was served from the Wagner charge in Mifflin County. The 1906 History of Beaver Springs and Centennial Souvenir Book, calls the Methodist Episcopal church building the fifth one to be erected in town and states: "The GAR Hall, formerly the old church, was sold to the M.E. Church, who razed it to the ground and constructed a new church on the spot. The membership being weak, it was of but a few years' duration, when it was sold and removed to Bedford County." There is no record of who moved the building, to where in Bedford County it was moved, and for what purpose it was then used.

Final disposition:

3. Beavertown UB

beavertown

Location: Orange and Walnut Streets, Beavertown
Municipality: borough of Beavertown
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
Beavertown is on US 522, 9 miles west of Middleburg. From the square in Middleburg, go 9 miles west on US 522 to Orange Street, one block past the "square" in Beavertown. Turn right on Orange Street and go two blocks to Walnut Street. The church is on the southwest of Orange and Walnut Streets.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
The United Brethren organized a class and erected a building in Beavertown in 1865, but for some reason the congregation did not endure. The building was purchased July 19, 1872, by members of the Evangelical Association ― which included some of the former United Brethren.

Final disposition:
The original structure was moved back, and a tower and Sunday School room added, in 1897. The building houses the Beavertown United Methodist congregation.

4. Bowersox UB

[no picture]

Location: Middle Road
Municipality: Center township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From the village of Penns Creek, go 2 miles south on PA 104 to Middle Road. Turn west on Middle Road and go 4 miles. [Ocker's school house was at the corner of Middle Road and Bergey Road, and the Bowersox farm was 0.5 miles past the school house.]

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
Dunkelberger's 1948 The Story of Snyder County, page 651, states the following. "Bowersox's Church was located about one-half miles from Ocker's Schoolhouse. The church was referred to as Die Darre Kaerrich (The Tar Church) because its vertical weather-boarding was painted with coal tar. It was called the Bowersox's Church after John Bowersox, the owner of the farm on which the church was located. The building was removed in 1894 and the material was used in the erection of an addition to the Evangelical Church at Penns Creek."

Final disposition:

5. Boyers EV

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: boyers 001

Location: 1472 W. Ridge Road
Municipality: Franklin township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From the square in Middleburg, go 0.5 miles north on PA 104 to New Berlin Road. Turn right on New Berlin Road and go 2 miles to Sunset Drive. Turn right on Sunset Drive and go 0.5 miles to Oak Drive. Turn left on Oak Drive and go 1 mile [Oak Drive becomes W. Ridge Road]. The church is on the left.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church

Journal references:
1952,112 - sale authorized

Brief History:
This building was erected in 1895 by the United Evangelicals on land donated by Susan Boyer. Regular services were discontinued in 1922, but the building was kept in reasonable repair and used irregularly on special occasions for many years until being sold.

Final disposition:
Since 1954, the building has housed the Boyer Mennonite congregation. The original building has been moved further away from the road and added to in the front, and a new rear addition has been erected.

6. Chapman St. John's UB

stjohns

Location: Old US 11-15, community of Chapman
Municipality: Chapman township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
The community of Chapman is 2 miles south of Port Trevoton, along the old US 11-15. The back of the church property extends to the present US 11-15.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
2001,322&S62 – merged into Port Trevorton Grace to form Port Trevorton Hope United Methodist Church

Brief History:
The congregation began under Eusebius Hershey in 1850 and met at the school house in nearby Independence. The one-room frame structure at Chapman was erected in 1895.
The Susquehanna circuit of the United Brethren Church existed for almost 100 years. It was established in 1854 and continued until the dismantling of the Allegheny Conference in 1951. While various other churches were on the circuit from time to time, there were seven main churches that kept the charge together. Six of those appointments formed the original circuit ―Cross Roads [Mount Zion], Hoffer [Paradise] Independence [Chapman St. John's], Grainery [St. Thomas], Mahantango [St. Paul's, in Juniata County], McKees [McKees Half Falls Trinity] ― and the seventh, which became the main church, Port Trevorton Markwood, was formed later. While various denominational and congregational mergers have reconfigured the region so that none of the seven exists any more as a distinct congregation, they continue in ministry as parts of local United Methodist congregations.

Final disposition:
The property is owned by the cemetery association.

