Dauphin Pennsylvania Early Church History
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Dauphin Early Churches
A Presbyterian congregation was formed April 6, 1850, when twenty-three members entered into solemn articles of covenant and faith. Prior to this Rev. Dr. DeWitt, of Harrisburg, preached here occasionally in the school-house and at the old "Hill Church." Rev. George R. Moore came June 21, 1848, to officiate; he was or- dained the following October and formed the Society. The church was dedicated May 12, 1850. John W. Patton, of Philadelphia, donated a fine bell, and Miss Monroe and others of Wilmington, Delaware, donated a communion set. The pastors came as follows: George R. Moore, 1848; Rev. Davis, Rev. D. C. Meeker, 1876; Rev. R. F. McClain, 1885; Rev. F. M. Baker, 1889; Rev. Robert F. McClaIn, 1900; Rev. P. H. Hershey, 1903. Present pastor, Robt. F. Sterling.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was taken from Halifax in 1838. A good frame church was erected in 1837. This was burned January 12, 1888, and a new modern-styled brown-stone edifice was erected the same year, valued at $7,000.
Zion's Lutheran Church first worshiped at "Hill Church," but in September, 1849, decided to build in town, and that year com-menced work on a lot of Mrs. Gross. It was a joint affair between the Lutheran and Reformed Churches. The comer stone was set August 10, 1850, and the dedication took place February 2, 1851. The Evangelical Alliance built in 1872. The pastors of Zion's Lutheran Church since the year 1882, have been: Revs. G. B. Fishfer, D. W. Bickler, J. M. Shoop, D. F. Kostenbader, H. D. Kriedler, G. A. K______, S. N. Disslnger, R. F. Andrew, L. O. Wiest, and M. L. Heister.
In Middle Paxton township, outside of Dauphin, the United Evangelical church built a neat frame house in 1898, known as (Trinity) or "Fishing Creek" church. The same denomination built a church at Uniontown (Pillow postoffice) about 1898, and also one at Williamstown and one in Lower Paxton.