Only in York County

My January post asking about your church memories featured, among other things, a pop quiz about a particular church – or rather, its steeple.

I wanted to know if you knew what church the one seen here belonged to, and of course you guys are all very smart and knew the answer.
Terry D. made the first correct comment. He knew that the steeple is atop St. Paul’s Church on South George Street in York. Terry writes, “Paul took an excellent shot of the spire!”

Terry continues, “My memories are yet in town as I am member of downtown York’s First Moravian on No. Duke St (est. 1752). I recall as a child organ concerts, when churches kept open doors so you could look in and meditate, and on Good Friday (the early 1970s) when the downtown churches held a unified worship at the midday hour, which one of these was held at beautiful Christ Lutheran. Half of the old churches in the center of town are now gone, but some of us hold on. We presently hold a monthly ‘Moravian Lunch Room’ for downtown workers-residents-visitors, all are welcome! The food is good, so I am informed by patrons. Also we just celebrated the centennial of our Rudy Bros. windows which are most unique. Thanks for your blog Joan!”

Well, thank YOU, Terry, for responding; I always love hearing about memories like yours!

And Shirley Monroe writes, “How many remember Calvary United Presbyterian Church? It was a beautiful stone church located on the corner of South Duke Street and Boundary Avenue. Calvary was there for many years and was well known in the south end of York for their Crullers they made for Shrove Tuesday. Members would be up all night preparing for deliveries to different factories, etc. On March 2, 1969, the members of Calvary merged with Trinity Presbyterian Church located at West Market Street and West Street. Trinity then became known as Calvary. Crispus Attucks is now located at the South Duke Street location. Thanks for sharing the good memories with your readers.”

Again, the thanks are all mine, Shirley!

I also received a nice letter in the mail from Connie Shue Haller of West Manchester Township. She writes, “I was born and raised in Spring Grove and became a member of Mt. Zion Reformed Church on Palm Sunday 1955. Mt. Zion Reformed is now Mt. Zion U.C.C. located in the center of Spring Grove. My parents married there in 1939 and 3 yrs. later I was baptized there. I attended Sunday school and catechism classes in the basement of the church and my 2 children were baptized there also. My daughter was married at Mt. Zion and her 4 children were baptized at this church.”

She continues with a memory that really resonated with me: “I remember going to church as a young child, with my paternal grandparents, my grandpa always carried pink lozenges in his coat pocket, which I ate all through the service.” As I read that, I think I know exactly what kind of lozenges Connie is talking about, because at our family’s former candy store, there was just this kind of thing that some of the older gentlemen would buy. These, I think?

But candy aside, Connie continues, “I remember going to a Halloween party in the church basement when I was a child and also participating in a ‘Bridal Parade’ when I was about 13 yrs. old. I know the purpose of the ‘Bridal Parade’ was to show and model wedding gowns of church members, worn in past years. I modeled my maternal grandmother’s wedding gown, which had lots of lace, but was worn very thin. So many good memories.”

Thank you, Connie, for sharing that and for sparking some of my own memories!

I do have to mention one other really cool comment that I got, from Bill Landes. He writes, “St Paul’s (of the steeple pictured) was my church as a boy – I remember Sunday School, Luther League, choir and the Kessler’s from Mt. Wolf there.” The most interesting thing? He writes, “The cross is a memorial to Grace Bentzel Landes, my grandmother.”

I had no idea about that when I chose that photo; I simply searched the YDR’s archives for “church steeple” to see if I could find something cool to illustrate our memories. How amazing!