Month: July 2024

The last pastor called to serve Derry Church in the 19th century was Reverend Andrew Mitchell. He served both Derry and Paxton Churches, with Paxton receiving two-thirds of his time and Derry one-third. Mitchell left Derry in 1874 to take a commission as a United States Army Chaplain. Following his departure, few worship services were held and the church building, “Old Derry,” began to fall into ruin.

Old Derry Church

By the early 1880s Derry Church was on the brink of collapse. Membership had dwindled to a handful and there had not been resources to support the hiring of a pastor or maintaining the church property for over a decade.

It was largely due to the efforts of two women that the Derry Church Chapel was erected. Mrs. Charles Bailey of Harrisburg, a descendant of the original founders, became interested in reviving the church at Derry. She succeeded in interesting Mrs. Dawson Coleman of Lebanon in this goal. Given the fact that there were only six or seven members and no pastor, this was a bold undertaking.

The efforts of these two women led to a circular addressed to all local and regional Presbyterian families that might be interested in preserving Derry Church. It was distributed in 1882. This document was signed by A. Boyd Hamilton, Thomas H. Robinson, William H. Egle, John Logan, and Samuel A. Martin. With the exception of John Logan, these men were not members of Derry Church, but were prominent Presbyterians in the region. 

This awakened an interest and culminated in establishing a committee to pursue restoring Derry Church. The committee issued the following charter outlining the group’s goals:

CHARTER:
It has been decided to restore, or if that is found impossible, erect a proper Memorial Chapel fitted for preaching, as a Mission Station, at the Presbyterian Church of “Derry” in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Some substantial aid has been promised toward this tribute to the departed fathers and mothers who founded the congregation more than 150 years ago.

It is thought fitting that the descendants of those who are interred in the Grave Yard, or were members of the Church, should be asked to contribute toward this worthy object in such amounts as they may choose, and remit to the custodian of the fund. Persons who have no such motive for contributing have promised assistance. In this combination we hope to find success. The object is so praiseworthy that no such thing as a failure would be thought of. The work contemplated will not be expensive, and will be of so substantial a character as not to require further expense for another hundred years. The neglect of this beautiful and hallowed spot in the past 20 years has been shameful, and for the credit of the Presbyterian name it should be put and kept in repair. There is also in the growing community about Derry a rapidly enlarging field for Christian enterprise, and prospect of reviving this decayed congregation.

Treasurer, A. Boyd Hamilton
William K. Alricks, Esq.
Thomas H. Robinson
William H. Egle
John Logan
Samuel A. Martin

While the committee investigated repairing and restoring the old building, ultimately it was decided that the cost was too much. In May 1883, “Old Derry” was demolished and the church’s records were moved to the Paxton Presbyterian Church manse for safe-keeping. 

On Monday, April 23, 1883, a meeting was held at the church to discuss future plans.

People from Harrisburg, Lebanon, and the surrounding region attended, including John Logan, 83 years old and the last surviving trustee of the old congregation. At the meeting new Trustees were elected: A. Boyd Hamilton, President, Horace Brock, Secretary and William R. Alricks, Treasurer. A resolution was passed ‘that a church building shall be erected.’

A. Boyd Hamilton, a member of Market Square Presbyterian Church and a founding member of the Dauphin County Historical Society, led the effort to establish a building committee for a new sanctuary. The estimated cost was $7,000. The building committee included Mrs. Emma H. Bailey of Harrisburg, Mr. and Mrs. Horace Brock of Lebanon, and Mr. A. Boyd Hamilton.

Plans were made to build the new memorial Chapel from blue limestone, and to place it on the same location as the demolished Old Derry Church building. The new structure would be substantial: 50 feet deep, the front 30 feet wide and the rear 44 feet, allowing space for the pulpit and an east transept. The bell tower would measure 52 feet high, and 10 feet square. Plans for the new building called for the transept to serve as a classroom, with two additional classrooms available in the basement beneath the chapel. The Chapel would seat 125 people.

On October 2, 1884, the cornerstone was laid. By then, only the first floor of the new church building had been constructed. No windows had been installed, and a temporary floor and seating were placed for those participating in the service.

