Memorial Evangelical United Brethren Church
After some years of planning and hoping for a United Brethren Church in Gettysburg, The Rev. Dr. I.H. Albright, Presiding Elder, made this report to the Pennsylvania Conference meeting in Mechanicsburg in 1891:
"A few brethren purchased a valuable church property in Gettysburg for $2000 on their
own responsibility, with the hope that the Annual Conference could make arrangements
at this session to make it a nucleus of a new charge. A Board of Trustees was elected
to receive the proper transfer of the property on behalf of the church in case the
conference sees fit to operate it."
The church property was the old Presbyterian Church, located on West High Street. The property had a brick church and was the first church to have been built in Gettysburg, being erected in 1806. Title to this property was deeded to The Rev. W.J. Beamer, The Rev. I.H. Albright, George W. Cook, The Rev. J.R. Hutchison, and Jacob Peterson on April 1, 1891.
The Annual Conference of 1891 assigned The Rev. J.R. Hutchison as pastor of the new work, and he moved to Gettysburg on March 19, 1891. Renovations costing $750 were made to the church, and on September 27, 1891 it was reopened by Bishop E.B. Kephart and The Rev. Reamer, the Presiding Elder at that time.
During the pastorate of The Rev. A.N. Horn, the church building was erected in 1897 at a cost of about $3500. It was dedicated to Almighty God by Bishop E.B. Kephart on October 24, 1897.
In August, 1960 two large lots to the rear of the new educational unit were purchased and developed for parking facilities at a cost of $16,000. In 1966, an automatic electric gate was installed at a cost of over $2100.
In 1964, during the pastorate of The Rev. Donald L. Harper, the sanctuary was completely renovated, and new pews were installed. The men of the church did a splendid piece of work in the painting. The cost was over $8000. A beautiful place of worship reflected the loyalty and determination of the membership.
During October, 1966, in the pastorate of The Rev. William H. Smeltzer, Memorial Church celebrated its 75th Anniversary.
After 75 years of service, Memorial Church looked to the future where new challenges to spiritual accomplishment would await her as she worked in union with the Gettysburg Methodist Church to form the Gettysburg United Methodist congregation in 1968.
The Gettysburg Methodist Church
The first Methodist ministers ever known to have visited the Gettysburg area were probably Francis Asburg, who became the first elected Bishop of the Methodist Church in America, and The Rev. Freeborn Garrettson, in 1783, one year before the church had its organization in America.
For a number of years, prayer and class meetings were held in a little house on Baltimore Street, and preaching services took place in the Court House, then located in the center of what is now Lincoln Square. The first church was teh bulding on East Middle Street, now owned by the Sons of Union Veterans, which was built in 1822 at a cost of nearly $2000. It was the second Methodist Church built in Adams County, the first being Rock Chapel.
The present Church School is the development of the first denominational Sunday School organized in 1826 in Gettysburg with continuous sessions ever since.
April 16, 1842 was the beginning of the Ladies Aid Society, when a committee of five women was appointed to collect money to pay for carpeting the parsonage. Over the years other groups were formed until 1940, when these combined into the Women's Society of Christian Service, dedicated to strengthening the spiritual life of its members and to have outreach to people around the world.
The Gettysburg Methodist Church building on East Middle Street was begun in 1871 and finished at a cost of $12,500 in February, 1874. It was dedicated in that year free of debt. In 1905 a pipe organ was installed, and stained glass memorial windows replace painted ones in 1918. More renovations in 1930 completely changed the interior.
The Rev. E.L. Eslinger served the church from 1932 until 1936, when the Rev. D. Perry Buck began his pastorate of six years. The parsonage in which the Bucks lived was located at 304 Baltimore Street. This house was used until 1952, when it was sold, and a home on Highland Avenue was purchased for the parsonage.
During the five-
The Rev. William Fenstermaker became the minister in 1957, serving four years. Under his leadership, the plans of Vic Meredith were completed, and in 1961 the Highland Avenue property was sold, and the parsonage now in use at 345 Park Street was purchased.
In February, 1964, during the four-
iven emphasis. During the 1950's and
1960's, the Offical Board, Youth Fellowship, and Women's Society of Christian Service
were actively responsible for the program of the local church.
During the week of October 3-
During a winter night in January, 1968, the church was set to the torch by an arsonist. Many still recall the trauma of seeing a beloved place of worship go up in flames. Only the educational unit in the rear was saved.
In love and friendship, Memorial E.U.B. Church invited the Gettysburg Methodist Church to worship with them in their building on West High Street. The two congregations came together in Christian fellowship just as the national demoninations were uniting to form the United Methodist Church.
