Who is Nevin Moyer?

Nevin W. Moyer

Nevin W. Moyer (1876 - 1950) was born, raised, and worked in Lower Paxton Township when he died. Mr. Moyer for many was a noted authority on the history of Linglestown and Lower Paxton Township.  A teacher by profession, he also served in the military from 1902-1919.  

Mr. Moyer devoted many years to collecting relics and recording events that were used in local publications, including the book "Welcome Home Celebration for World War II Veterans of East Hanover, West Hanover, and Lower Paxton Townships", a book he authored in honor of the local vets.

Without the use of the information he acquired, the accounts of events that he wrote and the pictures he collected, the greater majority of the materials in this blog would not have been.

Thank you Mr. Moyer!

Nevin W. Moyer and his wife Sarah are buried in the newer part of Wenrich's Cemetery, across the street from St. Thomas United Church of Christ.

First Places of Worship - Building Three

Sixty-two years later, on September 13, 1856, there were only two congregations still worshipping at Wenrich Church, Lutheran and Reformed, when they laid the cornerstone for the third and present day house of worship.  Bricks for the building were made by Daniel Moyer on the farm just west of the church property. The new church was completed by the summer of 1857. 

The interior included a balcony across the south wall with stairs on either side and a high pulpit on the north wall flanked with "amen corners". Amen corners were where the elders, church officers and their wives sat during services.

The Colonial framed windows were placed so high that worshippers, even when standing, could not see outside. Two aisles divided the pews. Stoves were in the front with stove pipes extending along each wall that warmed the congregation during winter. A 1000 pound bell, brought from Troy, New York, was first rung on October 4, 1857 for the dedication service. 

Extensive remodeling in 1891-2 changed the exterior and interior of the building. The balcony was removed, a recessed alcove was added to the north wall, the two entrance doors were changed to one center double door, the steeple was replaced and stained glass windows were added. The finer interior work included wainscoting, carpet, a chancel platform with railing and curved pews on either side of a center aisle.

In 1913 additional remodeling added a tin ceiling and iron - framework kerosene lamps. The property was re-graded and stonework was added.

The original wooden floor is still in the church today.

There is a stone marker marking the occasion.

According to Nevin Moyer, the grandson of Daniel Moyer,  during the 1890s:

They had a sexton at the church for many years by the name of Fredrick Farling.  He would stand out in all weather, tie and blanket all horses, and unhitch the minister's horse. He would go out and meet all the members and take the horse from them and care for it during services.  Men always felt safe to let their women and children go to church alone for they knew that the sexton at the church would see that the horse would be properly tied, blanketed and if anything happened during the services he was on the job. He would see that all were safely started for home.

Where Fredrick Farling would have lived,  on the corner of the church's lot.

1922 - electricity was added to the building .

1957 - church is painted white.

1959 - first indoor plumbing

This building stands today and is the home of St Thomas United Church of Christ, a congregation descended from the former German Reform Church. 

First Place of Worship

A log cabin parochial school and place of worship was erected on the property that is now St. Thomas United Church of Christ on Linglestown Road.  The early settlers represented four different religious persuasions: Episcopalian, Lutheran, German Reformed and Presbyterian. The crude building is said to have been located at the west end of the current church property. Two dates identifying the origin of this place are recorded by different previous researchers, 1730 and 1765.

Left side is where the pastor lived, right side was the school.

In 1784 the land that included the first house of worship was sold to Francis Wenrich and his wife, Elizabeth. In 1792 the Wenrich family deeded 2 3/4 acres of their land, including the house of worship and a spring to the four congregations.

In 1793 the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations, which had to share the log church with other denominations, decided to become a union church and drew up Articles of Agreement. The church was to be called Wenrich's Church. This second church building was constructed in 1794 and built of timbers donated by the members. Worshipers brought their own small stoves or foot warmers to provide the only heat. The ministers' horses were housed in stables behind the church and fed with hay and feed paid for by the congregations.

Second church

A drawing of the church and the interior was created in the 1920's while elderly members still had memories of it.