Dauphin County Pennsylvania Early Church History

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Religious History — The First Church Founded — First Edifice Built — Old Derry Church — Hanover Church — Paxtang Church — Derry "Memorial Church" — Harrisburg Churches — Middletown Churches — Lykens Churches — Upper Paxton Churches — Steelton Churches — Berrysburg Churches — Lower Paxton Churches — Hill Church — Halifax Churches — Dauphin Churches — Humimels- TOWN Churches — Earliest Mennonite Church — "Parson Elder's" Sermon Heads — Biographies of Pioneer Ministers — Rev. William Bertram and Rev. John Elder — The Old Conewago Church.

The religious element from the earliest day, has predominated in Dauphin County, and the development of Christian principles, together with the interest taken in schools and general educational matters, has brought about the present prosperity and moral intellectual standing of the county.

It so happened that the race of people who settled this county first were Calvinistic. The three churches first to organize in the count)' of Dauphin were the Presbyterian churches of Derry, Paxtang and Hanover — all dating from years prior to 1730. The first settled pastor of the united churches of Derry and Paxtang was Rev. William Bertram, who began his labors in 1732.

Old Derry Church had the honor of being the pioneer church in the county. The building in which this people worshiped was erected about 1720. It was constructed of oak logs two feet thick, and covered with hemlock boards on the outside. The congrega- tion of many generations which worshiped on that sacred spot, lie buried in the old ivy-grown graveyard by its side, or in remote parts of the world.

The second church formed in the county was the Reformed, located at Derry in 1768. Prior to 1786 the early settlers of Harris- burg held worship in a one-story log school house on the north corner of Third and Walnut streets. The first pastor to be settled at Harrisburg was Rev. Anthony Hautz,'of the Reformed Church. He sensed from 1790 to 1797.

The third church formed within the county was the Lutheran, at Hummelstown, about 1753.

In 1801 the Methodist Episcopal people had become numerous enough to organize a church. Classes were formed at Halifax, Millersburg and Lykens.

The Protestant Episcopalians worshiped at Estherton as early as 1766, and in 1826 organized a church at Harrisburg, known as St. Stephen's.

The Roman Catholic Church began its work as early as 1810, but was not organized until 1826.

The Baptist people were organized into church relations, first in Harrisburg. This was in 1830.

The various churches of this county have kept pace with increase of population. The several denominations have ever been true and loyal to the principles of good government and liberty.