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History of Otterbein
United Methodist Church
To understand the history
of our church it is helpful to put ourselves in the perspective of
those that settled in the area in the 1700s. As described in a paper
that was provided by Mrs. Patricia (“Pat”) W. Strickler:
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1872 map showing Red
School House (Paradise Church) and UB Church (Springville Church).
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Source: 1872 Atlas of
Cumberland County.
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The news of great
opportunities and privileges offered by the New World reached the
oppressed inhabitants of Germany, and they came by the thousands to our
shores....
Many of the immigrants
brought with them their catechisms, hymn books, Bibles, and other
devotional materials. They formed congregations and schools; if no
minister was available, they would encourage each other by singing and
listening to sermons and prayers read by their pious schoolmasters. A
schoolmaster was considered closely akin to the minister during this
time. Many log or stone buildings were erected to serve the dual
purpose of schoolhouse and church.
This is evident in
looking at the earliest meeting places that later became the church
that we know today as Otterbein United Methodist Church. However, prior
to speaking of the “Red School House” and the “Wise School House” it
would be helpful to know about the man Philip W. Otterbein — a young
minister from Germany.
Sailing to New York in
1752, Philip Otterbein came to America as a missionary to the German
Reformed immigrants in Pennsylvania. After being assigned to the
Reformed Church in Lancaster he later served as pastor of the German
Reformed Church in Frederick, Maryland; York, Pennsylvania; and in
Baltimore, Maryland.
In 1765 while attending
“a Big Meeting” (revival) held in the Isaac Long barn near Lancaster he
was inspired by a Mennonite reverend — Martin Boehm. This marked the
beginning of a lasting friendship.
In 1789 Philip Otterbein
and Martin Boehm, along with several others, held a conference that
resulted in the founding of what would be called the United Brethren in
Christ Church. In 1800 Philip Otterbein and Martin Boehm were elected
as the first bishops of this new “American born” denomination.
The home of John Shopp, Sr., located close to Shiremanstown,
was an early “preaching place” which served as a central location to a
system that consisted of traveling the circuit for pastoral visitation,
evangelical, and ministerial work.
The homes of Reverend Abraham Mayer, four miles west of
Carlisle, and that of Reverend Abraham Hershe, a few miles east of
Carlisle, also served as preaching places in the valley.
At the 1843 Pennsylvania Conference, held in Franklin County,
Reverend J. S. Kessler was assigned to the new Hershe Station which was
set apart from the Carlisle Circuit. Through the efforts of Reverend
Kessler, Boiling Springs became part of the “Hershe Circuit.” Two
meeting places near Boiling Springs, which were served by itinerant
preachers as they passed on their way to Shopp’s Church in
Shiremanstown, were to become part of this Hershe Circuit — marking the
beginning of the Otterbein Church of today.
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Wise School House
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Springville Church.
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Source: History of South
Middleton Township.
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In 1843, at the home of John Jacob Wise, followers organized
a “class” (church) and after outgrowing the home they started meeting
at the Wise School House two miles northwest of Boiling Springs. This
served as a place of worship until 1855 when, during the pastorate of
Reverend G. W. Showman, services were moved to Springville where a
church was built. The Springville Cemetery occupies the site where the
Springville Church once stood.
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Paradise Appointment (Red
School House).
Source: History of South Middleton Township.
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The second group had its start on the farm of Christian Herr
who came to Cumberland County in 1834. He set aside a portion of ground
on his farm and built a church and school house. In 1870 the log cabin
building was replaced with a red brick building and was known as the
Paradise Appointment, commonly referred to as the Red School House, and
was located on the southwest corner of Creek Road and Petersburg Road.
Church services were held in the basement and the upper floor served as
a school. This church was known for its singing. In 1886 when Reverend
A. R. Ayres came as pastor to the church he found the members sitting
according to the parts they sang rather than as families.
In 1897, during the pastorate of Reverend S. N. Moyer, the
congregations at Paradise and Springville united and with neither
building being large enough for their combined congregations, a new
church was built in Boiling Springs. Two stained glass windows at this
new church recognized the Paradise and Springville Young People’s
Christian Unions who purchased the property at a cost of $440. The new
church in Boiling Springs was built at a cost of $8,600 (including the
property).
On November 16, 1946, the United Brethren in Christ Church
and the Evangelical Church merged to form the Evangelical United
Brethren Church.
