CHURCH HISTORY: St. Jacob's Reformed Church, Jackson Twp., Dauphin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/dauphin/ ________________________________________________ History of the Classis of Lancaster of the Eastern Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States, 1852-1940; Part II, Histories of the Congregations of the Classis of Lancaster, Pg. 274-275 Printed by The New Holland Clarion, New Holland, PA; Editors Rev. Daniel G. Glass, Rev. C. George Bachman, Rev. Harry E. Shepardson, Rev. John F. Frantz, Rev. J. N. Le Van, D.D. ________________________________________________ ST. JACOB'S REFORMED CHURCH, MILLER'S (In Armstrong Valley, Jackson Township, Dauphin County, Pa.) Rev. George W. Moyer, Pastor The early record of this congregation bears a date of baptism as early as April 23, 1828, and deeds show that the nine acres of land, now the joint property of the Lutheran and Reformed Congregations, were donated in small tracts, by several of the members, a number of years after the date of the first baptism. The first house in which worship was held was a combination school-house and church, with a shifting partition. January 1, 1849, a congregational meeting was held, at which it was resolved to erect a new church building, the result of which was the present frame edifice, built in the summer of 1849, and dedicated in the fall of the same year. In the year 1873 this building was improved by the erection of an addition to the church, with a steeple and bell. While there is no sure record, there is strong evidence that the Reformed congregation was organized by Rev. Isaac Gerhart. During the forties a split took place in both Lutheran and Reformed congregations (not much information can be obtained), and a faction built what is known as Strow's Church, about a mile distant. The membership has always been small, as the location is not favorable for great growth. In 1930 the church (Miller's) was renovated and it is now a beautiful little sanctuary. As far as can be learned this congregation has always been a part of the Armstrong Valley Reformed Charge, and the chronological order of the Reformed Pastors is the same as that of St. Peter's (Fetterhoff's).