Hinnershitz Union Church, now known as Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, is located in Tuckerton about two miles south of James Rickenbach's house. The church building was dedicated on April 28, 1850, on one acre of land donated by Eliza Hinnershitz' father William. Originally, the main entrance and sanctuary were on the east side of the church, so that the congregation faced the morning sun, as shown in this photograph from around 1900.

The church building was remodeled in 1910, so that the congregation faced the sanctuary to the south. The bell tower was added in 1899, a gift to the church from Catherine Maurer. The name of the church was officially changed from Hinnershitz Church to Good Shepherd Church on October 5, 1930. The cemetery adjacent to the church contains the graves of James Rickenbach's parents, children, other descendents, and James & Eliza themselves.

 

 

 To the left is a modern view, looking south, of Good Shepherd Church from 1999. Next to that photograph you can see a similar view of the church from about 100 years prior, when many of the protaganists of this memoir still attended the church, including Becky Rickenbach (the author). In 1914, a large painting of the crucifixion entitled "The Holy Sepulchre" by local artist Christopher Shearer was donated by him to the church. This painting, discussed in the memoir by Becky, still hangs at Good Shepherd, and can be seen below in its present location at the sanctuary.

 

View inside Hinnershitz Church (now Good Shepherd Church), with the Christopher Shearer painting "The Holy Sepulchre" in the upper right, near the sanctuary.

Source: “Good Shepherd United Church of Christ Historical Book