Churches

CHURCHES


Berks County, Pa



ST. STEPHEN'S
SCHWARZWALD
ST. PAULS' SMOKE


ZION'S UCC
TRINITY LUTHERAN
JERUSALEM RED CHURCH

ST. JOHN'S GERMAN
FIRST REMFORMED CHURCH
ST. PAUL'S

READING FRIEND'S
CHRIST EPISCOPAL
ZION MOSELEM

OLD BETHEL
CHURCHES PAGE 2




St. Stephen's United Chruch of Christ



"St. Stephen's (Reformed) United Church of Christ, Ninth & Greenwich Streets, Reading, Pa., was organized March 16, 1884 as the sixth Reformed congregation in the city. The present building dates to 1898.

The Rev. Calvin S. Gerhart was the first of six pastors who have served the church.

Peak membership of 1,807 members was attained in 1929.

Following a disastrous fire in 1923, the sanctuary was completely renovated, including the 2,640 Moeller pipe organ, one of the largest in eastern Pennsylvania.

The congregation remains committed to it's Reformed Heritage in worship, mission and its outreach to children to under it's current pastor, the Rev. Paul L. Jones."

I'd like to thanks the church Historian, Mr. Bob Beane for the above brief history. On Sunday, Nov.15TH, 1998, St. Stephen's celebrated Heritage Day, their 100th Anniversary.

The Alter in St. Stephen's U.C.C.






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Schwarz
Schwarzwald UCC

Built in 1870.

Exeter Township

Church Committee

Joseph Levan

Benjamin S. Ritter

Simon Garber

Joseph Kissling

John Hilster

Plaque"

IN MEMORIUM
JUNE 10,1962
THIS PLAQUE IS IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO LAST RESTING PLACES WERE RELINQUISHED BY CONSENT OF THE SURVIVING RELATIVES THAT THEY MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH OF SCHWARZWALD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST.
THE CHURCH SCHOOL UNIT IS A LIVING TRIBUTE TO THEIR UNSELFISH INTEREST AND FAITH IN THIS BELOVED CHURCH.
KNOWN NAMES AS FOLLOWS OF BURIALS ON THE OLD SCHWARZWALD GRAVEYARD.

Henry Hoffa

Sarah Hoffa

Joseph Hahn

Hans Martin Coricer

Susanah Lorah

Michael Lorah

Samuel Faber

Susanna Faber

Mary Faber

John Farber

Catherine Farber

Elizabeth Hunter

Hannah Fry

Henry Fry

Johannes Farber

Elizebeth Farber

Reuben Goodhart

Lovenia Goodhard

Benjamin Guthart

Fredrick Guthart

Maria Guthard

Mary Louisa Goodhart

Amelia Schaffer

David Schaffer

Christina Huett

Heinrich Huyett

Johannes Neikirch

Anna Catherine Neikirch

Anna Maria Hyett

Maria Hyett

Samuel Hyett

Sarah Hyett

Henry Hyett

Levi Hyett

Mary Hyett

Ephraim Hyett

John Klinger

Jacob DeTurck

Esther DeTurck

Catherine DeTurck

Samuel DeTurck

Infant Mason

John Mason

Catherine (Berz) Ries

Charles Sylvester Ries

Mary Elizabeth Ries

Rachael Breusch Ries

Abaraham J. Ries

Anna M. Ries

Isaac Rlohs

Rebecca Stoudt

Elizabeth Spatz

Jacob Spatz

Dortherine Brumbach

Susannah Brumbach

Daniel Guldin

Hannah Guldin

Jacob Guldin

Margaretha Guldin

George Washington Gulden

Ann Catherine Guldin

Louisa Lies

Amos Lies

Anna Dieter

Jeremia Dieter

Charles Housum

Peter Lindermuth

Catherine Lindermuth

Frances Housum

John Peter Housusm

Daniel Dreher

Catherine Christian

Jacob Christian

John Breahm

Hannah Breahm

Hannah Questro

Arin Questro

2-Helena Questro

Henrietia Davidheiser

Sarah Davidheiser

2-D/O William & Rachel Gilbert

Perry Gilbert

Not Readable Hofer

Johannes Hoffer

Maria Hoffer

Jacob Reifschnider

Sarah Reifschider

William Henty Lorah

Rebecca Reifschnider

Sarah Lorah

Jacob Baum

Elizabeth Baum

Infant Baum

Henrietta Baum

Elizabeth Coller

2-Henry Klein

William Diehl

Catherine Friedegam

Henry K. Bechtel

Jacob C. Bechtel

Lydia Bechtel

Frederich Henry Leinbach

THIS PLAQUE PRESRNTED BY MABEL L. KRAMER ANN CLAUDE W. KLINE IN MEMORY OF OUR PARENTS WALTER W. AND ESTELLA . KLINE




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Smoke
St. Paul's (Smoke)
Organized in 1756.

