HISTORY OF TRINITY U.B. CHURCH
In the fall of A.D. 1872 on a Sabbath P.M. at the close of a Spiritual prayer meeting, the subject of building a U.B. (United Brethren) Church in New Cumberland Pa was first considered. The prominent reasons for such a move were the following:
1st; That, with few exceptions nearly all of the converts at our revival meetings in Mt. Olivet U.B. church who live in New Cumberland and New Market would join one of the churches in the two towns, thus our labors for the purpose of building up our own Zion were to a greater extent directly in the interests of our sister Denominations in the towns of New Cumberland and New Market.
2nd; That our members from the towns very frequently were unable to attend services on account of muddy roads.
3rd; That so long as we delay building a U.B. Church in town, so long would we continue to work to the interest of other churches and to our detriment.
4th; That it is our duty as an organized Christian Church to prayerfully consider how we can best hold our converts after we have labored for their conversion.
5th; Whether it would not be a wise plan on our part to remove our church (Mount Olivet U.B. Church) to town, since our dear brethren and sisters from the country could with their teams come to church in town regardless of the conditions of the roads much better than our town members could go to church at Mount Olivet U.B. Church.
From this time on the subject of either relocation or the building of a U.B. church in New Cumberland Pa was agitated and the advantages and disadvantages to us as a church considered. It was to considered wise to remove Mount Olivet Church to town, but it was finally agreed to with only a few dissenting members to build a U.B. Church in New Cumberland. Consequently on the (blank) day of December, 1872 at a quarterly meeting held at Shiremanstown, Cumberland County, Penna of the Pennsylvania conference of the U.B. in Christ, the subject of either relocation of Mount Olivet U.B. Church to town or the building of another church in New Cumberland was ventilated and after the matter was fully considered, it was moved by Dr. J. W. Roop, that a board of trustees be appointed and according to our church Disciplines with instructions to take preliminary measures for erecting a U.B. church in New Cumberland Pa. This motion was seconded by Rev. B.G.Huber who was then pastor of this work or circuit and finally carried by a unanimous vote. The following brethren and friends were then elected as a board of trustees; Rev, B.G. Huber, Pastor in charge or his successor, Francis Holler, Sr., Peter Muller, John Shopp Sr., John Reiff, Dr. J.W. Roop, Joseph E. Brownewell, Dr. J.D. Worley, Jacob B. Kaufman, Charles H. Mathias and B.F. Koyer. The object for creating such a large board of trustees was to enlist a hearty cooperation all over the circuit in the enterprise. On the 9th day of January of A.D. 1873, the above named brethren and friends convened in Mount Olivet U.B. Church and after a preliminary organization, elected the following named persons as permanent officers and committees: Dr. J.W. Roop, President of the board of trustees; Dr. J.D. Worley, Secretary; Joseph E. Brownewell, Treasurer; and J.W. Roop and J.D. Worley a soliciting committee.
At a subsequent meeting held in February 1873, John Reiff, J.E. Bronewell, Rev. W.J. Beamer, newly elected pastor to Shiremanstown circuit, Peter Miller and J.W. Roop were appointed a building committee to whom was given the entire control in the building of Trinity U.B. Church in New Cumberland Penna. A lot was then purchased from John Reiff on corner of Bridge Street and alley, and steps taken for the building of a limestone structure two stories high and 38 by 62 feet in size, with a basement of 11 1/2 high ceiling and audience room of 17 1/2 feet high ceiling and a steeple 103 feet high.
Written contracts were then entered into with the following biz: with Geo. Daugherty of Shepherdstown Pa. for quarrying stone; with Cornelius Paup of near Wellsville and Levi R. Paup of York, York County, Pa., for the masonry work; with Wm. W. Kline of Harrisburg Pa. for the carpenter work; with W.R. Jackson of Harrisburg for plastering; with L. Crull of New Cumberland Pa. for painting.
On June 8th, 1873, the cornerstone was laid, Rev. Isaiah Baltzel officiating.