7. Ebenezer UB

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: ebenezer

Location: Rownzy Hill Road
Municipality: Washington township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From the intersection of PA 104 and PA 35 east of Mount Pleasant Mills, go 0.5 miles south on PA 104 to Flint Valley Road. Go east on Flint Valley Road 3 miles to Rownzy Hill Road. Go south on Rownzy Hill Road 200 yards to Neitz Valley Road. The church is on the northeast corner of the intersection of Rownzy Hill Road and Neitz Valley Road – opposite the eastern terminus of Ebenezer Church Road.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
1976(2),96 - permission to sell
1977,A74 - sold

Brief History:
This class met in the Flint Valley schoolhouse until securing the present building in 1880. There is a tradition that the structure was erected by Mennonites and known as Dreese’s Mennonite Church, but a split in the congregation shortly after the dedication of the building allowed the structure to become United Brethren property. Ebenezer was part of the five-point Richfield charge (Ebenezer, Freeburg, Fremont, Mt. Zion, Richfield) of the East German Conference until the charge was transferred to the Allegheny Conference by the General Conference of 1901.
The last regular statistics for this congregation appear in the 1974 journal and indicate an average weekly attendance of 54. Membership numbers were reported for a few more years, but apparently there was no active United Methodist congregation.

Final disposition:
The building was sold to the “Neitz Valley Religious Association,” which became an independent congregation using the name Ebenezer Bible Church. The congregation was pastored by Raymond D. Neitz from 1977 until his retirement in 1999.

8. Fremont EV

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: freemont

Location: Fremont Road, village of Mount Pleasant Mills
Municipality: Perry township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
Mount Pleasant Mills is on PA 35, 1 mile west of the intersection of PA 35 and PA 104. Fremont Road is the north-south cross street in Mount Pleasant Mills. From the square in Mount Pleasant Mills, go two blocks north on Fremont Road. The church was on the right.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Association

Journal references:
    East Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Association
            1897,21 – permission to move church 5 miles to better location [not accomplished?]
            1902,22 – permission to sell considered

Brief History:
The village of Fremont is now known as Mount Pleasant Mills. When the 1894 denominational split divided the congregation at Fremont, the Evangelical Association maintained control of the building, known locally as "The Dam Church." Beginning in 1894, the congregation was served by the East Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Association, and it was one of the few central Pennsylvania Association congregations to survive until the 1922 denominational re-union. Services were discontinued about 1930, and most of the members transferred to the United Brethren congregation, now Emmanuel United Methodist. The building was sold to Rev. Oscar G. Martin, who used the lumber to erect a shed that still stands on the family property one mile north of town. While the United Evangelicals supplied Fremont for a few years following the division, their congregation did not survive and never erected a building.

Final disposition:
The site is now used as an off-road parking space for large trucks.

9. Hoover's EV
[St. Peter's]

[no picture]

Location: Middle Creek Road
Municipality: Penn township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From Selinsgrove, go south on Market Street (old US 11-15) 2 miles to Middle Creek Road, the last road before being forced to rejoin US 11-15 south. Turn right on Middle Creek Road and go one mile. The church is on the right.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Association

Journal references:
     East Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Association
            1901,22 - permission to sell denied
            1902,22 - permission to sell considered

Brief History:
This congregation was formed with the Evangelical Association in 1891, and they moved a school house from Hoover's Island to become the original church building. Most of the congregation left in the 1894 denominational split and erected the present Faith (Hoover's) United Methodist Church. The remaining members struggled as an Evangelical Association for a while and then reorganized as a Lutheran congregation. The Lutheran denomination formally purchased the building in 1902.

Final disposition:
In 1903, the Lutheran razed the original building and erected the present St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

10. Hummel's United Methodist Church

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\open_churches\snyder\hummels.jpg$

Address: 427 Sassafras Road
Municipality: Franklin township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
1912,98 – permission to sell 3 buildings on Middleburg charge: Hummel’s, New Berlin and Zion

Brief History:
This class was organized 12/19/1896 with a membership of 26 on the Middleburg circuit of the East Pennsylvania – reportedly by members of the then nearby Boyer United Evangelical church that were dissatisfied with their appointed pastor. A one-room frame church building was dedicated 10/26/18976. In 1901 the charge was moved to the Allegheny Conference. In 1949 the sanctuary was enlarged and the basement equipped for Sunday School. In 1952, Middleburg left the denomination and Hummel’s was placed on a three-pont charge with Paxtonville and Kissimmee St. Luke. The present sanctuary was erected in 1966, and the old building was converted into an educational/fellowship hall.
On 9/24/2022 the congregation voted 92-0 to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, and that disaffiliation along with 140 others was approved at a 5/17/2023 special session of the Susquehanna Conference.