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Zion's UCC Perry Township Windsor Castle, Berks County, Pa.
Built in 1909
Cemetery 1877

For those buried in their cemetery, click here. Head Stones



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Trinity Lutheran Church
Trinity
Located at the Northwest corner of Prince and Thomas Streets, now know as Sixth and Washington Streets.

The first church was built of log and the new church in 1752.


Marker
Trinity Lutheran Church 1751

Original Cemetery

DEDICATED TO ALL WHO REST IN UNMARKED GRAVES
ONE GENERATION SHALL LAUD THEY WORKS TO ANOTHER





The following inscriptions are on two white marble slabs, set in the wall of the chapel, facing the graveyard in the Trinity Lutheran Church.

"Under this chapel lie the remains of"

NAME DIED YEARS MONTHS DAYS
LUDWIG HUYETT SEPT.30, 1799 3

ISAC HUYETT OCT.10, 1811 12 2
EVA M. SCHOENFELDER MAR.1ST. 1802 39 2 16
JOHN BICKEL SEPT. 24, 1805 1 4 13
WM. IAEGER SEPT. 8, 1809 11 10 17
JOHN G. HEIST AUG. 29, 1810 84 10 4
MARIA HEIST FEB. 11, 1821 67

PHILIP FUCHS SEPT. 15, 1813 74

JOHN KNOX JUNE 11, 1814 20 3
MARIA WESTLEY DEC. 5, 1814 28 3
SALOME EISENBISE AUG. 12,1814 32 7 20
HIS WIFE CATHARINE APRIL 25, 1853 88 10 15
JACOB KAST OCT. 3RD, 1803 36 3 1
ELIZABETH STICHTER JULY 2, 1815 40 4 10
CATH OTTENHEIMER FEB. 23, 1817 64 9 3
ADAM DUNKHOUSE AUG. 26, 1817 51 11 9
CATH DUNKHOUSE APRIL 9, 1845 76 3 8
GEN. FRANCIS SWAYNE JUNE 17, 1820 66 5 15
MARIA E. BABB OCT.3, 1826 9 4 7
CATH. WOBENSCHMIDT DEC. 20, 1836 66 3 20
SAMUEL POTTEIGER MAY 8, 1837 36 7 17
ISRAEL POTTEIGER SEPT. 29. 1840 86 7 1
MARGARET NEGEL FEB. 20, 1822 62

ANDREW KEPNER JAN. 31ST. 1844 72 3 15
CATH. KEPNER AUG. 17, 1847 72

SARAH POTER JUNE 4, 1816 41 4 1




NAME DIED YEARS MONTHS DAYS
JOHAN ADAM KUTZ AUG. 25TH 1815 43 9 5
HIS WIFE SUSAN JAN.11, 1859 83
15
AND DAU. CAROLINE OCT. 28, 1838 23 3 23
AND TWO INFANT CHILDREN



ANDREAS FUCHS FEB. 20, 1778 77 3 9
DAVID FUCHS FEB. 20, 1778 46 10 2
MATTHAIS BABB JAN.18TH, 1813 58 4 22
HIS DAU. SUSAN DEC.10TH, 1809 20 5 8
& MARIA ELIZABETH OCT. 14, 1815 31 3 10
JACOB MILLER 1777 42 3 16
WILHEMINIA LIEBIG MAR. 27, 1814 11

HENRY REITHMYER JAN.20, 1834 71 1 21
HIS WIFE CATHARINE APRIL 25, 1853 88 10
15
AND SON JOHN AUG. 15, 1816 16 6 3
AND DAU. ELIZABETH NOV. 3, 1814 21 10 3
AND TWO INFANT CHILDREN



JOHN MYERS NOV. 28, 1830 34 8 16
JOHN CHRISTINE DEC. 22, 1830 38 3 25
& WF. CATHARINE AUG.1, 1842 57 10 29
WILLIAM MARZ JULY 19, 1820 37 6 15
BENJ. SCHERER DEC. 25, 1814 26 5
GEORGE SEITSINGER SEPT. 12, 1767 31 7 19
ANN " JUNE 2, 1768 38

AND DAU. CATHARINE DEC. 8, 1768 2

ELIZABETH SCHITZ AUG. 28TH. 1802 36
26
CATHARINE SCHITZ OCT. 5, 1790 2

CATHARINA EISENBISE ------ -- ---- ----




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In 2000, headstones were found in a basement storage room at the church. They took them outside where I took pictures of a few. These are some of the stones listed on the above plaques.














