CHURCHES WITHIN THE PRESENT BOUN

CHURCHES WITHIN THE PRESENT BOUNDARIES OF THE

SUSQUEHANNA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

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ADAMS COUNTY PA

1. Bendersville United Methodist Church

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Address: 131 N. Main Street, Bendersville 17306
Municipality: Bendersville borough
County: Adams County
State: PA

Directions:
From Biglerville, go north on PA 34 3 miles to a Y where PA 34 bears right and the road straight ahead becomes S. Main Street in Bendersville.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
This congregation is the outgrowth of an early 1830's Methodist class led by Ludwick Group. They met in the "yellow house" on what was then known as the Hunterstown Road (now the Aspers-Bendersville Road) until the Union Cabin Church was opened 1840. The present structure was dedicated September 8, 1867. The church was part of the York Springs circuit from 144 until 1939, when a local parsonage was built and the Bendersville charge was formed. In 1992 the Bendersville (former Methodist) and Biglerville (former EUB) charges came together to form the Upper Adams Cooperative Parish ― several United Methodist congregations united in ministry and served by multiple pastors.

2. Gettysburg United Methodist Church

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Address: 30 W. High Street, Gettysburg 17325
Municipality: Gettysburg borough
County: Adams County
State: PA

Directions:
2 blocks south and 1/2 block west of the town square

Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
1898,18 – old building taken down; new 71x84 brick building dedicated 10/24/1897

Brief History:
     The United Brethren denomination has always had a rural orientation. In 1891, after several years of discussions about the possibility of starting a United Brethren congregation in the town of Gettysburg, a few persons acting on their own purchased a former Presbyterian building with the hope that the Annual Conference would make it the nucleus of a new charge. This being done, the work grew rapidly. A parsonage was erected in 1893, and in 1897 the original small Presbyterian structure (built in 1806 as the first church building in Gettysburg) was replaced by more commodious facilities. In 1959 the congregation, now part of the Evangelical United Brethren denomination, added a substantial educational unit.
     The Methodists also had a presence in Gettysburg, dating from the preaching visits of Francis Asbury and Freeborn Garretson in the late 1700's. In 1822 a small chapel, now a museum owned by the Sons of Union Veterans, was erected on E. Middle Street. In 1874 a larger sanctuary was erected on the other side of the street, and in 1958 a substantial education addition was dedicated. In January 1968, however, the Methodist sanctuary was destroyed by arson. With the union of the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren denominations scheduled to take place in April 1968, it was decided to merge the two Gettysburg congregations and use the Evangelical United Brethren building on High Street. The Methodist education addition that had been spared in the fire now serves as the Adams County Judicial Building.
     The present Gettysburg United Methodist congregation officially dates from 1968. In 1973 the old United Brethren sanctuary and adjacent house were removed to make way for new construction of the present sanctuary, while the educational unit and fellowship hall were retained.

3. Guldens Salem United Methodist Church

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Address: 224 Low Dutch Road, Gettysburg 17325
Municipality: Mount Pleasant township
County: Adams County
State: PA

Directions:
From Gettysburg, go 5 miles east on US 30, 1 mile south on Low Dutch Road. Guldens is the local name of the general area.

Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the United Brethren Church.

Journal references:
1889,20 – brick building dedicated November 1888

Brief History:
In 1835 John H. Miller, one of the pioneer settlers in the area, built a wagon shed on his farm with a second story room to be used as a Sunday School for the neighborhood children. This led to the erection of a church house on his land in 1840. In 1888 the original structure was replaced by a brick building. In 1904 the new building was destroyed by lightning, and the present structure was dedicated November 26, 1905. The social hall that forms the south end of the facility was dedicated May 27, 1956. The church property includes a community cemetery in which are buried John Miller, four of his eight children, and many other of his descendants. Prior to the 1968, Salem was part of the Gettysburg EUB charge; since the denomination union, Salem has been on a charge with the former Methodist church in New Oxford.

