Trinity U.C.C.
October 3rd, 2007
TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
The first service of the Reformed Church was held in the Academy Building June 20, 1864. For two years the services were conducted by the Reverend Samuel Hahn Reid, but no organization was effected until June 24, 1866, when 13 persons met at the Lumber Mill Office and presented certificates of membership. Peter Schaeffer and William Brumbach were elected elders while William H. Follmer and Simon Lantz were chosen as deacons. On February 17, 1866 negotiations were entered into with the Lutheran congregation for the erection of a house of worship to be used by both churches. A committee consisting of Peter Schaeffer, Silas Rambach, E. Everitt, Philip Winterstein and William H. Follmer was appointed to solicit subscriptions for the purchase of land and to construct a building. On March 21, 1866 it was unanimously agreed to purchase the two lots known as the Piper lots from Ario Pardee for the sum of $500. These lots were located on the northeast corner of Main and Fourth Streets. The subscriptions to that point amounted to $3,467.50. A building committee was elected at that meeting consisting of two members of the Reformed congregation, Peter Schaeffer and William H. Follmer; and two members of the Lutheran congregation, Samuel Miller and Samuel Witman. At a meeting of the building committee on April 5, 1866 at Goodman’s Store, the committee elected Peter Schaeffer president and by unanimous consent it was recommended to build a brick church 50 feet long and 36 feet wide, the height to be determined later.
On July 14, 1866 the Articles of Agreement were adopted by Lutheran and Reformed congregations. These articles dealt with the name, the building, the use of the church, its upkeep, and the final manner of dissolution if that became desirable. The cornerstone was laid on July 15, 1866 and the exercises were held in the old Bill Mill to avoid the heat of the scorching sun. The new church was named St. Bartholomew’s Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed Church. On July 17, 1866 William H. Follmer, one of the most influential members, drowned causing a financial embarrassment to the Reformed congregation that prevented the building from being dedicated until May 12, 1867.
The Reformed Church was reorganized July 21, 1867 by the Reverend Henry Mosser, the first pastor of the congregation and attached to the Paradise Charge.
| Members were: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Harry F. Algert | Mrs. Wm. (Elizabeth) Follmer | A. Muffley |
| Charles Baylor | George W. Hess | George Mull |
| Rachel Brumbach | S. Lysinus Hilliard | Alexander Rodgers |
| William Brumbach | Dr. David J. Krebs | Mrs. Catherine Rombach |
| Daniel Carl | Simon Lantz | Peter Schaeffer |
| D. Augustus Engle | Thomas Mast | Jacob H. Wagner |
| Mrs. Enos (Catherine) Everitt | Mahlon Metzger | George Wilt |
The same officers were elected at this time as at the time of the former organization, except for David J. Krebs, who was chosen to replace Mr. Follmer as secretary because of his death the previous July.
Originally both English and German were used in the sermons and the services. The minutes of a communion explain that the Reverend Lott Kryder Evans (1867-71) of Williamsport assisted the pastor and preached in German on Friday afternoon. The system of renting the pews must have also prevailed, for under the date of October 12, 1870, it was noted that a meeting of the Consistory was held that evening and the subject under discussion was the matter of pew rent income and the application of the same toward defraying the expenses of the church.
The two denominations worshipped in this edifice until 1886 when the Lutheran and Reformed congregations by friendly agreement dissolved their union and the Lutheran congregation purchased the Reformed interest in the Union Church for $2,500. The congregation was ready to change its location to the northeast corner of Main and Sixth Streets as well as its name from St. Bartholomew’s to Trinity Reformed Church. At a congregational meeting on May 2, 1886 the following were appointed to purchase the lot on Sixth and Main Street: Thomas Mast, Mahlon Metzger, Jacob H. Wagner, D.A. Engle, and George W. Hess. The land was purchased from Daniel and Celicia Menges and William and Susan C. Menges for the sum of $2,200. Construction began on May 20 with the cornerstone being laid on July 4, 1886.
On September 2, 1886, a petition for incorporation was submitted on behalf of the church by the following members: the Reverend George S. Sorber, Levi Lynn, Mahlon Metzgeer, Thomas Mast, Franklin Faust, Dr. William D. Moyer, George Washington Hess, Robert J. Algert, Jay H. Wagner, James Reeser, James W. Muffly, and A.D. Algert.
On September 15, 1886, the petition was granted by William M. Rockefeller, President Judge of the County of Northumberland.
