USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a history, Volume I > Part 14
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who lived for a time and held meeting in the house of James Fox. Later they moved to Philadelphia and others came in and occupied their lands. Just what date a church building was erected here cannot be determined, but it was before 1720. A short time before the Revolution, the Yearly Meeting at Philadelphia adopted a resolution "that the members do not hold negro slaves in bonds," and "that they shall not buy and sell slaves." In 1775, when a committee looked into this matter, it was discovered that this meeting at Plymouth had sixteen negroes and one mulatto. Thomas Lancaster, Sr., was the first to set free his man slave Cato, aged forty-six years. The Revolution worked hardship on this congregation, for many had loyal patriotic blood in their veins and entered the Conti- nental army, which was contrary to the teachings of the Friends-they believed not in war. Later, the meeting here was divided and the Ortho- dox portion held most of the property, so another meeting-house was built by the more liberal element.
Respecting the Friends Meeting-house in Horsham, the records are not intact, so no date can be established for the church building, but best accounts at hand place it at about 1716. It was of stone, and stood until about 1803, when it was torn away and the present edifice con- structed. In the ancient graveyard near this building rests the dust of more than two thousand pioneers. The grounds have frequently been added to, and the stately trees about the church property in 1880 were the subject of much comment ; but not here alone but in most all Friends church-grounds, the mighty forest trees and the later artificial trees are in evidence, showing how these people admire the thrifty growing trees, monuments of life itself.
The Friends Meeting-house at Pottstown was the first church or meeting-house in the township or borough. Soon after John Potts laid out the borough in 1753, he donated a lot of ground for the purpose of having a church erected, which was doubtless very early. In 1850 it was stated by the owner of an extensive gristmill on the Manatawny that when Washington's army was here in September, 1777, the meeting- house was used by some of the soldiers as quarters. It appears to have been a small red brick building, which in 1875 was torn down and replaced by the present structure. It is located between Penn and Han- over streets, on King street. It belongs to the Orthodox branch of the Friends.
Upper Providence Friends Meeting-house was one of the early houses of worship in the township, situated a mile and a half east of Port Provi- dence. It was built in 1730, and was a log structure. David Hamer, who came to the place in 1717, donated the land on which it stood. In 1828 this log cabin-church was replaced by a one-story stone building, still believed to be in use, but going to decay. The society of Friends thereabouts has dwindled to a handful of faithful believers.
Upper Dublin Friends Meeting-house was situated a half mile north-
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west of Jarrettown, and was built in 1814 on a lot presented for that purpose by Phebe Shoemaker. The house was a one-story stone build- ing 36 by 40 feet in size. The plot of land measured about two acres, and besides the church had various sheds for the comfort of the horses that brought the worshipers to the church in those long-ago days. The burying place covers about one acre, and has many pure white marble headstones. In 1875 a First Day of the Week school was established here by the Friends.
Norristown Friends Meeting-house is a plain brick building (as described in 1885 by Historian Bean), located within a large shady lawn at the corner of Swede and Jacoby streets. It was built in 1852 as an indulged meeting under care of Gwynedd Monthly Meeting. The sect has never been strong in Norristown ..
Miscellaneous-The Mennonites, sometimes styled "Mennonists," came into this county at about the same time as the Friends, possibly a little later. Their history is not as extended as the Friends. Their first meeting-house is supposed to have been built in Perkiomen township about 1725. Five years later Franconia and Salford meeting-houses were erected. The one in Providence was built in 1742; in 1750 Kulps- ville was erected; and before 1812 the Methacton and Towamencin churches were added to the list. There are now about a dozen churches in the limits of this county. They are in many ways similar in belief to the Friends. The founder of this sect was Menno Simon, a native of Friesland, Holland, and was contemporary with Martin Luther. Wil- liam Penn made the acquaintance of these people in their native land and induced them to start a colony in Pennsylvania, which they did in 1683, and many more came much later. In Montgomery county these people settled rather compactly in the more central townships. "Gor- don's Gazateer" in 1832 set them down as having five churches in the county. In 1870 they had twice that number, and later they had a num- ber more formed. They, like all other sects, have been torn asunder by schisms.