Final disposition:

11. Hummel's Wharf St. Paul's EV

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: hummels

Location: Pennsylvania Avenue, village of Hummels Wharf
Municipality: Monroe township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Hummels Wharf is on US 11-15, just south of the borough of Shamokin Dam. In the village of Hummels Wharf, turn east off of US 11-15 at the red light with Park Road. Go 2 blocks to Pennsylvania Avenue. Turn south on Pennsylvania Avenue and go 1 block to Brown Street. The church stood at the northwest corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Brown Street.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:
In 1912 the pastor at Winfield started an Evangelical mission in Hummels Wharf to serve his members living in the area. The Wagenseller schoolhouse was secured, and a Sunday School was organized. In 1913 a lot was secured on Pennsylvania Avenue, and the cornerstone for the above sanctuary was laid. The building was completed the following year. A substantial Sunday School annex was erected in 1948, and the sanctuary was completely remodeled in 1956.
Hummels Wharf and Shreiners were made a two-point charge in 1915, and continued as such (with the addition of Witmer's East from 1933 to 1964) until 1976, at which time the congregations voted to unite and purchased property at Park Road and Fisher Road to erect the present Christ Community United Methodist Church. The St. Paul's building was sold in 1981, and the occupation of the new facility and the sale of Shreiner's building occurred in 1983. A small monument in front of the new building includes the church bells from the former St. Paul's and Shreiner's buildings.

Final disposition:
The sanctuary has been razed and is now the parking lot for the remaining Sunday School annex, which has been converted into offices.

12. Kissimmee St. Luke's UB

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: kissimmee

Location: Kissimmee Road, village of Kissimmee
Municipality: Franklin township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From the square in Middleburg, go one mile west on US 522 to Kissimmee Road. Turn right on Kissimmee Road and go 2 miles to the village of Kissimmee. The church is on the left.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
1918,44 – church erected to replace Zion and named St. Luke’s
2006,233 – merged into Hummels

Brief History:
This congregation dates from 1854, where a United Brethren class erected a building at the site of the present Zion United Methodist Church. There was a split in that congregation. The split group erected a building somewhere between Zion Church and the village of Kissimmee and then, using materials from their first building, erected the present building in Kissimmee in 1916. The United Brethren group from which they split did not survive ― and they sold their property to the Evangelicals in 1890, which property is now Zion United Methodist Church.

Final disposition:

13. Kratzerville St. Paul's EV

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: krazerville

Location: PA 204, village of Kratzerville
Municipality: Jackson township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From the intersection of US 522 and PA 204 in the north end of Selinsgrove, go 5 miles north on PA 204 to the village of Kratzerville. The church is on the right.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church

Journal references:
1948,111 – permission to discontinue services and sell the property

Brief History:
Dunkelberger's 1948 The Story of Snyder County, page 634, states the following. "The first Evangelical church services in this locality were conducted in the home of David Heiser. This home was located on the south side of the road at the east end of the town, about halfway down the hill. In 1869, David Heiser donated a tract of land to the township for the erection of a schoolhouse, with the understanding that his people would have the privilege to conduct their church services in it. In 1902, the congregation erected the present church building. The cemetery is known by the name of the United Evangelical Cemetery. This church was officially closed June 1948 on account of small membership."

Final disposition:
The building is still standing and is in private use by a construction company.

14. Kreamer EV

Location: 623 Kreamer Avenue, village of Kreamer
Municipality: Middle Creek township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Kreamer is just off US 522 [on what was once the main road] about half-way between Middleburg and Selinsgrove.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church

Journal references:
1933,49&55&96 – appointment ceased, membership transferred to Middleburg
1933,96 – permission to sell

Brief History:
Dunkelberger's 1948 The Story of Snyder County, page 649, states the following. "The Evangelical church at Kreamer was organized about 1868 by Reverend Simon Aurand. The original frame building was destroyed by fire January 4, 1900, and a second building was immediately erected. In the course of time the Evangelical members diminished in numbers to such an extent that they found it no longer possible to operate as a congregation. In 1933 the church property was purchased by the Lutheran congregation of Globe Mills and was rededicated as St. Peter's Lutheran Church of Kreamer."

Final disposition:
The building now houses St. Peter's Lutheran Church.

15. Manbeck EV

$Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\snyder\manbeck.jpg$

Location: Stage Road
Municipality: Spring township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From the intersection of US 522 and PA 235 at the north edge of Beaver Springs, go one block west on US 522 to Ridge Road. Turn right on Ridge Road and go 1 mile to Stage Road. Turn right on Stage Road and go 1 mile. The church is on the right.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church

Journal references:
1930,91 – “abandoned for many years”; permission to sell

Brief History:
The first building at this site was a frame structure erected in 1850. In 1888 it was replaced by the present frame structure, the corner stone reading “Saint Luke Evangelical Church.” There is a cemetery associated with the church – a few hundred yards away on Middle Road, which goes off Stage Road across from the church. The membership gradually dwindled until 1955 – when the last reported membership was 5, 3 of which were classified as non-residents. For several years prior, only an annual homecoming service had been held.