The new church was built of fine brick and slate roof. The style is known as “Queen Anne.” The building and the appointments were dedicated on February 10, 1887. There was a debt remaining of $2,000 on the day of the dedication, but through efforts of the pastor and the generosity of the congregation, they were able to reduce the debt down to about $500. The seating of the main room is arranged in a semi-circle, and the ceiling is gothic in style paneled in Virginia pine and finished in oil. Every window in the building is supplied with the finest stained glass. The pulpit in the chapel was presented by Joseph Bly; the pulpit in the main room, the communion table and the carpet was donated by the Mite Society; the pulpit chairs by George W. Hess; the chancel chairs by Enos Everitt; the chandeliers by Mrs. H.B. Mast; the bell by Mrs. Sarah Rambach, and the clock in the chapel by W.W. Fisher. The total cost of the new building, grounds, furniture and heating units without the aforesaid items was $10,820. The building committee consisted of H.F. Algert, president; D.A. Engle, secretary; George W. Hess, treasurer; Mahlon Metzger, Jacob H. Wagner, J.W. Muffly, and Thomas Mast.
In May 1888, the Consistory petitioned the Wyoming Classis to unite St. John’s Reformed Church, McEwensville and Trinity Reformed Church into their own charge thus separating them from Paradise Reformed Church which had previously been part of a three point charge. The petition was granted on July 1, 1888.
In 1888, a parsonage was erected next to the new church at Watsontown at a cost of $3,500. Thomas Mast was superintendent of construction and Franklin Faust was treasurer of the building committee.
On March 20, 1892, at a congregational meeting a committee was appointed for the purpose of purchasing an organ for the church. The committee consisted of George W. Hess, J.W. Muffly, U.S.G. Peifer, Harry F. Algert, and John Keller. The organ was built by the Erie firm of A.B. Felgemaker. The total cost of the instrument was approximately $1,600 and the dedicatory recital was held on December 17, 1892, with Professor F.K. Hill of Sunbury at the organ.
In 1915, the sanctuary was renovated. The most memorable addition to this renovation was the painting above the altar. Elmer S. Johnson commissioned the C. Day Rudy Company of Harrisburg which specialized in church frescoing and ecclesiastical decorating, to paint a portrait of Christ’s Ascension. It was completed for the service of July 22, 1915 and adds a rare beauty to the sanctuary.
Major renovations on the sanctuary began in the fall of 1949. The altar area was enlarged and the chancel rail split in the center. The lectern was a memorial to Mrs. Carrie Lose by Charles Lose; the lectern Bible, memorial to Mrs. S. Catharine Barr by Mr. and Mrs. D.O. Gross; sanctuary seats, memorial to Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Kerr by their daughter Mrs. E.D. Seebold; four offering plates, memorial to H. Edgar Foust by Mrs. Carrie Foust and children; alms basin, memorial to Mrs. Martha Marsh by here daughter Miss Margaret Marsh; missal stand, memorial to Mabel Sterner by her parents Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sterner; altar frontal, memorial to Jacob K. and Leah T. Whitman by their daughter and son-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Harry B. Patton; red vestments for the altar, pulpit and lectern, memorial to Carroll S. Dickerman by his mother Mrs. Carrie Dickerman; brass candlesticks, memorial to Jacob H. and Mary Follmer Wagner by children; candle lighter presented by the Confirmation Class of 1950; and the acolyte robe was given by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel (Dorothy) Wright.
On March 28, 1978, a special meeting of the Consistory was held with Dr. Horace Sills, president of Penn Central Conference to discuss the dissolution of the Watsontown McEwensville Charge. On April 11, 1978 the Consistory voted eight to three to dissolve the charge to take effect on September 1, 1978.
On August 12, 1980 the parsonage was sold to James and Mary Wagner for $38,000.
Since that time, the congregation provides their pastor with a housing allowance allowing the pastor to choose his or her own home. The Reverend Kelso resided at 112 West Ninth Street; the Reverend James Pfefferkorn resided at 508 Main Street for a number of years and then 603 Ash Street for the last part of his pastorate; and Ed Henry lived in Lewisburg for part of his pastorate.
Three members of Trinity Church have answered the call to ordained ministry: John “Hunter” Watts, son of James and Rachel E. Watts, ordained June 19, 1897; Robert S. Stoudt, son of Robert J. and Catharine (Walker) Stoudt, ordained June 10, 1973; and James D. Robison, Jr., son of Patricia (Koch) Robison, ordained October 31, 1998.
