USA > Pennsylvania > Change and challenge: a history of the Church of the Brethren in the southern district of Pennsylvania, 1940-1972 > Part 31
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On November 23, 1971, the final payment was made for the black- topped area used for parking at the church. A note-burning ceremony was conducted on December 26, 1971.
Four persons from the congregation have served in the Brethren Volunteer Service work of the denomination. Bernice Stoner spent one and a half years in Brethren Service work in Puerto Rico early in the 1960s. Janice Hertzler Custer served at Pine Crest Manor, a home for the aging at Mount Morris, Illinois, beginning in October, 1967. We have already noticed that David C. Wilson gave a term of service at the hospital in Puerto Rico. Carol Tritt left on July 19, 1972 to begin training for Brethren Volunteer Service at Bethany Theological Seminary.
The congregation observes the Lovefeast and Communion service on Maundy Thursday and on World-Wide Communion Sunday of each year. A bread and cup Communion is also observed on the first Sunday in Janu- ary and the second Sunday of July of each year.
The deacons who have served the Mechanicsburg Church on a life- time basis are: George H. Arbegast, William Meals, D. K. Miller, William Kurtz, Raymond Westfall, Jacob Stoner, George Widder, J. W. Whorley, Esco Wilson, Edward Burkett, John Bivens, Paul Rebert, Jesse Wareham, Paul Cassell, David Smith and W. Wayne Tritt. Deacons who have served on a term basis are Warren Callaway, Earl Hertzler, Arthur Lewellan,
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Warren Meck, Richard Whitcomb, Samuel Replogle, Harry Rohrer, Arden Snyder and William Snyder.
The elders-in-charge of the congregation have been John E. Rowland (1940), W. Grant Group (1941-1945), Ira M. Hart (1946-1950), Robert L. Cocklin (1951-1962) and Samuel A. Meyers (1963-1968). The first lay mod- erator of the congregation was Samuel I. Replogle, elected in 1969, and serving at the time of this writing.
THE MOUNT OLIVET CONGREGATION
The Mount Olivet congregation had its beginnings in one of the oldest school houses of Perry County. The Mount Fairview schoolhouse, lo- cated three miles west of Newport, dates back to 1839. In this building the Brethren, the Methodists and the Church of God members of the Newport community took turns in conducting services in a project which was commonly known as the River Mission. The Brethren conducted services once per month in this building just before the turn of the twentieth century.
Up until 1906, the Brethren of eastern Perry County were enumer- ated with the Lower Cumberland congregation. The ministers of Cum- berland County assumed responsibility for the preaching in Perry County. In 1913, the District Mission Board of Southern Pennsylvania accepted the assignment of directing the work in Perry County. The board assigned William Miller, of Hanover to serve as pastor to the Newport Brethren. At the close of 1913, fifteen members formed the nucleus out of which the Mount Olivet congregation developed. By the close of 1914, a church was erected across the road from the Mount Fairview school house on a plot of ground donated by William Stroup.
When the Methodists at New Buffalo erected a new church house, the members of the Church of the Brethren in Oliver Township purchased the old building, razed it and removed it by horse and wagon to a site west of Newport. A service of dedication was held for this rebuilt church house on January 3, 1915.1
In the spring of 1922, Earl S. Kipp and Ira D. Brandt were licensed to the ministry in the Mount Olivet congregation. Earl S. Kipp began to render pastoral service to the people of this area in 1928, and con- tinued such service for the next thirty-eight years. He performed this ministry in addition to his responsibilities as a teacher of history in the Newport High School. In 1938, he was advanced to the eldership.
The Mount Olivet congregation remained the responsibility of the District Mission Board until 1957, at which time the members voted to become self-supporting. Title for the property was transferred into the hands of the local church trustees. In the time in which the District Mission Board had oversight of the work, John Rowland, S. C. Godfrey and J. L. Miller served as moderators.
The period from 1940 until 1957 were times of improvement for the physical church house. The building was redecorated inside and outside in 1943. At the close of the war in 1945, when equipment was more readily available, an oil burner and electricity were installed in the struc- ture at a cost of $1532.07. In order to provide space for the new heater, the basement was partially opened and walled. In 1957, new windows with colored glass were installed to replace the original windows. The stained glass windows now made unnecessary the folding shutters which hung on the outside of each window and window sashes were no longer required.
