Reformed Church

In the year 1796, four brothers, John, Michael, Abraham, and Simon Uber came from Westmoreland County and settled around what is now the village of Amsterdam in Liberty Township, three miles southwest of Grove City. These
brothers, with others, built the first Reformed Church in this community.
It was a German Reformed Church, was built of logs and had gallery. A
little later an eight-square church was built. This served as church and
school for almost fifty years. In 1859, a new church was built and was in
use for forty-five years. It was sold in 1904 for $50, then resold to the
Baptists in Grove City where it is in use [1925].

Another Reformed Church was organized in Blacktown, five miles northwest of
Grove City about 1852 and was named Emmanuel Reformed Church. The  Reverend Abner Dale organized this church and was its first pastor. For ten  years these people worshipped in the German Lutheran Church. In 1862, a Reformed Church was erected on the knoll in Blacktown, north of the German Lutheran Church. This Reformed church building served the congregation until 1905, when it was sold and moved to Pardoe where it served the Methodists of that place. After the organization of Emmanuel Reformed Church, the pastor of
the Amsterdam Reformed Church served both congregations until 1893, when
they permitted their pastor, the Reverend George E. Limber, to preach to
members of that faith who were living in Grove City.

The Reverend Limber preached his first sermon in Grove City, June 4, 1893,
in the Ruffing Building. The services were held in this building until the new church was ready for us. A congregation was organized July 9, 1892 and named Christ Reformed Church. Under the direction of the Reverend Limber, a constitution of adopted. Elders Peter Hassell and Jacob Reimold were installed July 30, 1893. Charles Dresch and Charles Klink were installed as deacons on August 13, 1893. The pastors of Christ Reformed church also served both the Amsterdam and Blacktown congregations until their
disorganization which took place about 1905.

The list of Christ Reformed Church pastors follows:

George E. Limbert June 4, 1893 - February 18, 1900
D. W. Kerr September 1, 1900 - October 1, 1902
E. S. Hassler April 1, 1903 - September 1, 1907
H. S. Nicholson October 4, 1914 - August 31, 1920
H. S. Nicholson July 7, 1921 - 

The lot of ground lying southeast of this intersection of Main and Elm Streets was purchased, and upon this the new Reformed Church was erected at
a cost of $7000. It was dedicated on July 5, 1896. The first person to be
baptized in this church was Mabel Buella Buchanan who received the rite on
dedication day. The parsonage was built on the rear of the church lot in
1903, and was first occupied by the Reverend E. S. Hassler. It cost $2500.

The applicants for the charter of this congregation were Alpha K. Klink,
Charles Miller, D. H. Mohr, D. R. Truran, C. C. Pearson, Lewis Hassell, Edward Dresch, and Edward Moon. The charter was granted October 3, 1910 and is recorded in Corporation Docket Vol.. III, page 242.

The members of this church who served in the World War were Paul R. Nicholson, Walter Hassell, Otto Kunz, and Charles T. Hassell.

The charter members of Christ Reformed Church were:
Jocob H. Bohlender
Barbara Hassell
Fred Bohlender
Elizabeth Darr
Jacob Darr
John Sonntag
Charles Klink
Barbara Klink
Fred H. Mohr
Jacob Reimold
Emma Hassell
Lewis Hassell
John Bohlender
Mrs. Bohlender
Daniel Hassell
Peter Hassell
Martin Shafer
Charles Dresch
Katherine Dresch
Sarah Kemmener
Mrs. Sonntag
Mrs. Shafer

The officers of this church are:
Pastor H. S. Nicholson
Elders W. S. Buchanan, S. A. Vogan
Deacons Ed Moon, Earl Moon, Charles
Hassell
Treasurer S. A. Vogan
Secretary Ed Moon
Bible School Superintendent S. A. Vogan
Women’s Missionary Pres Mrs. Robert Christy
Y.P.W.C.E. Pres Mr. Behn

The membership of this church is 78. The Bible School enrollment is 130.
The total contributions of this congregation for the 1924 report was $1286.