Pastors serving Trinity United Church of Christ include:
| Samuel Hahn Reid | 1864-1866 | Wellington M. Hoover | 1957-1959 |
| Henry Mosser | 1867-1873 | John L. Herbster | 1959-1974 |
| John K. Millett | 1873-1885 | Philip K. Nace | 1975-1980 |
| George S. Sorber | 1886-1900 | Jeffrey D. Hamilton | 1981-1982 |
| Edward M. Beck | 1901-1906 | Thomas J. Kelso | 1983-1991 |
| Preston A. DeLong | 1907-1942 | James Pfefferkorn | 1992-2000 |
| Carl W. Smith | 1942-1949 | Ed Henry | 2000-2011 |
| Victor A. Ruth | 1949-1957 | Donald L. Snyder, Jr. | 2011- |
[The Milton Standard, August 11, 1967, pg 34; History of Trinity United Church of Christ, Watsontown, PA, Robison, Jr., James D. and Wright, Dorothy M., 1986, pges 1-37]
Last Modified: 12.27.22
April 30th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I am looking for marriage records of my Grandmother Mazie Edna Hoffman of Huffman married to Jeremiah Edwards Waite in Watsontown PA on 10 Nov 1904 per marriage license request No. 13378 from Northumberland county records. Might you be able to verify this record or do you have other information on marriages from your church?? Thank You very much
Richard C. Waite
Comment by James Robison: There is nothing recorded in the church records regarding that marriage. There was a Susanne E. Hoffman that was buried from Trinity Reformed Church on May 12, 1909 by the Rev. Preston A. DeLong – she was 73 years, 6 months, and 11 days old.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:24 pm
My pastorate at Trinity ended in 2000. btw, good work, J.R.! And greetings from Green Bay, Wisconsin. I am pastor in suburban De Pere at First Congregational Church.
May 27th, 2013 at 2:08 pm
Are there any photos of the stained glass in the 1887 Trinity Church building? I’m researching the Philadelphia company that supplied our stained glass, and their 1888 catalog suggests they may have created the Trinity windows too. Thank you for your help.
Comment by James Robison: I believe there are photographs of these windows, but do not know who would be in possession of them. One of my goals is to have all the stain glass of the churches of Watsontown photographed ~ sorry I didn’t get around to it before the Baptist Church changed their windows.
May 18th, 2014 at 6:35 am
My ancestor is Daniel Carl, who is listed as a member of the church in 1867 higher up on this page. I’m looking for any information about when he died and where he was buried as well as his wife and her maiden name. At this point I only know they lived in Lewis Twp and who their children were. Any other information voluntarily given on his association with Trinity Church and Watsontown will be deeply and sincerely appreciated. Have a blessed Sunday!
Comment by James Robison: When Dorothy Wright and I compiled the history of Trinity United Church of Christ, we found that Daniel Carl, Sr. was a charter member and that Thomas Carl served as a deacon from 1868 to 1873 and a trustee from 1867 to 1872. That was all I was able to glean regarding Trinity Reformed Church.
However, at St. John’s Reformed Church in McEwensville (the sister church of Trinity Reformed Church in Watsontown) the following information was found ~ Jennie M. Carl married Harry J. Bressler on May 15, 1903 by Rev. E.M. Beck; Daniel Carl, aged 78 died July 7, 1893 and buried with Rev. G.S. Sorber officiating; Mrs. Annie Carl died September 6, 1902 and buried with Rev. E.M. Beck officiating; and finally, Wm. Carl, aged 71 y, 0 m, 17 d – died December 20, 1912 and buried December 24, 1912 with Rev. P.A. DeLong officiating.
June 7th, 2014 at 12:22 am
Please be aware that your member, Eleanor Weikel, is residing at Watsontown Health & Rehab for P.T. She would appreciate/enjoy visitors. Room 13, Watsontown Health & Rehab.
January 21st, 2016 at 7:44 pm
To James Robison: Thank you so much for your efforts in providing info on the Carls’. I didn’t know the elder Daniel & Thomas were related to me, but I found out today that Daniel is my 5x great grandfather, his son Daniel who died in 1893 is also my ancestor, both buried at Paradise Reformed UCC Church. I’m sorry my thanks & gratitude come so late but wanted to be sure to express them. The Carls’ come from a long line of Reformed Church family members, as I’m discovering. Anyway, thanks again!!