Jerusalem Union Church "Red Church"

Founded in 1747 in Kempton, Pa. Off of Kistler Valley Road.



Jerusalem Cemetery

For those buried, go to: Red Church Cemetery

Photos submitted by Susan Brobst Zumchak



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St. Johns German Lutheran Church built in 1752. 521 Walnut Street. Reading, Pa.





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First Reformed Church built in 1753. Washington Street. Reading, Pa.



First Reformed Church Plaque. It reads as follows.

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH

FOUNDED IN 1753

THE HEIRS OF WM. PENN DONATED AND DEEDED THE LOTS TO CONRAD WEISER AND ISAAC LEVAN

TRUSTEES

THE FIRST CHURCH WAS BUILT OF LOGS

REV. WM. STOY, 1755 WAS THE FIRST PASTOR

GOV. JOSEPH HIESTER, COLS. GEORGE NAGEL, NICHOLAS LOTZ, HENRY HALLER, AND CAPTS. PETER NAGEL AND JACOB BOWER

OFFICERS UNDER GEN. GEORGE WASHINGTON,

WERE MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH

THIS IS THE MOTHER

OF ALL REFORMED CHURCHES

IN READING.



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St. Pauls Memorial Church built in 1871. North 6TH Street. Reading, Pa.



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Reading Friends Meeting House built in 1868. 108 N. 6TH. Street Reading, Pa.



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Christ Church Episcopal built in 1826. 6TH & Court Streets, Reading, Pa.



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Many thanks to my dear friend and neighbor, Charles Dinino for these last five pictures.

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Zion Moselem Lutheran Church, Molslem Springs

Established 1734



Moselem Church Cemetery



The Moselem One Room School House across the street from the church.



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Old Bethel A.M.E. Church

119 N. 10th Street, Reading, Pa.

Oldest black church in the area.

Present church building constructed in 1869.

It now houses African-American art, documents and books.

It was used in the Underground Railroad.

Visitors can view the documents and the "pit" in the basement that was used to hide the runaway slaves while they traveled to freedom.





The plaque reads:

BETHEL A.M.C. CHURCH

BERKS COUNTY'S OLDEST BLACK CHURCH BUILDING. ERECTED IN 1837 BY FREE AFRICAN AMERICAN; BECAME AN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD STATION FOR ESCAPED SLAVES SEEKING FREEDOM.

REBUILT IN 1867; REMODELED IN 1889.

CONGREGATION, DATING FROM 1822, MOVED TO WINDSOR STREET IN 1974.


The cemetery is in the rear of the building. Interments after 1876 were reburied at Charles Evans Cemetery. In 1900, several graves were relocated to Charles Evans Cemetery to make way for a parsonage.

There are 9 graves remaining without headstones.

Susan, w/o George Dillon, born 1814, died 1864

Sarah, w/o Rev. Samuel Underhill, born 4-5-1815, died, 12-2-1875

Margaret Dillon

Catherin Williams.

If anyone knows who the other people are please e-mail me.

The cemetery is now used as a playlot for a pre-school.



On February 21,1999 we visited the church for Black History Month. The church is housing the Central Pennsylvania African American Museum.

The church historian, Frank Gilyard told us about the church histroy, the ghost that haunt, and showed us the entrance to the pit used for the Underground Railroad.

Frank Gilyard



The following pictures are taken from the different displays.















The hat on the woman indecates she is a married woman. If the hat had one point, she would be single.



This is the orignal gas lamp from the church.





Sr. Choir 1920



Rev. Solomon Porter Hood 1896-1900



This is the only surviving headstone. It is of Sarah Underhill.



The entrence of the pit that goes under the whole church and housed 20 slaves.



Tours of the Museum are by appointment. Call (610) 371-8713

For more African American History go to African American History


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