Final disposition:
The building now houses the Manbeck Mennonite Church.

16. McKee's Half Falls Trinity UB

McK Trinity 020

Location: McKees Road
Municipality: Chapman township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
The village of McKees Half Falls is on US 11-15 5 miles south of Port Trevorton. In McKees Half Falls, go south 0.5 miles on Old Trail Road to McKees Road. Turn right on McKees Road. The church stood on the right.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church
[The Susquehanna charge was not formally given to the Allegheny Conference until 1901, when services were discontinued at Trinity and when the East German Conference was discontinued. Before that the charge was part of the East Pennsylvania (until 1870) and East German (after its formation in 1870) Conferences. The church hosted the 1862 annual conference of the East Pennsylvania Conference.

Journal references:
1920, 13 – last reported membership (9)

Brief History:
The building that stood here was a large, two-story structure with a cupola that housed a bell. It was erected in 1860 as a union Methodist-United Brethren church, but became exclusively United Brethren in 1885. When the membership dwindled, the appointment was supposedly abandoned in 1901 and the bell placed in the Paradise Church in 1902, but membership is listed up to 1920. In the 1921 journal it and Zion are listed as owned church buildings, but with no congregations.
The Susquehanna circuit of the United Brethren Church existed for almost 100 years. It was established in 1854 and continued until the dismantling of the Allegheny Conference in 1951. While various other churches were on the circuit from time to time, there were seven main churches that kept the charge together. Six of those appointments formed the original circuit ―Cross Roads [Mount Zion], Hoffer [Paradise] Independence [Chapman St. John's], Grainery [St. Thomas], Mahantango [St. Paul's, in Juniata County], McKees [McKees Half Falls Trinity] ― and the seventh, which became the main church, Port Trevorton Markwood, was formed later. While various denominational and congregational mergers have reconfigured the region so that none of the seven exists any more as a distinct congregation, they continue in ministry as parts of local United Methodist congregations.

Final disposition:
The building was used for many years to house migrant workers and farming equipment. It was dismantled in 1973. The site is now an empty lot, with a depression in the ground marking the site of the building and remnants of the cemetery visible upon close inspection.

17. Middleburg Salem UB

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: middleburg

Location: 101 W. Market Street
Municipality: borough of Middleburg
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
W. Market Street is is US 522. The church is on the southwest corner of Market and Walnut Street, 1 block west of the town square.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
    1980,268 - discontinued
    1981,A77 - discussion about the property
    1982, 256 - sold

Brief History:
United Brethren activity in the area dates back to 1800 and Christian Newcomer. People met in homes and schoolhouses until erecting their first building under Lewis Craumer about 1853. A second larger building was erected at the same site in 1871, followed by the present structure in 1909. In 1980 the members and board of trustees withdrew from the church, causing the Conference to declare the building abandoned. After much discussion, the property was sold to the Salem Independent Brethren Church in 1981.

Final disposition:
The building now houses an independent congregation.

18. Paradise

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: paradise

Location: Paradise Church Road
Municipality: Chapman township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From Prot Trevorton, go 3 miles south on US 11-15 to Black Woods Road, in the community of Independence. Turn right on Black Woods Road and go 2 miles to Paradise Church Road. Turn left on Paradise Church Road and go 1 mile. The church is on the left.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
2001,322&S62 - merged into Port Trevorton Grace to form Port Trevorton Hope United Methodist Church

Brief History:
The Paradise congregation was organized by Eusebius Hershey about 1848. A one story log church building was constructed in 1854 on land deeded by William T. Reichenbach for a church and a free burial ground. The present church building was constructed on the same site in 1899. In 1924 several families left Paradise to start a holiness church, Chapman Community Chapel, located about 0.5 miles to the west.
The Susquehanna circuit of the United Brethren Church existed for almost 100 years. It was established in 1854 and continued until the dismantling of the Allegheny Conference in 1951. While various other churches were on the circuit from time to time, there were seven main churches that kept the charge together. Six of those appointments formed the original circuit ―Cross Roads [Mount Zion], Hoffer [Paradise] Independence [Chapman St. John's], Grainery [St. Thomas], Mahantango [St. Paul's, in Juniata County], McKees [McKees Half Falls Trinity] ― and the seventh, which became the main church, Port Trevorton Markwood, was formed later. While various denominational and congregational mergers have reconfigured the region so that none of the seven exists any more as a distinct congregation, they continue in ministry as parts of local United Methodist congregations.

