Our History
St. Bartholomew's Church has a long and rich history that has helped it to become what it is today.On May 18, 1844, Frederick and Elizabeth Bachman deeded one acre and two rods of land to the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations that formed St. Bartholomew's Church. Located near the Maryland line, now West Manheim Township, York County, Pennsylvania, the first church building on the land was dedicated in August 1844.
In 1860, a group of members of St Bartholomew's split from the congregation and built little Mt. Zion Church, which is now known as the Wentz Meeting House. This historic site is located near the current St Bartholomew Church. Today, the meeting house is no longer in use but each year members of St. Bartholomew clean the old Wentz Meeting House and a service is held.
The original St. Bartholomew’s church structure was destroyed by fire in 1878 after a fire spread during an oats harvest. The church was rebuilt in 1879 as a two story brick building.
Then in 1890 a bell tower was added. The church was growing and two acres of land for a new cemetery were donated to the church.
In 1936 a new church building was dedicated. The old church which stood very near to the new church was torn down and the land was used as a parking lot for parishioners. As the church has grown over time, St. Bartholomew's Church has remodeled, renovated, and expanded with several additions and land purchases.
From 1844 to 2000, St. Bartholomew's continued as a union church with both United Church of Christ and Lutheran congregations running in one building that shared property rights and responsibilities in the church. On September 17, 2000, St. Bartholomew's signed a new charter to create one united church known officially as St. Bartholomew's United Church (ELCA).
St. Bartholomew’s church has continuously been involved in community service activities locally and abroad. The congregation actively supports Hoffman Homes for Youth, Homewood Retirement Home, and the Provide-A-Lunch Program (PAL) through the Hanover Area Council of Churches with monetary gifts and dedicated labors. The church also supported trips to Biloxi, Mississippi for Katrina Relief and provides financial support for Lutheran World Relief and several missionaries around the world.
Reformed UCC
S.C. Gutelius 1848 -1853
W.K. Zieber 1853 -1856
Julius Kurtz 1856 -1859
W.K. Zieber 1859 -1866 Jacob Sechler 1866 -1880 Henry Hilbish 1880 -1889
Joseph Peters 1889 - 1891
F.A. Guth 1891 - 1892
Edward Miller 1892 -1900 J.H. Hartman 1900 -1920
Edwin Sando 1920 -1945 Harvey Light 1946 -1976 Andrew Horn 1971 - 1978 K.D. Ettinger 1979 -1980 D.L. Weidler 1982 -1987 Arthur Grahe 1989 -1998
St. Bartholomew’s church has been blessed with many talented people who have helped, with their love and devotion, to make St. Bartholomew's what it is today. St. Bartholomew's has a rich heritage of music including a Hand Bell Choir, Youth & Adult Choirs and one of the few Sunday School orchestras still active every Sunday. With exceptional music groups of many varieties and Sunday School classes for all age levels, St. Bartholomew's United Church provides a special worshiping experience that allows all members to thrive and grow on their spiritual journey.
In a constantly changing world, the members of St. Bartholomew's will continue to remember their past as they look to the future.
Lutheran
Peter Sheurer 1845 - 1854
J. Lane 1854 - 1873 Daniel Hauer 1873 - 1882
J.A. Metzger 1882 - 1908
David Lau 1909 - 1913
S.L. Hench 1913 - 1915
G.E. Sheffer 1915 - 1917
A.M. Hollinger 1918 - 1954
R.T. Shilling 1954 - 1957
Carl Yost 1958 - 1970
David Howell 1973 - 1976
Gerhard Roggenkamp 1978 - 1986
Thomas Miller 1988 - 1998
Paul Warnke, Jr. 1999 - 2001
Ivan R. Mechtley, Jr. 2001 - 2003
Craig A. Lantz 2003 - 2005
Larry A. McConnell 2006 - 2009
Steven E. Thomas 2009 - pres.
St. Bartholomew's United Church History
In 2019 St. Bartholomew's Celebrated our 175 Year Anniversary. This is a brief history of those years.