Descendants of early parishioners and pastors were contacted from far and wide. Many attended the ceremonies, while many more contributed to the project. A. Boyd Hamilton presided over the ceremony. John W. Simonton, presiding judge of the Dauphin County Court and a charter member of the Dauphin County Historical Society, offered the opening Address, and William H. Egle, a noted Harrisburg physician and Pennsylvania historian, offered a Historical Address. Reverend Samuel Martin of Lebanon preached the sermon, and the cornerstone was laid by direct descendants of Reverend John Elder.

The building was completed in late 1886. Fundraising was sometimes slow, resulting in construction delays. On January 6, 1887, Derry dedicated its new Chapel at its 11 am worship service. The original Chapel included the west transept, and a furnace room and classrooms in the lower level. The east transept, outer vestibule, and additional classrooms would not be added until the 1935 expansion. 

The Chapel’s stained glass windows were given in memory of former pastors and elders of the church. Some of the windows were the gifts of descendants, and others were donated by area Sunday Schools, including Market Square and Pine Street Presbyterian Church Sunday Schools (Harrisburg), Christ Church Sunday School (Lebanon), York Presbyterian Church Sunday School, Grace Chapel Sunday School (Racetown), James Coleman Sunday School (Cornwall), and the Lancaster Presbyterian Church Sunday School. Most of the windows recognized one the pastors who had served Derry between 1732 and 1874 and two were dedicated to former Derry Church members who had served as Elders. The local Derry Church Village also contributed towards the construction of the Chapel. The window, fitted into the arch over the main entrance, reads “A thank offering from Derry Village.” 

While the steps to build the Chapel didn’t always go smoothly, members and friends believed, hoped and persevered to ensure Derry’s future.

On the 50th anniversary of Derry Church’s Sunday School program (1933), past and present superintendents pose for this photo. Standing, l-r: Ivan L. Mease (1920-1934), Simon P. Bacastow (1916-1917), Robert S. Woomer (1918-1920), Irving L. Reist (1911-1915), Wilmer W. Steele (1917-1918); seated, l-r: Dr. EEB Sheaffer (1888-1891), Mrs. Elizabeth F. Hershey (1898-1899), George H. Seiler (1883-1887).

Growing up in a Methodist church in Chambersburg, Sunday School was an expected and regular part of every week. There never was a question of whether or not I would attend. While I looked forward to it each week, as a child and even as an adult, I never thought about how or where Sunday School began.

We must transport ourselves to industrial England in the late 1700s to find the beginnings of Sunday school, when city dwellers were working long hours in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. Skilled and unskilled workers labored six days a week, often ten to 12 hours daily. Children as young as eight often worked alongside their parents in hazardous conditions.

There were no publicly funded schools because education was considered a family responsibility. If you were poor, you were likely illiterate, impoverished, and perhaps a threat to society. On Sunday, children ran wild in the city streets, often breaking windows and robbing homes. Enduring horrendous working conditions during the week, many street urchins learned to be pickpockets and thieves.

While it is possible to find numerous examples of men and women gathering children together for religious instruction, the Sunday School movement began with Robert Raikes, a wealthy newspaper publisher in Gloucester, England.

According to journalist Tracy Early, “Deciding they [the children] would be better off learning to read and receiving guidance in proper behavior, he (Raikes) hired a teacher and set up a school that met on their free day and would thereby “get the urchins off the street.”

While it was not without opposition and setbacks, the movement soon spread beyond Gloucester. Raikes and others believed in “school on Sundays for these poor children where good Christian people would teach them to read and write, teach them the Ten Commandments, and instruct them in moral living. Maybe with a basic education, they could escape their dreadful life.” Raikes made teaching materials such as the Ten Commandments and other verses from Scripture, primers, spellers, reading books and catechism books available free of charge. Later they were paid for by donations from supporters.

The movement spread when spiritual and intellectual philanthropists read newspaper articles about Sunday schools, and by 1785 250,000 children in Britain attended these schools. For most, it was their only formal education, where they learned to read and write by using the Bible as their textbook.

The Sunday school movement was cross-denominational and open to children and adults. A typical day would offer literacy and arithmetic lessons from ten to two, then there would be an hour lunch break followed by church and catechism lessons until 5:30 pm. Religious education was a core component. 