The Gettysburg United Methodist Church
In 1968, the newly united congregation worshiped in the sanctuary of Memorial Church, and church school classes met in the educational unit, Fellowship Hall, and in the church houise adjacent to the church building. The Rev. Donald S. Burkhart was the pastor for one year, and in 1969 The Rev. James I. Melhorn became the minister, serving until 1971.
Soon after The Rev. William H. Barr began his pastorate in June, 1971, serious consideration was given to constructing a new church building. Near the end of the year, a Building Committee consisting of 21 members was formed to begin the long task of formulating plans.
The sanctuary of Memorial E.U.B. Church and the adjacent house were removed to make way for new construction. The educational unit and Fellowship Hall were retained. On Sunday, April 1 1973, the congregation began to hold a 10:00 A.M. worship service in the Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary Chapel. Church shool classes were held in Valentine Hall and the Seminary Chapel.
The cornerstone of the present church was laid after the 10:00 A.M. service on Sunday, December 16, 1973. The cost of the new church was $455,372, which did not include furnishings. A mortgage of $403,000 was assumed. The difference between these two figures was funded by insurance on the Gettysburg Methodist Church and by contributions.
The Rev. Barr led us through months of planning and fund raising. His pastorate of 12 years gave the congregation the time needed to deepen its relationships with one another, and to increase stewardship and commitment to the program of the local church.
A very important part of our youth ministry during The Rev. Barr's tenure was the formation in 1976 of the Cross and Flame Singers, who presented concerts of sacred music on trips to many other states as well as different parts of Pennsylvania and the Gettysburg area until 1983.
The Rev. Charles R. Slaybaugh, Jr. was welcomed enthusiastically as our minister
in June, 1983. In January, 1984, we began a year-
At the beginning of 1984, our building debt was $276,656. The annual amount budgeted
for the Building Fund was $37,494. Generous congregational giving enabled the church
building debt to be paid five years ahead of schedule, and a s
ervice was held to
burn the church's mortgage on November 19, 1989.
An instrumental part of the church's outreach to others in the past ten years has been enthusiastic support for the "Mission Can," which stand in the hallway to accept contributions for worthy causes locally and throughout the world. Recent monthly causes have included Habitat for Humanity, Bosnia Crisis, Salvation Army, and YWCA Sponsors Fund. Among other Annual Mission programs were the "Down on the Farm" to buy three heifers for Africa in 1991, "African Harambe" to supply a water well for folks in Sierra Leone in 1996, and "In Your Own Backyard" to furnish two rooms on the campus of the United Methodist Children's Home in Mechanicsburg in 1997.
Rev. Slaybaugh's marvelous tenure of 19 years was highlighted by numerous ministries, including the beloved "Cross and Flame Youth Choir" that was directed by Mrs. Doris Deaner. The group of 40 plus youth traveled extensively throughout Pennsylvania and other Middle Atlantic States.
As Rev. Slaybaugh retired in 2002, so it was that Rev. Joyce M. Treas became pastor of for the congregation for two years. She helped the church ministry move into the new era of the 21st century. The elements of contemporary worship were incorporated into our worship through music, drama, and preaching. Rev. Treas is particularly remembered for her love of music and drama.
In July 2004, our current pastor, Rev. Jay E. Zimmerman was appointed to Gettysburg. Several recent initiatives in ministry include the Clothing Closet, Bountiful Blessings, and Furniture Place. The congregation has stepped out in mission and ministry within the Gettysburg community as well as the world. Most noted is our 2006 Mission Trip to Lake Charles, LA, where 18 persons were involved in rebuilding one particular home that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
New horizons in ministry were formed by the congregation in 2006 under the Alban Institute leader, Dr. Larry Peers, of Boston, MA. Worship, youth ministry, community outreach, music, ecumenical involvement, and facilities assessment/enhancements have been among the emphasis. Our many church volunteers, staff and members have helped the church to move toward the accomplishment of these goals. God has richly blessed our congregation and its ministry with faithful disciples! In every aspect of our life together, people willingly step forward to serve in the name of Jesus Christ. We are growing as the Body of Christ that is so named, Gettysburg United Methodist Church.
Pastors, 1968-
Donald S. Burkhart: 1968-
James I. Melhorn: 1969-
William H. Barr: 1971-
Charles R. Slaybaugh, Jr.: 1983-
Joyce Treas: 2002-
Jay Zimmerman: 2004-
Assistants to the Pastor, 1992-
Bill Griffith: 1992
J. Grant Brouse: 1994-
Angela Cooley Bulhof: 1995-
Suzanne Miller Elliot: 1997-
Lauren K. Nace: 2000-
