History of First Church

1998 marked the "Centennial Celebration - 100 years of worship" for the First Church of God of New Cumberland. First Church is a part of the denomination of what is now the Churches of God, General Conference, which was founded in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1825 under the leadership of John Winebrenner. In the years that followed its inception, Winebrenner and other Church of God preachers fanned out into surrounding counties conducting revivals and, wherever possible, organizing new churches. John Winebrenner would have passed through New Cumberland often on trips to the York County churches, and he preached in New Cumberland at least once. An entry in his journal notes that he preached in New Cumberland on January 4, 1826, "at early candlelight" with John 3:14-15 as his text.

There was at least one attempt to organize a church in New Cumberland. In the fall of 1847, Elder J.J. Miller, an itinerant Church of God preacher, preached in New Cumberland about every two weeks. In February he returned for more preaching and found that "the converts there did not seem satisfied that things should be kept at loose ends . . . they wished to be organized into a church, called the Church of God, at New Cumberland." Miller returned again on March 5, 1848, preached on Titus 1:5, and organized a church with 14 members and more expected to join. Miller noted, "The little church appointed their prayer and class meetings, and are zealous in the cause of God and religion." He hoped that the new church would be included in the regular pastoral rounds of the Cumberland circuit. Unfortunately, nothing more is known of this congregation and it must be assumed it did not long survive.

During these early years of Church of God history, New Cumberland remained a small town with a few industries. It faced the Susquehanna River on one side and was surrounded by farms and open fields on the other three sides. (Even in the early twentieth century, a trip from New Cumberland to Lemoyne would take a traveler past several farms.) This began to change in the years following the Civil War. People began moving to areas of northern York County. New factories, businesses and shops appeared. Developers began raising houses in open fields. By the last decade of the nineteenth century New Cumberland was a prosperous community poised for a period of rapid expansion and growth.

The growing community of New Cumberland caught the attention of the East Pennsylvania Eldership (now Conference) of the Churches of God, which was looking for a place to plant a new mission church.

The groundwork for this project was laid at a meeting of the Eldership Board of Church Extension held on July 21, 1897, at Conewago Camp. As a result of that meeting, the Christian Endeavor Union agreed to receive an annual offering every February to raise funds to purchase property on which to build a house of worship for a mission church.

On November 26, 1897, a committee of the board of Church extension visited New Cumberland and was impressed with the potential for a mission church. There were only two churches in New Cumberland at that time, the population was growing, and among the families that had moved into town from York County were several that had been actively involved in Churches of God. On January 18, 1897, the board decided to buy property in New Cumberland as the site for the new mission church. On May 17, 1898, the decision was made to build a brick church 32 feet by 45 feet. The new bethel would be a simple building, almost identical to a one- room schoolhouse except for its stained glass windows.

The cornerstone was laid on July 26, 1898. The marble stone was inscribed on the front, "Built By The Church Of God 1898." The Christian Endeavor logo was carved on the side. As the new bethel neared completion, final steps were taken to formally organize the mission church. This was done at an evening meeting on Saturday, November 12, 1898 . . . the birthday of the New Cumberland First Church of God.

The dedication of the new bethel took place the next day, November 13, 1898. The first service was held at 10:00 A.M. The bethel was crowded due to the cooperation of the other two churches in town (Methodist and United Brethren) which had dismissed their services and encouraged their people to attend the dedication. Elder C.I. Brown of Mt. Joy preached in the first service, using Hebrews 2:2 as his text. Two additional services were held that day, with Elder J.T. Fleegal preaching on Ecclesiastes 9:10 in the afternoon and Pastor Rishel preaching on Psalm 122:6 in the evening. The Methodist and United Brethren Pastors assisted in all three services.

Rapid growth and a clear vision for the future led the young congregation to realize that it was quickly outgrowing the little brick bethel that had been its first home. On November 17, 1913, the Church Council voted to begin construction of a new bethel, with work to begin about April 1, 1914.

The cornerstone of the new bethel was laid on August 30, 1914. The bethel was dedicated on May 9, 1915, with special services from May 9 through May 14 under the direction of Pastor S.N. Good.

In the years that followed, continued growth meant that additional space was needed for Christian education. When the second bethel was built, it had been designed on the "Akron Plan" then popular. This plan provided for Sunday School Classes on two levels in a "U" shape facing the sanctuary. Classes were placed in cubicles on the ground floor separated by canvas screens that could be raised or lowered as needed. Other classes met above them in the balcony, separated by curtains. Classes were designed for a lecture format, with chairs in rows facing a teacher who stood behind a lectern.

By 1960 this arrangement had become obsolete. Hot in the summer, noisy all the time, the "Akron Plan" was being abandoned by churches in favor of Christian Education buildings that provided separate classrooms and allowed greater flexibility for discussion formats.

On April 10, 1962, the Church Council took action to begin planning for the construction of an education building that would be wrapped around the rear and side of the bethel. Since this would require the removal of the original parsonage, the project would also include the purchase of a new parsonage. Groundbreaking for the new building was held on July 30, 1963. The completed building was dedicated on May 17, 1964.

Remembering the road we have traveled is important - but the road continues and so must we. God has tremendously blessed us as His Church, but there is much to be accomplished before Christ returns. Today, we seek God's plans for His Church and we go forth serving Him in new and exciting ways. For His Church is like yeast and our God is daring us to activate it!