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United Brethren Church in
Boiling Springs, c1912.
Source: Otterbein UM Church 1993 Directory.
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On April 23, 1968, the Evangelical United Brethren Church and
the Methodist Church adopted a plan of union. Wanting to keep our
heritage in our name we became the Otterbein United Methodist Church.
Many improvements had been made to the church in Boiling
Springs. In 1918 electric lights were installed and the north wall
repaired. In 1938 the basement, heating plant, and kitchen were
completed. Extensive renovations were started in 1949 which included
complete re-plastering, refinishing of pews, new carpet, redesigned
chancel area, a new Baldwin electric organ, installation of a sound
system, and the remodeling of the church parsonage.
In 1961 ground was broken and the cornerstone laid for the
new educational wing. Major renovations to the sanctuary were completed
during 1977-78: the stained glass windows were re-leaded and protected
from the weather, new carpet was laid, and oak pews were installed.
Much of the information that was provided for this “History
of Otterbein United Methodist Church” was provided by the previously
mentioned paper supplied by Mrs. Pat Strickler in 1993, which marked
the 150th anniversary of our congregation:
Writing this paper was like opening my hope chest ... The
lovely tatted dollie was made for me as a young girl by Jessie Hoener.
Jessie and her sister, Lena Mae, served as missionaries in Sierra Leone
from this church. A sampler made in Springville by my great, great
grandmother in 1856, the pretty dish given to my great grandmother by
her Sunday School class, the baton my grandfather used to direct the
church orchestra and choir for 40 years, the picture of my father with
his trumpet — he played many solo’s in this church, the wonderful
memories of the beautiful music provided by my mother, who served so
faithfully as church organist for over twenty-five years, the pleasure
of being married in this church, the privilege of having my sons
baptized and confirmed at this alter, and the joy of seeing my mother’s
five grandchildren sing in her honor when she was buried from this
church. A constant reminder of my heritage is the beautiful stained
glass window ... honoring Jacob and Sophia Wise, my great, great
grandparents.
In 1997 we celebrated 154 years as a congregation, and the building
that was our place of worship had reached an age of 100 years. This
also represented a time when, once again, the size of our congregation
outgrew that of the building. On June 15, 1997, ground was broken for a
beautiful new worship facility along Forge Road.
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Ground Breaking at 647
Forge Road, June 15, 1997
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Our new church was dedicated to the honor and glory of God on
June 28, 1998.
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Dedication at 647 Forge
Road, June 28, 1998
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On September 7, 2003, the Multi-Purpose and classrooms were
dedicated.
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Dedication at 647 Forge
Road, September 7, 2003
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Pastors Who Have Served Otterbein:
J. Kessler and A. Hershe (1843-45)
G. Miller (1845-47)
Z. A. Colestock (1847-48)
G.W. Showman (1848-49)
J. Dickson (1849-50)
Z. A. Colestock (1850-52)
T. S. McNeil (1852-53)
G. W. Showman (1853-56)
I. C. Weidler (1856-57)
Isaac Coomes (1857-58)
J. W. Burd and D. Eberly (1858-59)
J. W. Burd and H. A. Schlichter (1859-60)
J. W. Burd and H. Young (1860-61)
J. G. Schaff (1861-62)
Jacob Erb (1862-63)
J. S Wentz (1863-64)
S. Bigham (1864-66)
A. Tripner (1866-68)
N. Altman (1868-70)
H. Brown (1870-72)
W. H. Wagner (1872-75)
I. C. Weidler (1875-79)
J. S. Wentz (1879-80)
H. A. Schlichter (1880-84)
P. A. Bowman (1884-86)
A. R. Ayres (1886-90)
J. W Grimm (1890-92)
J. O. Clippinger (1892-95)
S. N. Moyer (1895-00)
J. W. Kiracofe (1900-04)
Rudolph Byrd (1904-09)
D. M. Oyer (1909-14)
J. F. Snyder (1914-25)
J. A. Gohn (1925-26)
A. C. Crone (1926-28)
E. C. B. Castle (1928-33)
C. C. Miller (1933-37)
J. B. Reed, Jr. (1937-45)
R. R. Zeigler (1945-52)
J. H. Lehman (1952-61)
R. D. Leonard (1961-69)
O. H. Walter (1969-82)
D. L. Reed, D.Ed. ( 1982 - 2006 )
N. L. Irons (2006 - 2007)
D. Dennis (2007 - Present)
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