VILLAGE CHURCH
In awe I trod the marble stairs, that mark the solemn way
To an ediface above the streets where thousands pass each day.
And housed before the massive door ornate with many a scene
From days of old, all wrought in gold and bronzes turning green.
Its vaulted naves was nobly planed, its belfry towered high
Its whiteness fairly glittered, As with star dust from the sky.
And from its lordly front facade lo, a wonderous window gleamed
Turned sun beams into sapphires, And to rubies so it seemed
From the alter with its snowy cloth all bordered round with gold
The deep-voiced organ's solemn tone from pew to pillar rolled
I knelt and vainly searched my heart, for words I could not find.
Aye, somewhere back in the village church, I'd left my prayers behind.
In my village church where neighbors meet to join in song, and prayer,
Where each one knows the others woes and in their joys may share
Where no bronze doors or marble floors are needed to proclaim
That here's a place where God abides, where all may speak his name.
We have no chimes whose tones sublime ring out from towers drear --
Our copper bell clangs -- All is well, You'll find a welcome here.
We have no pews, with cushions wrought, in needle point but then,
No organ roll can touch the soul', like Grandpa's low Amen.
And he who reads to us the Word expounds upon its might,
May ne'er be learned as he who from the lecturn's height,
Can scarcely know who sits below -- whose voice repeats the prayer
But when we need a friend indeed our minister is there.
Then thank Thee Lord for the Village Church, Where close to Thee we feel.
That alters are not far away; where saints with sinners kneel.
And know the nearness of Thy love, where friend communes with friend.
And many a heart renews its vows before each Sabbath's end.
O here is my Cathedral, Lord, for here I end my search
For love and peace and simple faith, God bless the Village Church.
M. T. Stevens
To the memory of "Aunt Emma" (Mrs. Reimsnider) we dedicate this book. We are grateful for her efforts in keeping alive the history of our church.
Rev. C. W. Finkbinder served from 1881-1883
Rev. Snyder served from 1883-1884
We shared a pastor with the Hebbville Charge from 1884-1892.
Rev. Crouch served from 1892-1897
Rev. Dubs served from 1897-1899
Rev. Craul served from 1899-1901
Rev. J. R. Ryder served from 1901-1905
Rev. Price served a portion of the year 1905 but became ill and was replaced by
Rev. W. F. Smith until the middle of 1906
Rev. Bentiz served from 1906-1909
Rev. Albright served from 1909-1910
Rev. Hartzler served from 1910-1911
Rev. Mowerer served from 1911-1912
Rev. Yost served from 1912-1913 (Rev. Shultz served part of the year)
Rev. Furner served from 1913-1915
Rev. Joseph F. Morris served from 1915-1924
Rev. Gray served from 1924-1927
Rev. William Baughman served from 1927-1931
Rev. Ralph Smith served from 1931-1940
Rev. William Snyder served from 1940-1950
Rev. William Dickert served from 1950-1954
Rev. Howard Kerstetter served from 1954-1957
Rev. Wright served from 1957-1960
Rev. L. E. Kline served from 1960-1966
Rev. Schmid served from 1966-1968
Rev. William C. Miller served from 1968- 1972
Rev. E. Leon Dage served from 1972-1975
Rev. Helen S. Smith served from 1975-1981
Rev. John C. Hilbert served from 1981-1982
Rev. Ruth Ann Russell served from 1982-1985
Rev. Diane Summerhill served from 1985-1987
Rev. Thomas Edwards served from 1987-1989
Rev. Joseph Dulany served from 1989-1992
Rev. Roy G. Taylor served from 1992-1995
Rev. Colin Phillips 1995-2003
Rev. Jody Jessup is the current pastor.
The Church has been described as a frame building, twentysix feet wide and twenty-eight feet long. It was painted a dark red with a flight of six or eight steps leading up to its doors. Coal was kept under these steps to heat the building.
Inside, an aisle ran between rows of grey wooden benches to a small rail enclosed altar. The walls of the building were whitewashed and on the left side near the center of the building there was a stove. A single coal oil bracket lamp was used to light the altar and the organ.
This first church was built at a cost of $950.00 all of which was raised on the Sunday it was dedicated in April 1850 except for $100.00.
The first pastor was the Reverend Mr. R. L. Eberhart. On the day the church was dedicated, people began to gather as early as 8:00 A.M. for the 10:00 A.M. service. The text of the sermon was "Will God Indeed Dwell on the Earth?" For the evening service the text was "I Am With The Righteous."
The first Sunday School was organized with thirty members, the Church had sixty members. The official name of this first Church was the Baltimore Mission of Elkridge Landing. It was on a circuit with Hebbville, then known as Whiteground. Later, the name was changed to Zion Evangelical Church of Dorsey.
The first services were conducted completely in the German language. An English class was formed sometime later and services were then conducted in English.
The first Quarterly Conference minutes written in English (that we have found) were written on May 7, 1881 and the Conference was conducted by the Reverend E. Kohn, presiding elder. C. W. Finkbinder was the pastor at this time.
V. Reimsnider
As time passed the congregations at Hebbville and Dorsey grew until they could each support a minister. The Annual Conference declared them separate charges and the work continued in each congregation.
A meeting was held on January 8, 1892 to decide on the building of a new church at a location closer to the community. These minutes read as follows:
"The following named persons met on above date to organize a new church. It was decided to call the new church, Emmanuel Independent Church and that we as a church are independent of every conference and that the church be built on the lot given by the Lennox Park Co.. The committee on building: M.T.Crouch, V.Reimsnider, J.Reimsnider, H.Marks, C. Reimsnider. The following male members gave consent: V.Reimsnider, C.Reimsnider, J.Reimsnider, H.Marks, A.Gilty, George Marks, D.Reimsnider, William Marks, George Miller."
In February, 1893, after Sunday School., the old church burned to the ground. The insurance money was used to help pay for the present church building. The church building we now worship in was dedicated on the first Sunday in May, 1893. The bell was purchased from the McShane Bell Foundry by the Ladies Aid Society at a cost of $98.00. The Pastor's salary was set at $300.00 a year and the value of the church was set at $2000.00.
In a report dated February 1895 it was noted that it was the best year the church had had for many years. "The old time fire of God's Love burns on the Altar and the church is warmer.