On Nov. 23, 1873 the audience room was dedicated by Bishop J.D. Edwards D.D. A full account of the dedication appeared in one of the Harrisburg daily papers a few extracts of which I shall here give. “Trinity U.B. Church of New Cumberland Pa. was dedicated by Bishop Edwards of Baltimore Md, on November 23, 1873. The church is a nice limestone structure the dimensions are as stated; 62 ft by 38 ft, it has an unfinished basement of 11 1/2 feet high ceiling and a finished audience room with a rounded ceiling 17 1/1 feet high, the basement will be completed when the demands and necessities of the church require it. the church edifice will be a monument to the trustees, building committee who had this enterprise in care, as well as to those who so liberally contributed. When their zeal and work for the master is ended, longafter their names are forgotten, generations to come will bless the Lord for the enterprise infused in the hears of those who have so unflinchingly carried forward the building of God’s house.
It would be invidious to mention names where such general enterprise and liberality has been exhibited by some of the leading members of this and other churches, and particularly by some that do not belong to Christ’s fold, unless we could name them all, which would make too long a list for such a notice. Suffice it to say that their names and deeds are will known here as well as on high, and their enterprise and liberality are worthy of great consideration.”
Soon after the dedication of the audience room of the church, a glorious revival of religion broke out which resulted in the conversion of many precious souls. At the close of this revival, an opportunity was given to all who were converted during this revival meeting to come at themselves to Trinity U.B. Church of New Cumberland Pa. At the same time, quite a number of persons who held their membership at Mount Olivet U.B. Church but mostly those from the towns of New Market and New Cumberland asked for a transfer of their names to Trinity U.B. church. A flourishing Society was at once organized as well as a thriving Sabbath School.
The subject of procuring a bell for this church was agitated on all sides which finally resulted in the purchase of a fine bell of “C” tone weighing over 606 pounds from Meneeley Bell Foundry. The dedicatory services of the bell were held in the fall of A.D. 1874, Rev. W.S.M. Keys, D.D. officiating.
The church and Sunday School continued to prosper so rapidly that it was found expedient to finish part of the basement and fit it up for Sabbath School. The board of Trustees at last decided to finish part of the basement and at the same time, fresco the audience room and repaint the entire exterior and interior of the church and on the 11th day of October A.D. 1880 the finished part of the basement of the church was dedicated, Rev. M.P. Doyle officiating. From this time on, the Sabbath School class and prayer meetings were held in the finished part of the basement of the church and an organ purchased for each of the basement and for the audience room.
In the fall of A.D. 1882, further improvements surrounding the exterior of the church were made such as relaying the pavements, new steps to audience room and to the basement, exterior painting of church steeple, steps, etc. Thus continued successful attendance this church both in spiritual, financial and numerical strength, our Sabbath School and congregation often being crowded to overflowing. This by consent of action up to the spring of A.D. 1883, this church from the date of its organization has continued its healthy steady growth and we could look upon a church free of debt with carpeted aisles, ????????, with two first class organs, frescoed audience room, fine church bell, and a church edifice that will last for a century or more, and one that is only surpassed in beauty of design and size by very few of our city churches.
The following pastors served this congregation from the time of its organization up to April A.D. 1883: Rev. W.J. Beamer, two years; Rev. W. O. Smith, two years; Rev, B. G. Huber, two years; and D. W. Proffitt, four years. Since April 1883, Rev Garland served two years, Grimm three years and Moyer up to date inclusive. The continued success of this church as well as its increased growth numerically as well as spiritually, I trust, and its liberality and financial healthy condition is again shown here today by your assembling to dedicate the balance of the basement to God and Sunday School work. My prayer to God is that grace, merry, peace and prosperity may abide with you and all generations to come until the end of time and that here you may continue to receive spiritual food with your race on earth is ended and that in the great day of reckoning you may one and all as your worship now in this earthly tabernacle be enabled to rejoin each other’s society in that Heaven of Eternal rest prepared for all the final faithful who have come through great tribulation and washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb of worship around the great white throne on high.
J. W. Roop
Harrisburg Pa