4. Littlestown Barts-Centenary United Methodist Church

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Address: 50 E. King Street, Littlestown 17340
Municipality: Littlestown borough
County: Adams County
State: PA

Directions:
King Street is PA 194. The church is 1/2 block east of the intersection of PA 194 and PA 97.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Journal references:
1926,256 – new social hall built and dedicated at a cost of $7000

Brief History:
The first known Methodist in Littlestown was Mrs. Rachel Sweeny, who converted at a revival in Gettysburg in 1819. A class consisting of Mrs. Sweeny and five others was formally organized in 1827. Services were held in the United Brethren church (a congregation which later disbanded, and whose building stood on property now occupied by the Catholic church) until the first Methodist building was dedicated December 25, 1845. Subscriptions for the present structure were taken in 1875, the building was named Centenary in honor of the country's 1876 centennial, and the sanctuary was finally dedicated in 1877. In 1992 Centenary merged with Barts (former United Brethren) to form Barts-Centenary United Methodist Church ― a single congregation meeting on two campuses.

5. Mount Calvary United Methodist Church

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Address: 228 Cashtown Road
Municipality: Franklin township
County: Adams County
State: PA

Directions:
3 miles west of Arndtsville (or 2 miles northeast of Cashtown) on the road connecting Arndtsville and Cashtown

Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
This church used to be known locally as Sheeley's Church, after the family who donated the land. The church building was erected in 1861 and grew out of large camp meetings held on the Jacob Sheeley farm in the grove west of the church in the 1850's. The cornerstone reads “Calvary Church UB in Christ 1861.” Until the renovations of 1963, the church had separate front doors for the men and women and a low partition through the center of the church to keep the genders separate. The church property includes a cemetery and a pavilion. Mount Carmel is presently part of the Upper Adams Cooperative Parish of the United Methodist Church.
In 1955 Pastor Roger Burtner prepared a historical sketch of Mt. Calvary that included an interview with William Cullison, then the oldest living member of the congregation. As a boy of 8 or 9 about 1870, Bill remembers walking barefoot for 2 or miles across stubble fields to attend services. He joined the church in the early 1880's as a young man of 22 or 23 after being converted in the big revival meeting led by evangelist Group [see the histories of Mount Carmel and Mount Hope]. The services were held nightly for 8 weeks, and there were more than 100 conversions reported. Bill remembers the folks leaving as early as sundown for the Mount Calvary church each evening in order to be sure of a seat for the crowded meetings. The aisles of the church were filled with people, and there was standing room only. Often there would still be people at the church as late as 2 a.m. in the morning.

6. Mount Tabor United Methodist Church

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Address: 1290 Gablers Road, Gardners 17324
Municipality: Menallen township
County: Adams County
State: PA

Directions:
At the Y at the north end of Bendersville, bear right onto Mt. Tabor Road, follow Mt. Tabor Road 3 miles to the intersection with Gablers Road

Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
In the 1850's, the United Brethren and the Methodists alternated services in the area's Turkey Foot school house. The Methodists eventually abandoned the appointment, but the United Brethren purchased property ― after two of the trustees walked 14 miles each way to make the arrangements with the owners ― and dedicated their own church building January 12, 1862. When the original structure could no longer accommodate the growing congregation, it was replaced by the present brick sanctuary dedicated on May 30, 1909. Originally the parsonage for the rural circuit that included Mount Tabor was located in Bendersville (although there never was a UB church in Bendersville) – and the Bendersville charge included Clines, Gardners, Mt. Tabor and Mt. Victory, In 1919 a parsonage was erected next to the Mount Tabor church. In 1933 the three-point Mount Tabor United Brethren charge was formed to consist of Mount Tabor, Clines and Mount Zion (east of Mount Holly Springs in Cumberland County). This charge functioned for 30 years, until the charge rearrangements associated with the 1963 merging of the overlapping former United Brethren and Evangelical conferences to form an integrated EUB conference. Mount Tabor was later part of the Upper Adams Cooperative Parish of the United Methodist Church.