Final disposition:
The church building was been razed.

19. Paxtonville UMC

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\open_churches\snyder\paxlonville.jpg$

Address: 1281 Paxton Street, village of Paxtonville
Municipality: Franklin township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
On 2/2/2023 the congregation voted 94-15-2 to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, and that disaffiliation along with 140 others was approved at a 5/17/2023 special session of the Susquehanna Conference.

Final disposition:

20. Penn's Creek St. Paul's UMC

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\open_churches\snyder\penns_creek_stpauls.jpg$

Address: 600 Walnut Street
Municipality: Center township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From Middleburg, go north on PA 104 6 miles to the cross road at the southern end of the village of Penns Creek, where Troxelville Road goes west and Walnut Street goes east. Go east 1 block on Walnut Street to Raspberry Street. The church is on the northwest corner of Walnut and Raspberry streets.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
Centerville [Penns Creek] was visited about 1800 by Jacob Albright, founder of the Evangelical Church. Regular preaching began bout 1806 when Jacob Kehr was converted and opened his house to preaching. The first Evangelical church building in town was erected in 1870 and burned, with all the records, in 1896. The second and present building was erected on the same site in 1897 and included a Sunday School room with rolling doors that could be opened for special occasions. It was reported to be “the largest and finest church building in Snyder County, seating between 400 and 500.”
In the face of shrinking membership and finances, the congregation voted to close in 2025.

Final disposition:

21. Pine EV
     Pine ME
      Pine UB
      [aka Pine Swamp]

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: pine

Location: Crater Hill Road
Municipality: West Perry township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From Richfield, go 1 mile east on PA 35 to the cross roads, where Mill Creek Road goes to the right. Turn right on Mill Creek Road, which becomes Crater Hill Road, and go 1 mile. The site is on the left, where Potato Valley Road goes off to the east.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:
On this site, about 1840, was erected a union church building that was used by the Evangelicals, Methodists, and United Brethren. The Methodists appear to have abandoned the work here almost immediately. The United Brethren ceased meeting here in 1876 when they re-located to Richfield. The Evangelicals appear to have kept meeting here until the 1894 denominational split, at which point those siding with the United Evangelicals re-located to Richfield and those remaining with the Evangelical Association transferred to Daniels. The 1868 county atlas identifies the structure as a United Brethren Church.

Final disposition:
The marker at the site reads "Evangelical Methodist Cemetery."

22. Port Trevorton EA

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: trevorton

Location: Main Street, village of Port Trevorton
Municipality: Union township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Port Trevorton is on US 11-15, six miles south of Selinsgrove. Main Street is the old US 11-15. The church stood on the west side of the street, north of the fire hall.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Association

Journal references:
     East Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Association
            1908, 29 – permission to sell or move church building
            1915,209 – church and parsonage sold; more suitable parsonage purchased

Brief History:
The frame structure that stood on this site was erected by the Evangelical Association and was known as the "White Church." The 1894 denominational split divided the congregation, and the majority of the members left to side with the United Evangelical Church and erect the Olive Church. Unable to compete with the United Evangelicals, the congregation dwindled during the split. While there may have been a handful of members on the books at the time of the 1922 denominational re-merger, it appears that services were no longer being held here. Unused for many years, the structure was standing in ruins when it was destroyed by the August 1949 blaze that burned out the center of town and prompted the formation of the local fire department.

Final disposition:

23. Port Trevorton Markwood UB

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: trevorton

Location: Main Street, village of Port Trevorton
Municipality: Union township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Port Trevorton is on US 11-15, six miles south of Selinsgrove. Main Street is the old US 11-15. The church stood on the west side of the street, across from the present Hope United Methodisst Church.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
The Markwood church was erected in 1873 and named as a memorial to the popular United Brethren Bishop Jacob Markwood (1815-1873). In 1952 the Markwood and Olive (former Evangelical) congregations in Port Trevorton united to form the Grace Evangelical United Brethren congregation and erect a new building, now the Hope United Methodist Church.
The Susquehanna circuit of the United Brethren Church existed for almost 100 years. It was established in 1854 and continued until the dismantling of the Allegheny Conference in 1951. While various other churches were on the circuit from time to time, there were seven main churches that kept the charge together. Six of those appointments formed the original circuit ―Cross Roads [Mount Zion], Hoffer [Paradise] Independence [Chapman St. John's], Grainery [St. Thomas], Mahantango [St. Paul's, in Juniata County], McKees [McKees Half Falls Trinity] ― and the seventh, which became the main church, Port Trevorton Markwood, was formed later. While various denominational and congregational mergers have reconfigured the region so that none of the seven exists any more as a distinct congregation, they continue in ministry as parts of local United Methodist congregations.