Sunday school unions formed throughout Great Britain, and eventually sent missionaries around the world. At first these organizations were interdenominational, then evolved to become denominational. There was strong opposition to women taking on a leadership role in the movement, yet young women played an important role in the movement by raising money to fund the education of young children in Britain and worldwide.

The Sunday School idea spread, taking root in America. By 1832, there were more than 8,000 Sunday Schools. By 1875, there were more than 65,000 schools and by 1889, there were ten million children in American Sunday Schools that were performing the heavy task of public education, sponsored by Christians out of their own pockets.

The idea of education was so powerful that governments soon got into the act. Compulsory public schools emerged in America to teach the three R’s, thus leaving the handling of religion to churches, especially among those Protestants without parochial schools. As public education spread, churches devoted Sunday school time to moral and spiritual training. The American Sunday school movement took its structure from developments in public schools, developing age appropriate curriculums and organizing classes by age.

We know very little about the early years of Derry Church’s Sunday School as most of the church’s early records were destroyed in a fire in 1894. After Rev. Mitchell resigned in 1874, Derry Church did not hold any worship services until 1883. That year, the building was demolished when it was deemed unsafe.

In spite of these obstacles, a small group of Derry members persevered. Even though they were without a church building or a pastor, the remaining members banded together to establish the Derry Church Sunday School in 1883. They reached out to George H Seiler of Swatara Station, then engaged in state Sunday school work. He was elected superintendent and trained lay people to conduct classes for adults and children. A member loaned his portable pump organ and his daughter played so that there would be music to accompany hymns during Sunday School worship. For classroom space, a L-shaped wing was added to the Session House. This enlarged space was also used to hold worship services until the Chapel was completed in 1887.

While church membership was small, the Sunday School grew rapidly and class size averaged 60 students each week. Adult classes were added as interest increased. The Derry Church Sunday School sustained the church and helped it grow. Following Seiler’s tenure as superintendent, many other people led a robust Sunday school program of education and worship. The national Sunday school program provided a curriculum used by many Protestant denominations including Derry. 

By 1909, Derry had consistent pastoral leadership that encouraged a growing membership and helped expand the Sunday school program. By 1934, Sunday School enrollment had reached almost 200 students with an average weekly attendance of 146 people. In addition to classes, Sunday school included a modified worship experience often including music. As enrollment grew, more classrooms were needed. In 1935 and again in 1951, Derry Church expanded, adding more classrooms and fellowship space. Derry’s Sunday School continued to steadily expand through the next several decades. By 1968, enrollment reached 447 students.

During these decades, Derry Church Sunday School operated almost independent of the larger church, with its own leadership and budget. In addition to funding the purchase of curriculum and supplies, each year funds from Sunday School collections were earmarked for benevolence to both foreign and national charitable organizations such as the Presbyterian Home in Newville, war relief during World War II, and Camp Michaux, a church camp. Derry Church Sunday School also made donations to support the Building Fund as the church undertook new construction projects. 

Beginning in the early 1970s, the Derry Church Sunday School began to be incorporated into the larger mission of the church. The Sunday school budget was incorporated into the church’s annual budget and a new staff position, Director of Christian Education, was created.

In 1971, Derry Church hired its first professional Christian educator, Nancy Joiner [Reinert]. By then, the Sunday School had grown to include classes for individual grade levels along with numerous adult classes. Derry had just purchased a new comprehensive curriculum created by the national church. Ms. Joiner’s first task was to educate and guide Derry’s Sunday school teachers in implementing the new curriculum.

Nancy’s leadership established a robust program of youth engagement, ranging from youth groups for many ages, to creating opportunities for performing drama and music. Derry’s future growth in a music ministry was made possible by the hiring of the church’s first full time Director of Music, Herb Fowler. While Derry’s Sunday School had always included learning hymns as a part of Sunday school worship services, now music education and ministry became an integral part of Derry’s mission.

