Church History: Swamp Reformed Church, Blainsport, Lancaster County, PA

Copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
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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. 182-186

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.
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SWAMP REFORMED CHURCH, BLAINSPORT

Rev. Herman C. Snyder, Pastor

It was during Rev. Conrad Tempelmann's ministry that the first traces of the 
Swamp Church appear.  Rev. John Waldschmidt has entered into his baptismal 
record an "Extract of the Baptismal Book at Michael Amweg's from the Year 1749".  
The first baptism under this head is dated July 20, 1749.  This year 1749 may, 
therefore, be regarded as the year when the Swamp Church was founded.

On May 22, 1755, William Penn deeded a tract of land called "Swamp Church 
Ground" to the Calvinists (Reformed Congregation).  A log building was erected 
as a place of worship in the present old cemetery near where the remains of Rev. 
John Waldschmidt are buried.

The ministry of John Waldschmidt was of great importance for these congregations 
(Donegal, Cocalico, Muddy Creek, White Oak, and Seltenreich), for he was not 
only the first well-trained minister whom the congregation secured, but also the 
first resident Pastor who could minister to the spiritual needs of his people.

His ministry in the Cocalico charge, including Cocalico, Muddy Creek, White Oak 
and Seltenreich, began in October, 1752.  At Muddy Creek, however, he withdrew 
after two years, being opposed in that congregation by an independent minister, 
Frederick Casmir Mueller.  It was perhaps to compensate him for the loss of this 
church that a new church was built in West Cocalico township, near the Little 
Cocalico, at Michael Amweg's place.  It is identical with the present Swamp 
Church.  The first Communion service was held in this new church on May 18, 
1755, when fifty persons communed.  But before the year was ended Waldschmidt's 
ministry in this new church came to an end.  At least there is no later 
communion service noted in his private record of October 5, 1755.  It is likely 
that Swamp Church also passed under the control of Frederick C. Mueller.  The 
latter was one of the numerous laymen who were filling the places of regular, 
ordained ministers at that time.

The date of his coming to Pennsylvania is unknown.  We find him first in 
Goshenhoppen in 1745, where he opposed the ministry of Weiss until 1748.  From 
there he went to Longswamp, Berks County, where he dedicated the first church in 
September, 1748.  In 1752 we find him in Muddy Creek and later in Swamp Church.  
Here he probably stayed until 1762, when he moved to Lebanon and neighboring 
churches, where he preached until 1766.  The Moravian ministers in Lebanon speak 
well of him in their diaries.

About this time another independent minister is mentioned in the Cocalico 
record.  It is John Henry Decker.  It is probable that he followed Mueller when 
the latter left in 1762.  About 1762 we find him in Cocalico, where his name was 
entered into the record a few years later by one of his successors, Rev. John 
George Wittner.  About the same time, probably from 1762 to 1764, he supplied 
the Swamp Church.

In 1765 John Waldschmidt became once more the pastor of the Swamp congregation.  
On April 14, 1765, he celebrated the first Communion service of his second 
pastorate in Swamp Church, at which 56 communicants participated.  This number 
did not increase materially until towards the end of his ministry.  On April 4, 
1779, he records 80 communicants at Amweg's or Cocalico.  On May 9, 1784, there 
were 62 communicants, but at his last communion service at the Swamp Church on 
April 24, 1785, only 46 persons are recorded as having been present.  The second 
ministry of Waldschmidt extended over twenty-one years, and ended at his death 
in September, 1786.

In 1806 the present substantial church was erected.  In 1809 the Reformed 
congregation invited the sister Lutheran congregation to worship in the said 
building.  On June 17, 1906, the 100th anniversary of the present building was 
observed by the Reformed and Lutheran congregations with special services.  The 
Pastors were Revs. Stephen Schweitzer, Reformed, and D. L. Fogelman, Lutheran.

The following is a list of the Reformed Pastors:

Rev. John Waldschmidt . . . . . . . 1752-1786
Rev. John Christian Ammann. . . . . 1787-1790
Rev. John Christian Wilms . . . . . 1792-1802
Rev. Chas. Helffenstein . . . . . . 1803-1807
Rev. John Theobald Faber, Jr. . . . 1807-1819
Vacant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      1820
Rev. Thomas H. Leinbach . . . . . .      1830
Rev. William T. Gerhard . . . . . .      1836
Rev. Christian Weiler . . . . . . .      1845
Rev. Isaac Graeff . . . . . . . . . 1850-1851
Rev. Thomas C. Leinbach . . . . . .      1860
Rev. Samuel A. Leinbach . . . . . . 1867-1868
Rev. Stephen Schweitzer . . . . . . 1868-1914
Rev. Martin W. Schweitzer . . . . . 1914-1937
Rev. Herman C. Snyder . . . . . . . 1939-