Electric lights by this time had replaced the old hanging chandelier with its kerosene lamps and its Aladdin lamps. The interior of the house
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was also improved with new hardwood flooring. The ceiling was tiled with acoustic materials and the pews were repainted. A service of dedi- cation marked the improvements in the summer of 1958 with Brethren Ira D. Brandt, Jacob L. Miller, John E. Rowland, John Shuman and Earl S. Kipp participating.
In 1958, the congregation voted to purchase the Mount Fairview school house in which the congregation had originally worshipped. The members who worshipped in this building with its double-desk seating arrangements were Susie Flurie, Henrietta Potter, Mrs. James Black, John Gabel, James Black, Frances Kipp, Solomon B. McNaughton, Sarah McNaughton, Elmira Zang, Edwin Rhoades, Katie Rhoades, William Stroup, Daisy Stroup and Alma Beers. These were the people who also helped to make the decision to erect their own church house. When the school house was purchased, an acre and a half of land was also purchased. The school house was remodeled and has since been used as a fellow- ship hall for the congregation. The cost of improving the school house was $900.30.
The Mount Olivet Church
On May 17, 1958, members and friends of the Mount Olivet congre- gation honored Earl S. Kipp for his services to the church and to the community. At a banquet celebrating the occasion, Noah Fuhrman, a former classmate of the pastor, served as the master of ceremonies. A number of friends and associates portrayed the life of Earl S. Kipp. John Kipp showed his youth; Dr. Leonard Ulsh, his high school days; Ira Brandt, his election to the ministry; John Hershman, his early min- isterial training; Caleb Bucher, his college days; and Jacob L. Miller, his service as an elder in the district.
The congregation planted four trees beside the new fellowship hall. Two of the trees were given by the young people and two were purchased from a memorial fund established at the time of death of Frances Kipp in 1963. Also, in 1963, the congregation joined with the Three Springs Church in a barn worship service to commemorate the bicentennial at Blain. When the Brethren moved into Perry County in 1843, they held their first services in private homes and in barns. The Mount Olivet con-
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gregation and the Three Springs church observed the bicentennial by meeting in the barn of Peter Long where early Lovefeast services had been held.2
The Mount Olivet congregation observed a service of dedication on May 31, 1964. A number of improvements were made to the physical plant. A pulpit Bible, a new pulpit desk, pulpit chairs and a new carpet were dedicated. The pulpit Bible had been purchased by special gifts in 1961. A gift of $100 from Frank Trout, a Pittsburgh attorney, given in memory of his aunt Ada Troup, was used to purchase the preaching desk. Pulpit chairs were presented in memory of Betty M. Brandt by Walter Brandt and family. In the winter and spring of 1963-1964, new carpet was placed in the aisles and to the front of the sanctuary. Also, in 1964, the Walter Brandt children gave an altar set in memory of their father. A combination organ-piano had been purchased and was in use at the time of the services of dedication.
The women of the congregation have been very active since their organization was begun in 1940. The organization observed a twenty- fifth anniversary in 1965 with L. Anna Schwenk, president of the Women's Work of Southern Pennsylvania, as the guest speaker. The original or- ganization elected Dorothy Kipp as president and Ada Brandt as vice- president. Since that time, Ida Matello, Ada Brandt Burd, Nancy Kipp and Dorothy Benson have served as presidents of the Women's Work group. Maude Matello was recognized by The Gospel Messenger for her outstanding contributions to the local women's work organization. Be- tween 1961-1963, she sent to Brethren Service 747 dresses, 29 boys' shirts, 10 sunbonnets and 2 quilts. She also contributed 2 draw sheets, 75 bed pads, many hospital gowns and 6 rolls of gauze dressing. This work in the congregation was recognized as a signal home missions effort.3
In June, 1965, Lois Jean Gibble, daughter of Mervin and Elsie Gibble, was consecrated as a missionary to the Ocean Grove Annual Conference. She was assigned to India as a nurse for a period of three years (See Mission Enthusiasm). She had also served with the Navaho Indians at the Lybrook Mission in New Mexico.
Marian J. Gibble, a sister to Lois, served the Church of the Brethren through B. V. S. in 1965-1966. She worked on behalf of the National Council of Churches' special project in the Mississippi Delta Ministry. This was the civil rights arm of the National Council of Churches. Here Marian distributed clothing, worked in community development, aided people in the search for employment and attempted reconciliation between the blacks and the whites. Having served a year in this work under Brethren Volunteer Service, she continued for a second year under the National Council. In 1969, she returned to Mississippi to continue vol- unteer work. Marian is currently serving on the coordinating committee of the Brethren Peace Fellowship in the Atlantic Northeast District and is a member of the board of the Germantown Ministry. She is employed as an instructor at the Reading Area Community College.