Nancy Joiner Reinert resigned in 1975 following the birth of her first child. Recognizing the importance of providing Christian Education leadership, Derry Church continued to hire full-time Directors of Christian Education, including Betsy Terry (1975-1978), Susan Eshbach (1978-1979), Cheryl Galan (1979-1984), Betty Bates (1984-1989), Candice Reid (1992-1993), and Debbie Hough (1994-2018). Debbie came to Derry Church with extensive experience in Christian education. She led a program that reached all ages, making Christian education a vital part of our ministry, mission, and worship. She created curriculums that connected popular culture and themes with Christianity, encouraged lay teachers and learners to find themselves in God’s story, and established an annual Theological Forum that brought noted Biblical and theological scholars. This commitment to Christian Education continues under the leadership of Rev. Shawn Gray, Associate Pastor of Christian Education. 

In addition to Sunday classes, Derry’s Christian Education program now includes several Bible study groups, a Tuesday evening Creative Arts program, Vacation Bible School, fellowship opportunities for children and youth, KIWI [Kids In Worship Instruction], a Children & Sacraments class, God’s Hidden Hands puppet ministry, and the Derry Discovery Days preschool.

For over 140 years, Derry Presbyterian Church has supported Christian education for children and adults. As we celebrate our 300th anniversary, the opportunities for growth and new direction of our Christian Education programs are limitless.

For further reading:

Larsen, Tim. When Did Sunday Schools Start? Christianity Today, March 2024. https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/2008/august/when-did-sunday-schools-start.html

Lynn, Robert L. and Wright, Elliott, The Big Little School—200 years of the Sunday School, (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1971)

Phillips, Douglas W. The History of the Sunday School Movement. Audio CD; The Vision

Forum, Amazon Books 9781933431352

Early, Tracy. “Another Bicentennial: The Sunday School Movement” The Christian Science Monitor, June 2, 1980,

Short History of the Sunday School, compiled by students in Keith Drury’s “Local Church Education” course at Indiana Wesleyan University over the years 1996-2010

Introduction from Pastor Stephen:

Corrymeela’s purpose is to help people learn to live well together. I think our 13 youth and four adults did that this past week during our time at Corrymeela in Northern Ireland, through our programs, our tours, our experiences, and the fun we had together.

We learned more about ourselves and others through games, exercises, and programs designed to help us explore communication, conflict, hard conversations, and divisions. We engaged with the history of Ireland and learned more about The Troubles. We led worship together at First Derry Presbyterian Church.

I enjoyed all we did, but it was most rewarding to see all these youths connect and reconnect with each other. We laughed so much every day, and all the youth pushed themselves outside their comfort zones  — whether that was dancing with the group at night, sharing more about themselves and their thoughts, or asking someone for the Wifi password. 

Each night we gathered to share what we learned that day and what we’ll always remember. There were lessons learned and memories made that, I hope, will last our whole lives long.  

I asked the youth to think about why this trip was important and meaningful to them, and what some of their main takeaways were. Here are some of their responses: 

This trip helped me recontextualize conflict and helped me compare the conflict in my life and my environment to the conflict that we learned about in Northern Ireland. I learned ways that the Northern Ireland troubles were resolved, and how these methods can be used in my life.

I appreciated the trip because it helped me learn more about humanity. Because we had so many different people, it was cool to observe how they experienced the trip. Mostly, I learned about myself, and how incomplete I currently am.

The trip was meaningful to me because it was my first time out of the country, which was so amazing! I also was able to reconnect with people I grew up with, which was especially meaningful to me.

This trip was really meaningful and important to me because it’s my last trip as a “Derry youth.” It was really great to reconnect with everyone that I have known since we were in elementary school and to explore a new place together! I truly will cherish this trip forever.

I really enjoyed this trip because I got to talk to and get to know people that I haven’t seen in a while. This trip was meaningful to me because I got to go to another country for the first time. I will take away the dance parties and fun games we played and discussions that we had.

I think that I’ll take away the things we did as a group. All the memories we made while hanging out with each other will stick with me forever. 

This has been an incredibly meaningful trip to me for so many different reasons. I not only got to travel to a foreign country and had my first plane ride, but I got the opportunity to strengthen relationships with people who I haven’t had the opportunity to be with recently. I will take away all the memories from our trip! 

The trip was important to me because I was able to continue to build on relationships and learn about the Ulster-Scot language which I will be incorporating into my everyday vocabulary. I will always remember the times we shared as a group on our walks and at Corrymeela. Ireland is such a beautiful country with an interesting history, so this trip is something I will never forget.