Final disposition:
The Markwood church building was torn down in 1957, and a new parsonage for the Port Trevorton charge was erected on the site.

24. Port Trevorton Olive EV

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: treverton

Location: Main Street, village of Port Trevorton
Municipality: Union township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Port Trevorton is on US 11-15, six miles south of Selinsgrove. Main Street is the old US 11-15. The church stood on the west side of the street, a few lots north of the "White Church" of the Evangelical Association.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
The building that stood at this site was erected in 1894 by the members of the "White Church" that sided with the United Evangelicals during the denominational split. In 1952 the Olive and Markwood (former United Brethren) congregations in Port Trevorton united to form the Grace Evangelical United Brethren congregation and erect a new building, now the Hope United Methodist Church.

Final disposition:

25. Salem EV

$Description: C:\Users\loyer\Pictures\2011-12-19 decem\Salem.JPG$

Address: 15960 PA Route 104
Municipality: Center township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From Middleburg, go 3.5 miles north on PA 014. The church is on the right, on the northeast corner of PA 104 and Salem Church Road. The cemetery is on the southeast corner, and the parking lot is across PA 104 from the church.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Association

Journal references:
2012,160 - discontinued

Brief History:
This land was sold to the Evangelical Association by Jesse and Sophia Shambach on 3/25/1873, and a church building was erected. Prior to that the congregation had worshipped in what was known as Fry’s School House. Because of dwindling membership and attendance, the congregation voted to discontinue as of September 25, 2011.

Final disposition:
The property was sold 3/14/2012 to Karl and Carolyn Zimmerman for $35,000

26. Shamokin Dam UMC

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\open_churches\snyder\shamokin_dam.jpg$

Address: 3603 North Old Trail Road
Municipality: borough of Shamokin Dam
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
The Old Trail Road Runs parallel to and one block east of the current US 11-15. The church is on the extreme north end of the Old Trail Road – about 2 blocks north of 8^th Avenue, which is the northernmost connector between the old and new highways – on the west side of the road.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references
2023,180 – closed 7/8/2022
2023,276 – sold 11/15/2022 for $79,200 to Edgar E. Clark and assigns

Brief History:
This congregation was founded in 1866 and worshiped in the public school building until the present church structure was erected in 1870 on land donated by Dr. Isaac Hottenstein. In 1904, the church was rebuilt and the second story removed. The building was significantly remodeled again in 1929 and 1964. On 3/1/2022 the congregation voted to close as of 7/8/2022.

Final disposition:
The property was sold at auction on October 1, 2022 to Edgar E. Clark for a total price of $79,200.

27. Shreiner's EV

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: shrieners

Location: 11th Avenue, outskirts of Shamokin Dam
Municipality: Monroe township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
The borough of Shamokin Dam is on US 11-15, across the Susquehanna River From Sunbury. In Shamokin Dam, turn west off US-15 at the red light at 11th Avenue. Go 2 miles west on 11th Avenue. The church is on the left.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church.

Journal references:

Brief History:
Named for local resident John Shreiner, this congregation was organized in 1882 and attached to the Winfield charge. The church building was erected in 1884.
Hummels Wharf and Shreiners were made a two-point charge in 1915, and continued as such (with the addition of Witmer's East from 1933 to 1964) until 1976, at which time the congregations voted to unite and purchased property at Park Road and Fisher Road to erect the present Christ Community United Methodist Church. The St. Paul's building was sold in 1981, and the occupation of the new facility and the sale of Shreiner's building occurred in 1983. A small monument in front of the new building includes the church bells from the former St. Paul's and Shreiner's buildings.

Final disposition:
The building now houses a Southern Baptist congregation. The cemetery is owned by a separate Shreiner's Cemetery Association.

28. St. Peter's UMC

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\open_churches\snyder\stpeterss.jpg$

Address: 6126 Middle Road
Municipality: Adams township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
Jacob Albright reportedly organized a class here in 1803. The first church on this site was called the Slab Church – built with slabs from a nearby saw mill and having a sawdust floor. It stood east-west and had separate doors for the men and women. That structure was razed in 1895 and frame church was built that faced south and had a single entrance. A 1962-63 controversy resulted in a church trial and the expulsion of a significant number of members that led to the creation of St. Peters Independent Bible Church at 7812 Middle Road. The present building was dedicated August 6, 1967, with a membership of only 14 people.
On 2/11/2023 the congregation voted 16-0 to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, and that disaffiliation along with 140 others was approved at a 5/17/2023 special session of the Susquehanna Conference.