Geraldine Gibble also devoted time to Brethren Volunteer Service and found the work satisfying as she served the Indians of Utah.
The youth of the congregation have been active in support of the church and its numerous projects, including foreign and home mission work. In 1969, they purchased a heifer to send to India. They have also contributed funds to help purchase a mimeograph machine, tables, serving trays, the organ-piano and trees about the church property. In addi- tion, they have steadily supported the church building fund.
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In 1966, Earl S. Kipp submitted his resignation as pastor of the Mt. Olivet church. He moved into the Atlantic Northeast District where he has continued to serve in various forms of ministry. In April, 1972, the East Fairview congregation, where he holds his membership, recognized his service of fifty years in the Christian ministry.
Kenneth W. Andrews, of McAlisterville, Pennsylvania, was secured to serve the congregation as pastor. His services to the community were brief, for he was stricken with an extended illness and spent a prolonged period in recuperation. He served the con- gregation from October, 1968 until July, 1968.
On January 10, 1968, the congregation voted to license John R. Shenk to the min- istry. John Shenk and John Shuman served as co-pastors until September, 1969. On October 1, 1969, John R. Shenk was called to serve as pastor of the congrega- tion.
Across the past three decades, many visiting ministers have assisted with the work at Mount Olivet. Among those who have served are Mark C. Ebersole, Levi K. Ziegler, Glenn L. Gingrich and O. Wayne Cook. John Shuman served the congrega- tion from 1968 until 1969, at which time he became the pastor of the Maiden Creek congregation in the Atlantic Northeast Dis- trict.
John Shenk
THE NEW FAIRVIEW CONGREGATION
The New Fairview congregation is an outgrowth of a Codorus church extension project. A council meeting on New Year's day in 1909 at the Codorus Church appointed a committee to select a site for a church in an area which was once the northern end of the congregation's territory. The committee located a suitable site "beside the cemetery on the farm owned by David Markey". A house of worship and a shed were built at a cost of $4,447.99. Two services of dedication were held on October 10, 1909 and the building was named the "Fairview House".
From 1909 until 1921, the Fairview House remained a place of worship of the Codorus congregation. The membership in the meantime had grown to 100. On August 15, 1921, a special council meeting decided to organize a new congregation under the name of New Fairview. The church had developed sufficient leadership and membership to become self-supporting. On August 20, 1921, a second special council meeting organized the congregation with Michael Markey and Israel Bowser as ministers. Michael Markey was ordained on January 9, 1922 as an elder. In 1928, he was chosen as elder-in-charge, succeeding D. Y. Brillhart.
The church was located in a growing community in suburban York. Community growth and expanding church membership required additions to the building in 1927 and classroom space in the church basement in 1944. Improvements were also made on the church grounds. The youth of the church began to sponsor an annual outdoor hymn sing. This service was open to the public and was often held in the nearby Pine Grove Park.
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The congrgeation had outstanding stewardship achievement. In 1945, members raised $4,100.42 to ship a carload of wheat to Europe's needy. The congregation also shipped forty-six heifers abroad under the Heifer Project. In 1946-1947, the membership gave $5,558.56 for world relief. In 1961-1962, 1966-1967 and 1968-1969, New Fairview ranked third in the brotherhood in contributions to the Brotherhood Fund. The highest giving was in 1966-1967 when the congregation contributed $23,289.17. New Fairview ranked fifth in per capita giving in the brotherhood in 1968-1969 with a figure of $44.41.
Throughout its more than half a cen- tury, New Fairview was served by minis- ters who supported themselves in vocations with a strong orientation to agriculture or agri-business. Elder Markey himself was a fruit and vegetable grower and retail marketman. Joining him in his ministry in the congregation's first twenty-five years were C. F. Weaver, elected January 9, 1922; R. S. Krout, elected on January 1, 1930; and Jacob L. Miller, elected July 13, 1936. Bro. Miller, a farmer and agri- business man, was advanced to the elder- ship on January 1, 1945, just prior to the close of the congregation's first quarter century.
Additional ministers elected to continue Jacob L. Miller the work of the next quarter century with Bro. Markey were Murray P. Lehman and Roger E. Markey. Chosen to the ministry on January 1, 1945, both were advanced to the eldership on April 18, 1955. Elected to the ministry in 1951, Lester M. Markey, Norman F. Reber, John D. Miller and John E. Krape were licensed to the ministry (January 1, 1952) and later advanced to the eldership. Murray Lehman's vocation was fruit-growing and broiler production. Brethren Markey and Krape engaged in vegetable growing and marketing. Brother Miller was a greenhouse and flower grower and general farmer. Norman F. Reber has served as editor of a state farm magazine.