This trip was great because it was my first time in Europe, and it was with a lot of people I haven’t been around much since college started. Learning the church’s history while also having fun hanging out, swimming, and dancing with everyone will make me remember this trip forever.

This was a very meaningful trip to me because I was able to try new things and get out of my comfort zone. I will always remember the landscape while Joey, Stephen, and I golfed in Ballycastle.

This trip was meaningful to me because traveling here to Europe and getting out of America and exploring more things than what I’m used to, has been a wonderful experience. I really enjoyed traveling with this amazing group and will cherish this forever.

Coming to Ireland was extremely meaningful to me because of the fact that I was able to have this opportunity to go to Europe at a convenient cost and learn so much.  I was also able to be with all the youth I grew up with and laugh with every single one of them.  I will take away the history of conflict we learned that took place in Ireland, all the naturalistic sites we saw, and always having fun with everyone — whether it was in The Dell View doing dance parties and late-night hangouts, or just reflecting on the iconic moments.

This trip was special because I got to know the older youth better and realized how much fun they truly are. I will take away that we should be kind and helpful to others because you never know what they may be going through. I also will take away that we should enjoy every bit of life as best as we can. 

I think this trip will forever be a meaningful church and life memory for everyone on it. This trip was made possible by your generous donations to our Empower Youth Fund. I want you all to know this trip was fundamentally about relationships and learning to live well together. I believe our time in Ireland helped us all strengthen relationships and be better citizens of the world. 

The youth will share more of what they experienced and learned at our Youth Sunday service in the fall. Thank you for investing in our youth and making this trip possible for everyone.

Editor’s Note: On the first Thursday of each month, the eNews feature article highlights the mission focus for the month. In July we’re lifting up elder care and the good work of Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area.

“Getting old isn’t for sissies!”  Okay, I can’t remember when I first heard this, but I think it was at Derry Church. I had just asked an older member that casual question, ‘How are you doing?’ and received a laundry list of aches and pains that ended in his declaration about aging. I remember nodding and trying to imagine that person’s frustrations and aging issues. I don’t need to imagine it any longer: I’m beginning to live it. Maybe you are, too — if not for yourself, perhaps for a spouse, an older parent, grandparent, neighbor, or friend. 

Now imagine some of those aging issues without the safety nets of reliable health care or access to needed medications — without a partner, children, or any family who can support you, and not having a home or a safe housing or funds to pay the rent or fuel for heating.  Add onto that long list chronic struggles with your mental health. And did I mention there are no retirement funds, or bank account savings? No wonder you can feel like no one cares or even sees you.

One of Derry’s mission commitments is to help provide care to elders, not just for those within the church family, but also for those who are falling between the cracks without anyone noticing. For many years, Derry has been a financial partner with Christian Churches United, which provides care to persons living in Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties who live on the streets or who feel helpless to find a safe home. It is a partnership of 100 congregations working with various agencies to support neighbors in need.

In talking with Darrel Reinford, director of CCU, I learned that over one-third of those they assist are over 55 years of age, and that number is growing. Some unhoused persons choose to live on the streets, often in encampments where they make a shelter and even build community. A street outreach team from CCU makes regular contact  and coordinates their care with other agencies like Downtown Daily Bread. The Compassion Action Network responds to immediate concerns and provides transportation for free monthly laundry assistance at a local laundromat who donates its service. 

The HELP office at CCU provides a comprehensive approach to homelessness and poverty alleviation through crisis resolution, emergency aid, and housing assistance. They provide short-term help through rent assistance, winter fuel assistance, and emergency winter housing. Their rapid rehousing helps to provide security deposits for apartments, case management, and budget counseling. 

I’ve had a chance to meet some of the men who live at Susquehanna Harbor Safe Haven who are chronically homeless. There they find a safe and caring shelter within a supportive network. Years ago a mission team from Derry helped to paint one of the rooms at this facility. It brings joy to see some of these sincere and often mentally challenged men smile and find a home and a safe haven from the streets. Over half of those who were assisted last year were 55 and older.

This weekend as we reflect on the vision of American forefathers, I am reminded of the final words of the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag as we commit ourselves to “liberty and justice for all.” That hope and vision includes elderly ones in our community who are easily forgotten and overlooked. It’s a good time to revisit those words and our actions.