Messiah Union Church (Alvira, PA)

Collection

Identifier: Church RG 249

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Messiah Union Church collection consists of 1 box containing: - Church Records (original): Baptisms, 1894-1945; Confirmations, 1895-1942; Marriages, 1895-1940; Deaths, 1894-1941; Communicants, 1894-1945; Membership; Officers, 1895-1945; Pastoral Register, 1849-1942; Statistical Reports, 1894-1910 - Constitutions, 1849 - Financial Records, 1894-1941 (found in orig. record book) - History: General (some in orig. record book); Anniversary Celebrations, 1940; News Clippings - Legal Records, 1942-1943 - Parochial Reports, 1912-1913 - Photographs: Photonegative plate - Programs & Activities: Reunions - Committees: - Consistory: Financial Records, 1889-1922; Minutes, 1916-1932 - Study Committee: White Deer Cooperative Church, 1939 - Auxiliary Organizations: - Ladies Aid Society: Minutes & Financial Records, 1936-1940

Dates

Creation: 1894 - 1995

Biographical / Historical

Messiah Church was originally located in Washington Township, Lycomming County. A move to a new building placed them in Union County. The Lutheran congregation was organized in 1845 and constructed a wood-frame building in 1849. The Reformed congregation was organized in 1849 and belonged to the following charges: Williamsport, 1855-1870; White Deer, 1870-1898; Susquehanna, 1898-1932. The church remained a union church until 1924 when the Lutherans disbanded. In the early part of 1942 the church property was included in a large section of land taken over by the United States government for the establishment of the Pennsylvania Ordinance Works. The last service was held June 21, 1942 (see Minutes of the Central Pennsylvania Synod, 1943, p. 63-65). Pastors include: 1849-1849 Daniel F. Sauers (supply) 1850-1851 David K. Lantz 1852-1852 Jared Fritzinger 1854-1855 George Wolf (supply) 1856-1865 J. Franklin Mohr 1868-1870 Lott Kryder Evans 1870-1893 Wiiilam W. Clouser 1894-1897 James Riley Bergey 1897-1898 John Love Barnhart 1898-1898 Martin W. Schweitzer 1902-1906 Joseph M. Bean 1906-1908 James M. Shellenberger 1910-1913 Aaron Noll 1913-1915 Jeremiah R. Rothermel (student supply) 1915-1917 William H. Snyder 1917-1928 George LeRoy Morrhead 1928-1930 Howard L. Wink 1930-1934 Irvin S. Ditzler 1930-1931 Harold E. Ditzler (occasional) 1934-1935 R. H. Casner (supply) 1935-1936 H. A. Young (Baptist supply) 1936-1937 Norman Rake, Jr. (student supply) 1937-1937 John W. Yeisley (supply) 1938-1941 Harry D. Houtz (supply) 1941-1942 James M. Runkle (supply)