German Baptists, intermixed with the Mennonites who came from the Old World and who had in Germany been stigmatized and perse- cuted, sought out homes in Montgomery county, mostly from the mouth of the Perkiomen to the northward, along the branches of that stream. They are known among themselves as "Brethren." They profess no creed save the Bible. They baptize face forward, dipping three times, hence the name Dunkers ("dippers"). In 1870 there were nine churches of this faith in this county.
The Schwenkfelders are a plain German sect which was formed by Casper Schwenkfeld, born fourteen years after Martin Luther. They became extinct in Europe and planted a colony here, and in Bucks and Lehigh counties. They first arrived at Philadelphia in 1734. The form
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of their government is congregational; they are against war, against oaths, against law suits and a paid ministry. They are not numerous here to-day.
The Episcopal Church-This was the next denomination to form societies and erect buildings in this county, after those already named. This is really the Church of England of colonial days here, and was founded in this county in Whitemarsh township in 1710, and ten years later St. James Church was founded in Providence (now Lower), and by 1832 these churches had increased to four and in 1870 to ten. There are now about a dozen Episcopal churches in Montgomery county. The list of parishes given in 1890 for this county is thus: St. Thomas' con- gregation of Whitemarsh, founded in 1710; St. James' Church of Lower Providence, organized 1730; St. John's of Norristown, 1812; Christ's of Pottstown, 1828; Church of the Redeemer, Lower Merion, 1848; St. Paul's Memorial, about 1850; Calvary of Conshohocken, 1858; Church of Our Saviour, of Jenkintown, 1858; St. Paul's of Cheltenham, 1860; Church of the Messiah, of Gwynedd, 1870; St. Peter's of Weldon, 1883; and the church at Lansdale, 1885.
To be more specific, it may be stated that Calvary Episcopal Church at Conshohocken held its first services in 1858, in the old Temperance Hall. The first regular rector was Rev. E. L. Lycett, who continued until 1863. A church was built and first used in 1860. Later it was greatly improved. In 1873 the rectory was built at a cost of $4,900. This parish has been faithful in its work among all classes.
St. John's Episcopal Church of Norristown, was established in 1813, their building being dedicated April 6, 1815. In 1856 the church was enlarged; two years later a new pipe organ was installed; in 1869 a bequest was made by the will of John Boyer, amounting to $20,000. With the flight of years, this church has kept apace in its church work and building improvements and to-day has a handsome, large and val- uable edifice as well as a large active membership in its parish.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Cheltenham township was erected so as to be consecrated in 1862; a new organ was placed in position in 1866; a tower for the church was commenced in 1869 and completed a year later. The edifice is of Gothic style, built of stone, and has beau- tiful stained windows. The tower mentioned above has a chime of ten bells, the gift of Mrs. John W. Thomas. The church grounds embrace fully five acres.
Baptist Churches-A Baptist church was founded in Montgomery county in 1719, by the formation of the Montgomery church, which was its sole representative for near a century. Lower Providence and Lower Merion churches were organized in 1809; Norristown, 1832; Mt. Pleasant, in Whitpain township, 1834; Hatboro, 1835; Cold Point, in Whitemarsh, 1842; Bridgeport, in 1850; Pottstown, in 1859; North
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Wales, 1862; Conshohocken, 1870; Royer's Ford, 1879; Jenkintown, 1880; Lansdale, 1884. While it is not to be presumed that a work of this character (a general history) can contain a detailed history of every church in the county, such space as is allowable will be devoted to the more important matters connected with all denominations.
The Bridgeport Baptist Church was constituted March 19, 1850, with fifteen members. A lot eighty by one hundred feet was purchased on Fourth street, and there a church building was erected at a cost of $2,400. The first regular pastor was Rev. William Smith. The church was admitted to the Philadelphia Baptist Association, in October, 1850. Forty years ago this church had a membership of about two hundred and fifty.
The First Baptist Church of Norristown was organized December 12, 1832, and a plain stone structure was built in 1833 at the corner of Swede and Airy streets, the same location the present building now occupies. The original building cost about $7,000. In 1871 the old church was torn down, and from that date to 1875 a beautiful Gothic structure was con- structed of brown stone material, the entire building costing $25,000, and that constitutes the present church edifice. In 1884 the membership exceeded five hundred and sixty. It is now among the largest churches of the borough.
The First Baptist Church of Conshohocken was constituted June 10, 1870, with forty-two members, under the leadership of Rev. J. G. Walker. In 1868 George Nugent donated a lot on which to build. The first chapel cost about $4,000. A parsonage was built in 1884, costing $3,500.
