Pam Whitenack • Chair, Derry 300 Committee

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.