		A Brief History of the First Church of God of New Cumberland 1998 marked the "Centennial Celebration - 100 years of worship" for the First Church of God of New Cumberland. First Church is a part of the denomination of what is now the Churches of God, General Conference, which was founded in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1825 under the leadership of John Winebrenner. In the years that followed its inception, Winebrenner and other Church of God preachers fanned out into surrounding counties conducting revivals and, wherever possible, organizing new churches. John Winebrenner would have passed through New Cumberland often on trips to the York County churches, and he preached in New Cumberland at least once. An entry in his journal notes that he preached in New Cumberland on January 4, 1826, "at early candlelight" with John 3:14-15 as his text. There was at least one attempt to organize a church in New Cumberland. In the fall of 1847, Elder J.J. Miller, an itinerant Church of God preacher, preached in New Cumberland about every two weeks. In February he returned for more preaching and found that "the converts there did not seem satisfied that things should be kept at loose ends . . . they wished to be organized into a church, called the Church of God, at New Cumberland." Miller returned again on March 5, 1848, preached on Titus 1:5, and organized a church with 14 members and more expected to join. Miller noted, "The little church appointed their prayer and class meetings, and are zealous in the cause of God and religion." He hoped that the new church would be included in the regular pastoral rounds of the Cumberland circuit. Unfortunately, nothing more is known of this congregation and it must be assumed it did not long survive. During these early years of Church of God history, New Cumberland remained a small town with a few industries. It faced the Susquehanna River on one side and was surrounded by farms and open fields on the other three sides. (Even in the early twentieth century, a trip from New Cumberland to Lemoyne would take a traveler past several farms.) This began to change in the years following the Civil War. People began moving to areas of northern York County. New factories, businesses and shops appeared. Developers began raising houses in open fields. By the last decade of the nineteenth century New Cumberland was a prosperous community poised for a period of rapid expansion and growth. The growing community of New Cumberland caught the attention of the East Pennsylvania Eldership (now Conference) of the Churches of God, which was looking for a place to plant a new mission church. The groundwork for this project was laid at a meeting of the Eldership Board of Church Extension held on July 21, 1897, at Conewago Camp. As a result of that meeting, the Christian Endeavor Union agreed to receive an annual offering every February to raise funds to purchase property on which to build a house of worship for a mission church. On November 26, 1897, a committee of the board of Church extension visited New Cumberland and was impressed with the potential for a mission church. There were only two churches in New Cumberland at that time, the population was growing, and among the families that had moved into town from York County were several that had been actively involved in Churches of God. On January 18, 1897, the board decided to buy property in New Cumberland as the site for the new mission church. On May 17, 1898, the decision was made to build a brick church 32 feet by 45 feet. The new bethel would be a simple building, almost identical to a one- room schoolhouse except for its stained glass windows. The cornerstone was laid on July 26, 1898. The marble stone was inscribed on the front, "Built By The Church Of God 1898." The Christian Endeavor logo was carved on the side. As the new bethel neared completion, final steps were taken to formally organize the mission church. This was done at an evening meeting on Saturday, November 12, 1898 . . . the birthday of the New Cumberland First Church of God. The dedication of the new bethel took place the next day, November 13, 1898. The first service was held at 10:00 A.M. The bethel was crowded due to the cooperation of the other two churches in town (Methodist and United Brethren) which had dismissed their services and encouraged their people to attend the dedication. Elder C.I. Brown of Mt. Joy preached in the first service, using Hebrews 2:2 as his text. Two additional services were held that day, with Elder J.T. Fleegal preaching on Ecclesiastes 9:10 in the afternoon and Pastor Rishel preaching on Psalm 122:6 in the evening. The Methodist and United Brethren Pastors assisted in all three services. Rapid growth and a clear vision for the future led the young congregation to realize that it was quickly outgrowing the little brick bethel that had been its first home. On November 17, 1913, the Church Council voted to begin construction of a new bethel, with work to begin about April 1, 1914. The cornerstone of the new bethel was laid on August 30, 1914. The bethel was dedicated on May 9, 1915, with special services from May 9 through May 14 under the direction of Pastor S.N. Good. In the years that followed, continued growth meant that additional space was needed for Christian education. When the second bethel was built, it had been designed on the "Akron Plan" then popular. This plan provided for Sunday School Classes on two levels in a "U" shape facing the sanctuary. Classes were placed in cubicles on the ground floor separated by canvas screens that could be raised or lowered as needed. Other classes met above them in the balcony, separated by curtains. Classes were designed for a lecture format, with chairs in rows facing a teacher who stood behind a lectern. By 1960 this arrangement had become obsolete. Hot in the summer, noisy all the time, the "Akron Plan" was being abandoned by churches in favor of Christian Education buildings that provided separate classrooms and allowed greater flexibility for discussion formats. On April 10, 1962, the Church Council took action to begin planning for the construction of an education building that would be wrapped around the rear and side of the bethel. Since this would require the removal of the original parsonage, the project would also include the purchase of a new parsonage. Groundbreaking for the new building was held on July 30, 1963. The completed building was dedicated on May 17, 1964. Remembering the road we have traveled is important - but the road continues and so must we. God has tremendously blessed us as His Church, but there is much to be accomplished before Christ returns. Today, we seek God's plans for His Church and we go forth serving Him in new and exciting ways. For His Church is like yeast and our God is daring us to activate it!