29. St. Thomas UB

$Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\snyder\stthom.jpg$

Location: St. Thomas Road
Municipality: West Perry township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From the intersection of US 11-15 and PA 104, 5 miles north of Liverpool, go north on PA 104 4 miles to the village of Meiserville. In the village of Meiserville, turn left onto Mill Road and go 0.5 miles to St. Thomas Road. Turn left on St. Thomas Road and go 1 mile to Church Road. the church is on the left, and the cemetery is on the hill across Church Road.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
This congregation met in homes and in the schoolhouse for several years before erecting the present structure in 1891 on land donated by Eli Portzline. In 1979 the congregation was split when many of the members left to form an independent St. Thomas Church and erect a new building less than one mile away. Having the two congregations in the same area made for difficult family and community relations. In 1983 the St. Thomas congregation united with the Daniels (former Evangelical) congregation to form the present Daniels-St. Thomas United Methodist Church, meeting in the former Daniels building in Buckwheat Valley. The St. Thomas building was sold to the Mennonite Church.
The Susquehanna circuit of the United Brethren Church existed for almost 100 years. It was established in 1854 and continued until the dismantling of the Allegheny Conference in 1951. While various other churches were on the circuit from time to time, there were seven main churches that kept the charge together. Six of those appointments formed the original circuit ―Cross Roads [Mount Zion], Hoffer [Paradise] Independence [Chapman St. John's], Grainery [St. Thomas], Mahantango [St. Paul's, in Juniata County], McKees [McKees Half Falls Trinity] ― and the seventh, which became the main church, Port Trevorton Markwood, was formed later. While various denominational and congregational mergers have reconfigured the region so that none of the seven exists any more as a distinct congregation, they continue in ministry as parts of local United Methodist congregations.

Final disposition:
The building now houses a congregation of the Weaverland Conference of the Mennonite Church.

30. Troxelville EV

$Description: Description: X:\image\open_churches\snyder\traxelville.jpg$

Address: 9186 PA 235, village of Troxelville
Municipality: Adams township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From Middleburg, take US 522 west 10 miles to PA 235 at Beaver Springs. Go north 4 miles on PA 235. The building is on the left.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church

Journal references:
2011,230 – abandoned
2012,241 – sold to Hope Mennonite Church

Brief History:
The Evangelical Association class here met in schools until erecting this building in 1876. The congregation optimistically erected the large addition on the north side of the building in 2003 shortly before the congregation dwindled. The final service was held September 26, 2010.

Final disposition:
The building now houses the Hope Mennonite Church.

31. Witmers East EV

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: east

Location: Witmer Road
Municipality: Union township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From Port Trevorton, go 2 miles north on US 11-15 to Dundore Road. Go west on Dundore Road 1 mile to Witmer Road. Go north on Witmer Road 0.5 miles. The church stood by the cemetery on the right side of the road.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
This congregation was formed by the members of the Witmers congregation that sided with the United Evangelical Church in the denominational split of 1894. They erected the building pictured above across the street from the building kept by those remaining with the Evangelical Association. The division in the congregation was so deep that at least one casket was removed from the original Evangelical Association graveyard and re-interred in the new United Evangelical cemetery.
Following the 1922 denominational re-union, the two congregations remained on separate charges for many years. The two Witmers congregation began being served by the same pastor in 1964, and in December of that year a fire destroyed the Witmers East building. In 1965 the East (42 members) and West (102 members) congregations united to form a single congregation, the present Witmers United Methodist Church, and erect a new building.

Final disposition:

32. Witmers West EV

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: west

Location: Witmer Road
Municipality: Union township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From Port Trevorton, go 2 miles north on US 11-15 to Dundore Road. Go west on Dundore Road 1 mile to Witmer Road. Go north on Witmer Road 0.5 miles. The church stood on the left side of the road, to the left of the present Witmers United Methodist Church.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Association

Journal references:

Brief History:
Ministers of the Evangelical Association entered this area in 1834 and formed a class. A log church building was erected in 1835. In 1856, some dissenting members withdrew to form the short-lived Zion Evangelical congregation west of Port Trevorton. In the 1894 denominational split, some dissenting members withdrew and erected a United Evangelical building across the road. This congregation remained in the Evangelical Association and was served by the East Pennsylvania Conference of that denomination from 1894 to 1922.
Following the 1922 denominational re-union, the two congregations remained on separate charges for many years. The two Witmers congregation began being served by the same pastor in 1964, and in December of that year a fire destroyed the Witmers East building. In 1965 the East (42 members) and West (102 members) congregations united to form a single congregation, the present Witmers United Methodist Church, and erect a new building.

