In 1849, approximately thirty members withdrew from Second
Lutheran Church in Chambersburg. Led by their pastor, G. M. Mertz,
they formed an independent congregation and erected a church
building on Lincoln Way East, where the present Chambersburg First Church
of God now stands. They were German-speaking persons and former
members of the German Reformed Church.
In 1855, the congregation became a part of the Reformed Church
in the United States and became known officially as St. John's
Reformed Church. German was still the spoken language, and in
the 1880's this became an issue for the small, struggling congregation
(of only 64 members). Their children, who spoke English at school
and with their friends, balked at speaking German in church and
were threatening to leave the congregation. Therefore, in 1885,
with the calling of a new pastor, the congregation voted to conduct
all services in English. In a little more than a year, the congregation
doubled in membership and in 1894 a new church building was erected
on the site of their former building.
In 1934, St. John's became known as St. John's Evangelical
and Reformed Church when the Reformed Church in the United States
merged with the Evangelical Synod of North America to form the
Evangelical and Reformed Church.
In 1949, as part of the 100th
anniversary celebration of the founding of the church, St. John's Camp was established in Metal
Township near Cowan's Gap State Park. Since then, thousands of
boys and girls have enjoyed the camping experience offered at St. John's Camp.
When the Evangelical and Reformed Church merged with the Congregational-Christian
Churches to form the United Church of Christ in 1957, St. John's
became known as St John's United Church of Christ.
In 1963 St. John's moved to its present location
at 1811 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, PA after erecting
a church complex at a cost of approximately $850,000.
In 1999 St. John's United Church of Christ celebrated its
150th Anniversary. Today, the staff and more than seven
hundred members of St. John's are committed to continuing to
build on their strong tradition of serving the congregation and
the community, in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
For more information, e-mail us at: office@stjohnschambersburg.org