On September 12, 1948, the congregation decided to begin Sunday School services in an unused Lutheran Church building in Yorkana. Preaching services were begun here on January 30, 1949 with seventeen families meeting for worship. Michael Markey, Jacob L. Miller, Murray P. Lehman and Roger E. Markey conducted these services. On August 7, 1950, the small group of worshipers purchased the church building, and the parsonage immediately adjacent on the south side, from the Lutheran Synod for $7,000. Services of dedication were conducted by Dr. Ralph W. Schlosser on October 15, 1950 with an attendance of several hundred persons.
In 1972, church and Sunday School attendance at Yorkana averaged seventy-five persons. The worshipers at this site purchased a property on the north side of the church building to provide for possible future expansion. The Young Peoples' Fellowship has been active in sponsoring special evening services, including Christmas plays and the visitation of the aged at Pleasant Acres. Yorkana members have also raised funds to care for the needy and several families who had been burned out of their homes.
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Yorkana Church Picture
In 1949, the New Fairview Young People's Fellowship began to de- velop an outdoor worship center in the woodlot on the church farm. The building committee consisted of Charles Ilyes, president, Paul Keeney, treasurer, and William Miller. Youth advisors, Roger E. Markey, Jacob Keeney and Norman F. Reber were chosen to serve on the committee. A baseball diamond, rest rooms, water supply and picnic tables were pro- vided in the first development stage for the plot of ground. Money was contributed by members and from special projects.
Some years later the young people requested the help of the Men's Fellowship in erecting a pavilion. This was done with funds provided by the church paid back later by the two organizations and by donations from interested individuals. The center is operated by a church grove committee which, in 1972, consisted of Eugene Stremmel, Jeffrey Markey and Roger Miller Jr., youth representatives; and Charles Eckert, Erwin E. Myers Jr. and Wilmer Hartman for the Men's Fellowship. The center has made tremendous contributions to the total life of the church, justifying the vision of the young people. The group sponsored well-attended hymn sings and excellent breakfasts for worshipers at the Easter Sunrise ser- vices. These services have been ecumenical endeavors involving neighbor- ing churches.
The worship center is also used by many neighboring congregations for their outdoor activities. Teen Encounter and the York Rescue Mis- sion occasionally make use of the center. It has also been used regularly by the Men's Fellowship for the annual oyster bake and corn roast. The Women's Fellowship uses the center for its annual covered dish event. In the Sunday School League baseball program, the late Clair Fitz, H. Roger Miller and Richard Markey have given faithful and meritorious leadership as team managers.
The New Fairview congregation remodeled its building in 1950. Sun- day School rooms were formed, a modern kitchen was erected and a new heating system was installed at a cost of $15,000. The youth of the con- gregation presented a public address system to the church. Services of dedication were held on May 13, 1951.
Over the years, the members of the congregation have sustained a keen interest in foreign missions. During the past three decades, the church has supported, in whole or in part, missionaries in Nigeria and in Ecuador. In 1966, the congregation was supporting five missionaries and five children of missionaries. These included Ruth Utz for whom the con-
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gregation helped to build a home in Africa. In 1972, the church was supporting Chalmer Faw, Betty Campbell, Roy Valencourt, Ralph Royer, Irma Snavely, David A. Williford, Virginia Ingold, Howard Ogburn and Merle Bowman. In previous years supported missionaries included Paul Weaver, Anita Keeney and Laura May Wine. The missionary giving of the congregation has remained consistently high.
In 1957, a special service of recognition was conducted for Michael Markey on his eightieth birthday anniversary. He lived his life as a school teacher (1896-1903) and farmer. He sold produce in the city markets for sixty-seven years. A member of the Codorus congregation at the time the new congregation was formed, he became a charter mem- ber of the New Fairview Church. He served as presiding elder of the congregation from 1928 until 1956. He served as a minister for forty-five years; as an elder for thirty-nine years. He was succeeded as elder-in- charge of the congregation by J. L. Miller.
In 1962, plans were introduced for a new sanctuary and enlargement of the educational facilities. Ground was broken on July 19, 1964. A new sanctuary was merged with the older structure to form a unified facility. The courtyard divides the old sanctuary from the new and in- cludes a baptistry.