Final disposition:

33. Zion EV

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\open_churches\snyder\zion.jpg$

Address: 1366 Zion Road
Municipality: Centre township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
From Middleburg, go 1 mile west on US 522 to Kissimmee Road. Turn right on Kissimmee Road and go 1 mile to the village of Kissimmee. Turn right on Country Road and go 2 miles to the cross roads with Zion Road. The church is at the intersection, straight ahead.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church

Brief History:
This congregation was organized about 1890 when the Evangelical Association purchased the [upper] Zion UB log church building. The congregation erected their own modern building, the nucleus of the present complex, in 1898. The exact location of the original log building has not been determined, but it was in the immediate vicinity. There are two cemeteries by the church – the older one nearest the present building was associated with the old log UB Church and always continued to be associated with the nearest UB Church, the last of which was St. Luke’s UMC in Kissimmee; the newer one across the road is the one that has been associated with the Evangelicals and the present building. In 2022 the congregation voted 33-0 to disaffiliate from the United Methodist denomination. That action was approved by the 2022 Annual Conference.

34.         Zion UB
      Zion EV
      [aka Mt. Zion]

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: zion zion 001

Location: Silver Creek Road
Municipality: Union township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:
Silver Creek Road leaves Main Street (the old US 11-15) at the southern end of Port Trevorton. Go west 1.5 miles on Silver Creek Road to the intersection with Witmer Road. The site of the church is now part of that intersection.

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
1920,13 – last reported membership (15)
1924,55 – sale confirmed, ½ of proceeds for upkeep of the cemetery

Brief History:
The building that stood here was erected in 1856 by members of the Evangelical Association who withdrew from the nearby Witmers church because of a dispute. That congregation prospered for only a few years. About 1865, the remaining members re-united with the Witmers congregation and the building was sold to the United Brethren class meeting in the area. The United Brethren closed the church in 1920, and it was torn down for road relocation purposes about 1922. In the 1921 journal it and McKees Half Falls Trinity are listed as owned church buildings, but with no congregations.
The Susquehanna circuit of the United Brethren Church existed for almost 100 years. It was established in 1854 and continued until the dismantling of the Allegheny Conference in 1951. While various other churches were on the circuit from time to time, there were seven main churches that kept the charge together. Six of those appointments formed the original circuit ―Cross Roads [ Zion], Hoffer [Paradise] Independence [Chapman St. John's], Grainery [St. Thomas], Mahantango [St. Paul's, in Juniata County], McKees [McKees Half Falls Trinity] ― and the seventh, which became the main church, Port Trevorton Markwood, was formed later. While various denominational and congregational mergers have reconfigured the region so that none of the seven exists any more as a distinct congregation, they continue in ministry as parts of local United Methodist congregations.

Final disposition:
The church site is within the relocated intersection pictured above. The cemetery is on the hill in the distance, on the right ride of the road.

35. Zion UB (upper)

[no picture]

Location:
Municipality: Centre township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
This log building was erected on the top of the hill, near the site of the present Zion UMC, by the United Brethren about 1850. In 1871 there was a split in the congregation, and a second United Brethren structure was erected down the hill, about one mile closer to Middleburg. The original congregation was not able to survive and the log building was sold to the Evangelical Association about 1890. The adjoining cemetery continued to be associated with the nearest United Brethren congregation.

Final disposition:

36. Zion UB (lower)

[no picture]

Location:
Municipality: Franklin Township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Directions:

Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
This United Brethren congregation split from the upper Zion congregation and erected a second building about one mile closer to Middleburg in 1871. In 1916 that building was disassembled and the materials used to erect St. Luke’s United Brethren church building in Kissimmee.

Final disposition:

37. Zion UMC

$Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\open_churches\snyder\zion.jpg$

Address: 1366 Zion Road
Municipality: Centre township
County: Snyder
State: PA

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Church

Journal references:
2022,216 – approval to disaffiliate
2023,181 – disaffiliated

Brief History:
This congregation was organized about 1890 when the Evangelical Association purchased the [upper] Zion UB log church building. The congregation erected their own modern building, the nucleus of the present complex, in 1898. The exact location of the original log building has not been determined, but it was in the immediate vicinity. There are two cemeteries by the church – the older one nearest the present building was associated with the old log UB Church and always continued to be associated with the nearest UB Church, the last of which was St. Luke’s UMC in Kissimmee; the newer one across the road is the one that has been associated with the Evangelicals and the present building.
The Zion UMC disaffiliation was effective 7/21/2022.