The Baptist church in the borough of Hatboro was organized in the autumn of 1835, and held services in the old Loller Academy until the erection of their building, the cornerstone of which was laid September 5, 1839, and dedicated in 1840. By 1855 it was found too small for the membership, and a larger edifice was erected at a cost of more than $4,000. The church grounds contain two acres on which, besides the church, is a two-story stone parsonage and sexton's house. The burial ground in the rear of the church is kept with the best of care.
The Baptist church at Jenkintown, in a sightly place on Walnut ave- nue, stands on ground donated by William Pettir. This congregation was organized in 1880 by Rev. Joseph Williams and twenty-five charter members. The church building, a plain Gothic one-story stone struc- ture, was dedicated in November, 1883.
The Baptist church at Lansdale was erected in the fall of 1884, when it was under the care of the church at North Wales, of which Rev. J. A. Aldred was pastor. The first services in this church were held Sunday, February 8, 1885. The first edifice was a brick building 35 by 61 feet in size, and cost $3,500.
North Wales Baptist Church was constituted in the winter of 1862- 63, with a membership of twenty-five, mostly from the Montgomery
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Baptist Church. In the summer of 1863 a brick church was erected in Gwynedd township, a short distance from Kneedler Station, which was used until the completion of the stone edifice in the borough of North Wales, in the fall of 1884. This cost $5,000, and was dedicated in November, 1884.
Royer's Ford Baptist Church was organized January 30, 1879, with fifteen charter members. In the summer of 1880 a brick edifice was built and dedicated that fall. With the passing years this congregation grew and is to-day well sustained.
The Lower Providence Baptist Church was established in the sum- mer of 1809, during which season the first church was built on the site of the present one. The structure was of stone, 28 by 35 feet, costing $952. The land on which it stood was donated by Benjamin Davis. The formal institution of the church was August 5, 1810. In 1835 a new and larger church had to be had, as the membership had grown rapidly. The new church was forty by fifty feet in size, and was dedicated Novem- ber, 1836. After several years this building was burned, the date being February 21, 1843. The congregation agreed to rebuild at once, and the newly built edifice was dedicated August 6, 1843. In a few years the third structure was found to be too small, and in 1876 another edi- fice was erected, and dedicated December 13, 1877, making the fourth church in three-quarters of a century.
Cold Point Baptist Church in Whitemarsh township, first known as Plymouth Church, had preaching from about 1842. The corner stone of the old stone church was laid in 1845, and was in use until 1867. In 1868 a new and more modern building was provided the congregation. Two and a half acres of land go with this church property. Near this old church lived the noted Alan W. Corson, well known as a teacher, sur- veyer, nurseryman and botanist, who died June 21, 1882, aged ninety- five years.
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of Whitpain township was built on the Morris road, in the eastern part of the township. The land on which it was erected was donated largely by Thomas C. James, of Philadel- phia ; the deeds are dated 3rd of seventh month, 1834, and cover three- fourths of an acre. The same year a small stone edifice was built there, but in 1865 a much larger better house was provided. This church organization was perfected May 24, 1834, with sixteen members.
The Christian Church-Trinity Christian Church, now called College- ville (Independent), at Freeland, was spoken of by Bean in his Mont- gomery County History in 1884 as follows :
This church was founded in 1854. Rev. Abraham Hunsicker, a bishop of the Mennonite church, on account of his advanced views on education, communion and other matters, was prevented from preaching in the Mennonite churches at Skippack, Worcester and Providence, in the year 1851. He and his adherents, therefore, constituted themselves
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a new body, and proceeded to erect a church building at Freeland, upon land donated by Mr. Hunsicker. The building was finished and conse- crated in 1855. It was first called "Christian Meeting," and the congre- gation was chartered as "The Christian Society of Freeland." There was no regular minister. Rev. Abraham Hunsicker, who preached in German, and Rev. Israel Beidle, who preached in English, assisted by Rev. Henry A. Hunsicker, made themselves responsible for the religious services. Thus matters continued for several years. On May 24, 1861, a council was organized by electing deacons and elders. The first coun- cil consisted of: Ministers, Henry A. Hunsicker and Joseph H. Hen- dricks; Elders, Gideon Fetterolf and Abraham Hendricks; Deacons, Henry D. Swartly and Daniel H. Reiff. At the same time arrangements were made for five ministers to alternate in preaching in the following order : Revs. Israel Beidler, Henry A. Hunsicker, Abraham Hunsicker, Abraham Grater and Joseph H. Hendricks. In 1862 the title of the con- gregation was changed to "Trinity Christian Church at Freeland."