The New Fairview Church
Services of dedication were conducted on July 9-10, 1966. Professor Elmer B. Hoover, of Elizabethtown College, spoke at the Sunday morning service and D. I. Pepple gave the dedicatory message at the afternoon meeting. The cost of the new building was $190,428.63. Pulpit furniture and chancel items were presented to the church in memory of Michael Markey.
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Under the direction of a Brethren Service Committee, authorized by the congregation in 1968, the congregation has ministered to the needs of inner city people. Between 1968 and 1971, the church contributed more than $20,000 to aid needy families in the city of York. The committee, under the chairmanship of Captain Charles L. McCaffery of the York City Police Force, seeks to minister to these families and to improve their lot. The church has designated it a "people-to-people" program and through it seeks to minister to body, mind and soul.
Other members of the Service Committee are Murray P. Lehman, Norman F. Reber, David and Orpha Markey, Daniel Myers, H. Roger Miller and the incumbent presidents of the Men's and Women's Fellow- ship groups, the High School and the Junior High Youth organizations. In 1972, these representatives were Donald Myers, Marian Bachman, John Fitz and Steve Fitz. The presidents of the various organizations auto- matically become members of the Service Committee, and the Church Moderator is an ex-officio member.
Early in September, 1971, the New Fairview congregation observed its fiftieth anniversary with 600 people in attendance at the morning and afternoon services. The food committee, with Erwin E. Myers Jr., Charles Ilyes, H. Roger Miller and Vernon Myers and a host of helpers served 550 meals. J. L. Miller reviewed some of the highlights of the congregation since its beginnings in 1921. Dr. Ralph W. Schlosser of Elizabethtown College was the guest speaker. Dr. Norman F. Reber was the moderator of a panel that reviewed the history of the congregation under the theme, "Fifty Years of History in Retrospect". Through the foresight of Earl Rudisill, the entire anniversary services were recorded on tapes.
The panel interviewed by Dr. Reber consisted of John Emig, Charles Eckert, Lottie Eckert, Catherine Smeigh, Beulah Chronister, John Godfrey, Sarah Godfrey, Ethel Godfrey, Raymond Striebig and Fred Shearer. Daniel Godfrey was a guest panelist representing the founding Codorus congregation.
The church honored its forty-three charter members on this occasion. In addition to the panel members already mentioned, the charter mem- bers honored were Cora Barshinger, Myrtle Boeckel, Jessie Emenheiser, Erwin and Ellen Emig, Mazie Emig, Alverta Fitz, Stuart Hamberger, Katie Hamberger, Lucy E. Heidlebaugh, Lester and Mary Ilyes, Amy Jacobs, Amy Keeney, Grace Lehman, Melvin and Marie Markey, Margaret Markey, Lester M. Markey, Jacob and Ada Miller, Anna Myers, Mabel Myers, Calvin Myers, Effie Myers, Mary L. McWilliams, Robert Ness, Ellen Strickler, Kathie Keeney, John Hamberger, Esther V. Hildebrand, George Kammerer and Mary Jane Markey.
Charter members were those who belonged to the Codorus Church at the time the congregation was divided and who were living in the territory assigned to the New Fairview Church by the council. They also included any who made the choice at the time of organizaiton to worship with the New Fairview membership.
Deacons elected by the congregation since 1940 include William H. Fitz, Murray P. Lehman, Roger E. Markey, Lester Markey, Howard H. Fitz, Norman F. Reber, E. Glenn Grim, David L. Markey, David Grim, Charles Keeney, Austin E. Hartman, Raymond Markey, Lester Marteny, Charles Ilyes, Charles Cleaver, Marlin Fitz, David Godfrey, Dale Markey, H. Roger Miller, Vernon Myers, Raymond Heidlebaugh Jr. and Charles Steele.
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New Fairview Ministers
John Krape
John D. Miller
Murray and Mary Ellen Lehman
Lester M. Markey
Norman F. Reber
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Howard H. Fritz Sr., Jacob L. Miller and Daniel E. Myers in suc- cession served long and faithfully in the office of Sunday School super- intendent. After their service, the Sunday School was served by Charles Cleaver, E. Glenn Grim, Charles Ilyes, H. Roger Miller, and Marlin Fitz. At the Yorkana house, John Krape, Lester Markey, Belvin Markey, David Grim, Richard Stine, Raymond Heidlebaugh Jr., and Clark Daugherty have served as superintendents of the Sunday School. Both the New Fairview house and the Yorkana house have had good attendance at their daily vacation Bibleschools.
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