Robesonia
Pennsylvania
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Saint Pauls United Church of Christ In Robesonia
In the summer of 1876 the German Reformed people of the eastern end of the original Tulpehocken settlement decided to form a congregation closer to their homes. In need of a meeting place they approached St. Daniel’s (Corner) Lutheran Church for permission to hold services there. An agreement was worked out, including a charge of $1.00 per year, and permission was granted. On September 2, 1876 the St. Daniel’s Reformed Congregation was formed and the Rev. Thomas C. Leinbach was elected their pastor.
The first communion celebrated was on Christmas Day, December 25, 1876, and twenty-nine people received the Sacrament. The Rev. Thomas C. Leinbach served the Bernville Charge, which consisted of North Heidelberg, St. Thomas-Bernville, Christ (Little Tulpehocken), Host, Zion’s Strausstown and St. Daniel’s Reformed. While the Reformed people were worshipping in the “Corner Church”, the church was renovated in 1883 with both congregations sharing in the expense and work.
In July of 1888, the Rev. Thomas M. Yundt, Superintendent of the Bethany Orphan’s Home organized the St. Paul’s Reformed Congregation at the Robesonia Furnace Chapel.
On June 14, 1903, the Rev. Edwin S. Leinbach was elected as the assistant to his father. Records show that 315 were confirmed by Rev. Leinbach in St. Daniel’s Church between 1877 and 1904. In the early 1900s the St. Daniel’s Reformed people wanted to have a building of their own. A vote was held on December 26, 1903, and fifty votes were cast: forty-nine in favor and one against. The following day the consistories for neighboring St. Paul’s Reformed and St. Daniel’s met in the Robesonia Furnace Chapel for the purpose of effecting a union of the two and joining to build their own church. By unanimous consent it was decided to merge and build. The official name would be St. Paul’s Reformed Church of Robesonia.
The St. Paul’s Congregation approved the merger and the building of a new church on January 3, 1904.
Two lots were purchased on the northwest corner of Penn Avenue and Pearl Street from William H. Livingood for $450.00. The building committee agreed with architect, H.A. Richter, and contractor, Adam Spatz, to build a brick church. The contractor agreed to build the church $9,000.00, not including furnishings and stained glass windows. Records show that the approximate cost of the new building was $14,000.00, which required a loan of $9,000.000. The auditor of the account added this note: “In order that this debt may be paid in three years, a friend of the Reformed Church has offered to pay 1/3 of the amount providing the congregation make up the other amount in that time.” The Ladies Aid Society raised $1,387.67 toward the furnishings.
The first communion celebrated was on Christmas Day, December 25, 1876, and twenty-nine people received the Sacrament. The Rev. Thomas C. Leinbach served the Bernville Charge, which consisted of North Heidelberg, St. Thomas-Bernville, Christ (Little Tulpehocken), Host, Zion’s Strausstown and St. Daniel’s Reformed. While the Reformed people were worshipping in the “Corner Church”, the church was renovated in 1883 with both congregations sharing in the expense and work.
In July of 1888, the Rev. Thomas M. Yundt, Superintendent of the Bethany Orphan’s Home organized the St. Paul’s Reformed Congregation at the Robesonia Furnace Chapel.
On June 14, 1903, the Rev. Edwin S. Leinbach was elected as the assistant to his father. Records show that 315 were confirmed by Rev. Leinbach in St. Daniel’s Church between 1877 and 1904. In the early 1900s the St. Daniel’s Reformed people wanted to have a building of their own. A vote was held on December 26, 1903, and fifty votes were cast: forty-nine in favor and one against. The following day the consistories for neighboring St. Paul’s Reformed and St. Daniel’s met in the Robesonia Furnace Chapel for the purpose of effecting a union of the two and joining to build their own church. By unanimous consent it was decided to merge and build. The official name would be St. Paul’s Reformed Church of Robesonia.
The St. Paul’s Congregation approved the merger and the building of a new church on January 3, 1904.
Two lots were purchased on the northwest corner of Penn Avenue and Pearl Street from William H. Livingood for $450.00. The building committee agreed with architect, H.A. Richter, and contractor, Adam Spatz, to build a brick church. The contractor agreed to build the church $9,000.00, not including furnishings and stained glass windows. Records show that the approximate cost of the new building was $14,000.00, which required a loan of $9,000.000. The auditor of the account added this note: “In order that this debt may be paid in three years, a friend of the Reformed Church has offered to pay 1/3 of the amount providing the congregation make up the other amount in that time.” The Ladies Aid Society raised $1,387.67 toward the furnishings.