The church is not connected with any other denomination, being entirely independent. There is a church at Skippackville, Perkiomen township, which is a branch of the Freeland church, both being in the same charge and served by the same pastor. The church is liberal in its creed, yet strictly orthodox, recognizing all Christian churches as parts of the true church. It has a membership of about three hundred and fifty.
The Presbyterian Church-The first of this denomination to organ- ize a church in Montgomery county were those living near Abington. The church was formed about 1714; Norristown church was organized in 1735; Providence church in 1738; Pottstown, 1848; Second Norris- town, in 1849; Central Norristown, 1855; Grace, 1870; Ashbourne, 1878. The vital points in the history of these churches here follows:
Abington Presbyterian Church was formed in 1814, by the Rev. Mal- achi Jones, a native of Wales, who joined the other ten or eleven Pres- byterian ministers in the Philadelphia Presbytery, and desired to form a church at Abington, which was granted unto him. The first mem- bership was about seventy persons. A log church was erected on the half acre of land already bought. This pioneer Presbyterian church stood within the graveyard at the intersection of the Old York and Sus- quehanna street roads. It remained at that point until 1793. The founder, Rev. Jones, remained fifteen years until called hence by death. His tombstone, the oldest save one in the graveyard, has on its inscrip- tion, "He was the First Minister in This Place." This church was legally incorporated in 1785. In 1793 a new church had to take the place of the first one. Dr. Tennent, who gave much of his time to this and nearby churches, died in 1810, and he lies in the Abington graveyard. He was one of the trustees of Princeton College.
The First Presbyterian Church in Norristown was built in 1819, a stone edifice thirty by sixty feet in size. It stood at the northwest cor- ner of Airy and DeKalb streets. Its first pastor was Rev. Joseph Barr. In 1839 radical changes were made in the church building, but in 1854
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it was torn down and the present handsome structure was built at an expense of $30,000.
The Second Presbyterian (Old School) Church of Norristown, lo- cated in Bridgeport, was constituted in 1850. A small building owned by the Protestant Methodists was purchased, and this with various halls was their meeting place until 1874, when a lot was bought on Sixth, DeKalb and Green streets, in Bridgeport, of the Benjamin F. Hancock estate, and a $23,000 edifice erected. During the Civil War period all the male members except three were absent in the Union army, thus showing their loyalty.
Central, or Second Presbyterian Church, in Norristown, was organ- ized in November, 1855; the cornerstone for a church was laid August 9, 1856, and the house was dedicated in February, 1858. It is a large brick edifice ; its cost was $35,000. In 1884 its membership as an organization was 265.
The Providence Presbyterian Church, near the village of Eagleville, was an offshoot of the Norriton church, where services were held as early as 1678, as is claimed by some. The deed for this land is dated 1704, and shows it was purchased from the ancestors of David Ritten- house. The first church built in Providence was in 1730, although the time of its organization is unknown to the writer. It was made up largely of Scotch-Irish. The Norriton and Providence churches united in 1758.
The First Presbyterian Church of Pottstown was organized in May, 1848. A church building was finished in 1853, and its first pastor was Rev. William R. Work. Forty years and more ago this church also had its own parsonage property and was in a prosperous condition.
Grace Presbyterian Church at Jenkintown was formed in 1870. A church edifice was built so as to be dedicated in September, 1872. This building was the gift of the late John Wanamaker; its membership in 1874 was ninety-three. The society was formed by Rev. S. T. Lowrie, of the Abington church.
Ashbourne Presbyterian Church was formed by a number of Phila- delphia families settling in the place. The date of organization was June 5, 1878. In January, 1884, the church edifice was dedicated; its cost was $15,000.
The First Presbyterian Church at Conshohocken was organized in 1847, by Rev. Thomas Murphy. A lot was donated, and the Maple and Elm street church was erected in 1848. It was used until 1868, when $5,000 was added in way of needed repairs.
The Huntington Valley Presbyterian Church was erected in 1861. It was a one-story stone building. Rev. George J. Mingins was the first pastor.
