The following information has been graciously sent to me by Betty Riter, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer of the Springfield Township Historical Society. Over the past couple of years or more Betty has so kindly sent several pieces of information which have proved to be invaluable to my research. I would like to display pictures of these churches, if anyone has pictures or would like to add additional information please contact me. I am particularly interested in older prints. If any one has questions regarding the information, please contact Betty at www.bgriter@msn.com , or contact the Springfield Township Historical Society. Thank You Betty, for your contributions and support.
1. GRACE ALLIANCE CHURCH
3172 Route 212
42-014-055
Grace Alliance Church is located 104 feet west of Center Street on the southwest corner of Route 212/412 in Springtown, PA. Lot size 65x200.
1861. A log barn stood on the site where Grace Church now stands. It was the barn of Conrad Hess, builder in 1807 of the fieldstone house that later became the church parsonage. The log barn stood west of, and next to, the fieldstone house. The log barn was dismantled.
1888. July 8. The cornerstone was laid for Grace Independent Reformed Church. The church was built by the Hess family, and erected on the site previously occupied by their old log barn. Grace Independent Reformed Church was a church built to serve a small group of people as their place of worship, independent of any denomination. At first the church was said to be a Holy Roller, emotional type, but the church is not now as it was before.[1][1]
The congregation of Grace Independent Church was made up of people who had broken away from the local Lutheran Church. Locally, the new church was known as Gruep's Church, so called for John Gruep, an active member who lived across the street. The church was also known as Hartzell's Church for Reverend Joseph M. Hartzell, a Reformed pastor. Reverend Hartzell was called to the pastorate of the Springfield Charge Reformed Church on January 4, 1885 by the Tohickon Classis of the Reformed Church. Later, petitions were circulated declaring his ministrations were irregular and anti-Reformed. He was commanded to cease his ministrations.
Grace Church was a red brick structure 45 by 80 feet with a vestibule and steeple rising from the foundation, and with a pulpit recess of 5 feet. A 500-pound bell was in the tower. The interior was furnished with carpet, pulpit chairs, organ and a pulpit of solid walnut, made by Manassas A. Brunner.
Church windows were presented by:
Left side facing from the road presented by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Jones.
1st window, left side from entrance, in memory of Martin M. Bleam, presented by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Crouthamel and family.
Middle left side window presented by Mr. and Mrs. Wilvert Dull.
Third left side window near pulpit presented in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Stokes E. Hess.
Left side of pulpit in memory of J. Warren Potter by Reverend and Mrs. DiSalvo.
Right side of pulpit presented by the congregation.
Right side first window presented in memory of the William Sloyer family.
Right side middle window presented in memory of the Jacob Greup family.
Right third window by pulpit in memory of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Drago presented by Mr. and Mrs Joseph F. Litschauer
Right side window from road presented in memory of the Ephriam Fluck family.
Vestibule left side window from road presented by Reverend and Mrs. Kenneth J. Steckel family.
Vestibule right side window from road presented by Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Gale and family.
1891. May 9. Grace Church. Reverend J. M. Hartzell.
1897. March 20. Sunday. At 7 p. m., church service by Reverend J. M. Hartzell.
1897. October 17. Sunday. Weather very nice. Temperance lecture by B.F. Campbell in Hartzell's church.[2][2]
1898. March 5. Reverend B. F. Campbell. Revival meetings continue.
1898. April 9. Saturday. Reverend J. M. Hartzell performed the marriage of Stokes Hess and Minnie Hess in the church. HDC
1898. September 17. Grace Sunday School of this place will attend the gospel meetings held in Moyer’s grove, near Pleasant Valley, in a body on Saturday. They will leave Springtown on the 8:35 a.m. train over the Q. & E. RR. A cordial invitation is extended to all friends of the school to accompany them. S. W. T.
1899. May 27. Reverend Isaac Hess and wife, of Reading, spent the week in town. Reverend Hess, who has reached the advanced age of almost 86 years is still full of enthusiasm and on Tuesday evening preached a forcible sermon in Grace Church, which was highly appreciated by his many former acquaintances and friends. S. W. T.
1899. May 27. Grace Church. Reverend J. M. Hartzell.
1900. March 15. Thursday. Cold, snowed. Funeral of Paul Greup at Grace Church.[3][3]
1900. June 9. Grace Church. Sunday at 10 a. m., by Reverend J. M. Hartzell. S. W. T.
1901. May 18. Sunday at 10 a. m., and 7.30 p. m., by Reverend E. C. Krapf (of Ebenezer Pentecostal church, Allentown, Pa.) S. W. T.
1901. June 29. Grace Church – Reverend M. A. Zyner. Springtown Weekly Times.
1908. July 11. Grace Church. Reverend W. H. Beller. S. W. T.
1912. Under the ministry of Reverend Frank Mousley, Grace Church, twenty-four years after it’s beginning, became affiliated with the Christian Missionary and Alliance Church and was now known as Grace Alliance Church.
1912. August 10. A Union Holiness camp meeting will be held in Kressler's grove between this place and Leithsville, beginning Friday, August 16, and ending Sunday, August 25. Information regarding tents, board, etc., may be received from Reverend F. A. Mousley, Springtown, Pa.[4][4] S. W. T
1913. September 27. Grace Church. Reverend J. D. R. Allison.
1914. November 1 to 8. The Fourth Annual Missionary Convention of the Eastern District Christian and Missionary Alliance at Grace Church, Springtown, Pa. Speakers: Reverend A. E. Funk, Pittsburgh, Pa. Reverend S. G. McGarvey, Irvona, Pa. Miss Eunice R. Wells, India. Miss Anna Galbraith, W. China.
1916. November 4. The Children’s Missionary Band rendered a special program.
1916. November 6. A Prohibitions meeting was held. The speakers were Reverend Titus C. Strock and Reverend W. H. Fluck of Bethlehem.
1917. April 7. Grace Church. Pastor M. S. Amstutz.
1918. March 16. Grace Church. Reverend H. W. Buckwalter.
1950. The church established a camp meeting ground in the rural wooded hillsides on Springtown Hill Road. It was an official Christian and Missionary Alliance Camp Meeting Ground known as Springtown Camp. Big camp meetings were held, attended by people from all over the country. The campgrounds were later purchased by a group of people who had lived on an island in the middle of the Delaware River. They took up residence at the campground.
Reverend E. Rox Griffith served as a pastor at Grace Church.
Today, the church is known as Grace Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Reverend Rollin P. Kichline serves as pastor for the 50-member congregation.
The church disbanded. The building was sold. It was remodeled into a residence.