7. New Oxford Emory United Methodist Church

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Address: 35 Center Square, New Oxford 17350
Municipality: New Oxford borough
County: Adams County
State: PA

Directions:
The church is on US 30, on the southeast corner of the town square.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
The first Methodist society in New Oxford was organized in 1829 through the efforts of Mr. John Banitz. Services were held in homes until a small log meeting house was erected the following year, also under the leadership of Mr. Barnitz. Soon thereafter Bishop John Emory visited New Oxford and urged the formation of a Sunday School. This was accomplished, and the resulting organization was henceforth known as the "Emory Sunday School." In 1845 the log building gave place to a new structure one and a half blocks east of the square, on the north side of the road. The present sanctuary on the square, the congregation's third building and third location, was dedicated November 27, 1887. That valuable lot had been purchased and given to the congregation, along with $1000 cash toward the erection of the building, by the widow of long-time member Dr. J.W. Hendrix, a medical doctor and Dickinson College trustee known for his Christian benevolence.

8. Rock Chapel United Methodist Church [Historic Property]

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Address: 4730 Oxford Road, York Springs PA 17372
Municipality: Huntington township
County: Adams County
State: PA

Directions:
From the intersection of PA 234 and the old US 15 in Heidlersburg, go 1 mile north to Oxford Road, go one mile west on Oxford Road to the church

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
     Rock Chapel is an historic site of the Central Pennsylvania Conference, under the care of the York Springs church, and no longer has a congregation. Tradition says a Methodist circuit rider preached here about 1770 ― possibly Robert Strawbridge or one of his associates, and possibly the first Methodist sermon within the bounds of the Conference. That same tradition says that construction of the chapel was begun in 1773 and completed in 1776. The first documented reference to Rock Chapel occurs in the 1803 quarterly conference records of the Carlisle circuit. While there never was a village associated with the location, Oxford Road was at one time the major thoroughfare from New Oxford to Carlisle. Other scattered records and references provide insight into this historic site.
     A quarterly conference held at Rock Chapel in August 1815 included a camp meeting. From 1827 to 1844 Rock Chapel was part of the Gettysburg circuit, and historian Samuel Milton Frost (1825-1906) says of that period: "Rock Chapel in those years was a point of great attraction. The congregations were large, the revivals were frequent and extensive, and the membership embraced many of the finest families in that section." As the circuit riders could visit but infrequently, much credit for the success belonged to the local class leaders and lay preachers. Ludwick Group used to walk from his house near Idaville, hold class at Rock Chapel, walk to Bendersville and hold class, and then walk home ― completing a circuit of 18 to 20 miles on foot in a single day.
     The chapel was rebuilt in 1849 and has changed little since then. The adjacent graveyard was established in connection with this rebuilding. Before the Battle of Gettysburg, blankets from a nearby woolen mill were reportedly hidden between the ceiling and roof to keep them from the invading Confederates. The membership gradually dwindled over the years, and the last reported membership was 3 in 1967. The building is kept in good repair and available for tours and special events. A fall homecoming service and a candlelight Christmas-season service are held at Rock Chapel each year.

9. Wenksville United Methodist Church

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Address: 2010 Wenksville Road, Biglerville 17307
Municipality: Menallen township
County: Adams County
State: PA

Directions:
Follow N. Main Street in Bendersville (which becomes Wenksville Road by bearing left at the Y at the north end of town) 5 miles to the community of Wenksville

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
     A Methodist society was organized in the community about 1844 and met in the Wanks school house. On December 25, 1872, the Lutheran and Methodist societies of Wanksville dedicated the Wanksville Brick Union Church, located on the site of the present United Methodist building. That same year, Wanksville along with Bendersville and Pine Grove Furnace were separated from the large York Springs circuit to form the three-point Bendersville charge. In 1881, the variant spellings associated with the community were abandoned in favor of Wenksville.
     In 1891 the Brick Union church was destroyed by fire, and each denomination decided to erect its own building. The Methodists purchased the lot on which the union structure had stood and dedicated the present sanctuary September 25, 1892. The same year, the Lutherans erected and dedicated St. James Lutheran Church directly across the road. Over the years the two congregations have continued to cooperate, sponsoring combined Vacation Bible Schools and holding joint services on special occasions.
     The congregation has enjoyed a steady growth that has prompted several major additions and renovations to the building. In 1947, the basement was excavated to be used for Sunday School classes. The sanctuary was completely remodeled and enlarged in 1958, and a ten room education unit and large social hall were added. In 1974, the basement was remodeled for youth ministry.