Norriton Presbyterian Church was built about 1735, known as the Norriton Presbyterian Meeting-House. Tradition tells us that during the Revolutionary War, soldiers from both armies used to occupy this
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church and that neither side took very good care of it. Washington's army marched to the battle of Germantown from this section and camped about it, and doubtless used this building.
The Springfield Township Presbyterian Church was on the east side of the turnpike, near the railroad, in Flourtown. It is a two-story stone building 36 by 50 feet, was built in 1857, and the only house of worship in the township.
The Lutheran Church-This, the most numerous denomination in Montgomery county, was reported in 1870 as having twenty-five churches, and later more were added. Most of their ancestors came here from either Prussia or Germany between 1710 and 1770; they, too, were refugees from religious disabilities in Europe. They have under- gone few changes in church polity or actual religious belief since settling here. Through the Revolutionary struggle for independence these Luth- erans could ever be counted upon as being loyal in a war in which the Muhlenbergs became famous.
New Hanover Church was long known as "Swamp." It was the earliest to be established in America. Justus Falkner, first pastor, came there in 1703, sent by the Swedish provost of Philadelphia. Rev. Ger- hard Henkle settled there in 1717. A few pastors, and then came Rev. H. M. Muhlenberg, in November, 1742, when he found his congregation worshiping in a log church, and the membership was one hundred and twenty. At Trappe the membership then was about fifty. The last- named erected their church the following year. In 1767 the present solid masonry stone church edifice was constructed. That great minister and patriot, Rev. Muhlenberg, in his journal of October 7, 1777, says :
I was informed that a number of Americans wounded in the battle last Saturday (October 4, at Germantown) were put in our Lutheran Church, at New Hanover, to be treated by the surgeons. October 9, Mr. Steril came to-day in the rain from New Hanover, and informs me that the surgeons are cutting off shattered arms and legs of the wounded soldiers there, and that three had died last night of their wounds. Those that could bear transportation were to be taken up to Reading, and the balance of the sick and wounded to be distributed among the neighbor- ing houses.
The church abovenamed is still in existence, and is annually visited by untold hundreds from all parts of the globe, it having been the first of this denomination in America. Present membership 476.
Indian Field, or Zion's Lutheran Church, of Franconia township, started in a log church built about 1730, enlarged in 1766, and gave way to the better stone building in 1792, which received in 1868 the third time a new slate roof. An organ was provided in 1820. A fire in 1834 destroyed many of the documents of this church. The earliest known pastor was Rev. John Conrad Andraea.
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Old Goshenhoppen Church, in Upper Salford township, was estab- lished by the Lutheran and Reformed settlers in 1732, on a thirty-eight acre tract, the deed being in the name of Michael Royer on the part of the Lutherans, and Jacob Keller for the German Reformed people of the community. The land cost then (in our money) $23.34. A log schoolhouse was built that fall, which was also for church services. In 1744 they commenced to build a church, and it was completed in 1748. Their books show the number of Lutherans in 1751 to have been 195, while the Reformed members were 105. The first regular Lutheran min- ister was Rev. Lucas Raus. After standing for one hundred and thirteen years, the old stone church, two stories high, was torn down in the spring of 1858 to make room for a better structure; in the same year the building was completed. It had a tower surmounting it to a height of one hundred feet. The church holds 800 persons, and cost $6,000. A 550-pound bell hangs in the belfry. The nearby graveyard of five acres probably contains the graves of more persons than any other of its size within this county. One tombstone is dated 1733. Before 1859 there had been seventy-two persons killed by powder explosions, buried in this graveyard. Present membership of this church is 270.
The New Goshenhoppen Church (or the "Six-cornered Church") is about one mile east of the village of Pennsburg. It is a large stone building, and when built was surmounted with a very tall steeple. Just the date of organizing this church is not known, but about 1737. The property was sold to the Reformed church in 1796. On the spot where now stands the stone church there stood a log building which was built when roaming bands of Indians camped all about it. When the new church was to be erected, Rev. F. W. Geissenheiner was asked to sub- mit plans for the building, so he kindly drew plans for two designs-one a four-cornered structure, and the other for a six-cornered church, he thinking they could readily decide which to use. But not so, the com- mittee could not for a time agree, but at last the plan for a six-cornered church was adopted, hence we have the oddity of a six-cornered church in the county. The present membership of this congregation is 1000.
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