A Church Founded On Scripture, Salvation and Service
FOUNDING OF SALEM UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST CHURCH
(Note: This portion of the history is taken from the first Trustee minutes of Berne Church, written preceding the minutes of 1878. This was the only original source that could be found. The history was first written by the Rev. Harold E. Beamesderfer in 1949. The history was again printed in the 50th Anniversary Book of the Evangelical United Brethren Church on September 15, 1957 by the Rev. Elmer H. Horst).
During the year A.D. 1848, Benjamin Altenderfer, a member of the Lutheran Church, Belleman’s Congregation, Centre Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, was, by the reading of the Holy Scriptures and prayer, led to a knowledge of the truth as it is revealed in Jesus Christ.
He felt fully convinced that without repentance towards God and faith in Christ it was not possible to be saved. He accordingly sought the forgiveness of his sins in the blood of the Lamb and soon experienced a change of heart.
In this new way into which he had entered, he, however, found no encouragement from the Lutheran and Reformed ministers of the congregation. William Blatt, a near neighbor of his, and John Becker, a personal friend, he soon found, were also convinced of the necessity of conversion. These three met accordingly for prayer, and the latter two soon also found peace in believing. With the peace that God gave them, came persecution from the world, They, however, continued their worship not only in private, but now with open doors and windows. At a later period, George K. Haag encouraged the work by receiving the prayer meeting into his house where he and his wife were soon afterward converted.
After this work in Centre Township, these brethren came to Upper Bern and held prayer meetings at the houses of John Kline, Jacob Fisher, Benjamin Seaman and others. The Brethren at Upper Bern were members of St. Michael’s Church, Lutheran and Reformed. (Upper Bern Township later became known as Tilden Township).
As such, they were zealous and faithful, and for many years entertained the hope that the pastors of Belleman’s and St. Michaels would finally give encouragement to their labors for the extension and upbuilding of Christ’s Kingdom and the conversion of souls. In this they were disappointed. The brethren, however, continued their meetings for prayer in their own and the houses of others who were willing to receive them; and during the winter of 1859 and 1860 the Lord visited them with an extensive revival. Many evenings as high as five and six penitents were converted.
In the year 1860, Mr. Benjamin Altenderfer held a revival meeting in his own house for six weeks. Thus, the number of believers increased, and protracted meetings were held every winter.
Being now considerable in number, and all of them members of the Reformed or Lutheran Churches and none of the ministers of these churches being willing to cooperate with the brethren in holding prayer meetings, much less to receive these meetings into their houses of worship, the brethren concluded to erect a church building of their own.
At first they thought of organizing into a Lutheran congregation and invite a preacher from the General Synod of that denomination, because the ministers of said Synod, or at least a large number of them, still encouraged prayer and protracted meetings. It was also the intention to unite in the building of the house of worship and place it under the auspices of the Lutheran Church, but, finding it difficult to fix upon a location that would suit them all, the brethren of Upper Bern (now Tilden) finally decided to build for themselves.
At this period of the enterprise a general desire arose among the brethren to hear preaching by ministers of other denominations, and, after some consultation, they decided to invite ministers of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. Accordingly, one of their number proceeded to the city of Reading and invited the Rev. Job Light and Lewis Peters, Pastors of the United Brethren Congregations in Reading, to preach at the house of Brother Jacob Fisher. Being favorably impressed with the doctrine and character of the sermons preached, and the origin, history, and discipline of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ with which they were furnished by members from Annville, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, the majority soon afterwards determined to build the new house of worship as a Church of the United Brethren in Christ, and in March 1871, at the house of Brother Beorge A. Loose, they were organized into a Class as members of said denomination by the Rev. James H. Unger, preacher of Tamaqua Mission, with which field of labor the Class became connected.
At the Quarterly Conference held April 15, 1871, at Landingville, Schuylkill County, another appointed on Tamaqua Mission, East German Conference of the United Brethren in Christ, Jacob Fisher, Benjamin Seaman and Benjamin Wert were appointed Trustees of a new church to be built in Upper Bern (now Tilden Township) Berks County, Pennsylvania.
The brethren returned from the Quarterly Conference at Landingville, and brought with them not only the report of the official action of the Conference with reference to the building of the new church, but also a determination to push the work to a speedy completion. The spirit which they felt was shared in no less degree by the brethren, so that it could be said of the Church as in days when the prophet Nehemiah wrote, “The people had a mind to work.”
With what spirit and energy they took hold of the work may be inferred from the fact that on the 28th day of May following, the cornerstone of the new church was laid and on the __________it was dedicated to the service of God.
This concludes the excerpt from the early trustee minutes written sometime prior to 1878.
The foundation for this new structure was started on the land of John A. Loose. By May 28, 1871, the cornerstone of the new church was laid. This was a rectangular brick building, two stories in height, the first floor being used as a Sunday School room (being called the basement), and the upper floor being used as the sanctuary. There was a large arch in the front of the sanctuary, Amen pews, side aisles, and a stairway coming up from below on each side of the rear.
Records are rather meager concerning many of the details of this first church building. However, some of the very early undated minutes tell of a bill of $3,202.23 “To different parties for material, labor furnished for the erection of the Church House at Upper Bern.” This could well be presumed to be the cost of the new building.
From this new edifice the religious life of the congregation was nourished in the things of the Spirit. Many were the gracious times of revival. Spiritual and with force was the preaching.
One additional means of grace that contributed to the spiritual warmth of the people was a camp meeting that was held in what was then Miller’s Grove located a short distance from the church on land which is now owned by Dennis Haag.
This was held two succeeding years (possibly 1894-1895) under the leadership of the Rev. F. J. Butterwick. About 40 tents were erected. Two young ministers, the Rev. Harry Miller and the Rev. Irvin Runk were baptized during these meetings. Some of the ministers officiating during these meetings were the Rev. Soloman Von Neida, the Rev. Peter L. Hains and others. The boarding house was in charge of Mr. and Mrs. Garean Christ and Mr. and Mrs. John Pautsch, residents of and near Centerport. Mrs. Warren Naftzinger served as organist at these services.
MERGERS OF THE CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST
After the founding fathers were favorably impressed with the origin, history and discipline of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, they organized into a Class as members of the above denomination in March of 1871.
In 1946, the United Brethren in Christ and the Evangelical Churches merged and we became known as Berne Evangelical United Brethren.
In 1968, the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged and we became Berne United Methodist Church. Then in 1985, we were incorporated under the current name of Salem-Berne United Methodist Church.
THE PRESENT CHURCH BUILDING
After some years many of the members came to feel that their first church building was no longer safe for worship. The Trustee minutes soon began to tell of many bills needed for repairs. Some felt that the old church should be preserved and remodeled. Others felt that a new church should be built in its place.
A few quotes from the trustee minutes give us this story: The minutes of February 14, 1905
“The board of Trustees of Salem U. B. Church met in the basement of said church and after prayer by the Rev. J. R. Blecker, the board proceeded to organize with the following officers;
President -- Jacob A. Yoder
Secretary -- V. K. Fisher
Treasurer -- James Dunkelberger
By motion of A. S. Yoder, it was determined to solicit funds for either rebuilding said church or repair the same.”
The minutes of March 5, 1906:
“On the motion of James Dunkelberger, seconded by A. S. Yoder and Garean Christ, it was voted to break off and tear down the church as soon as the weather will permit.”
The minutes of March 17, 1906:
“Bids and estimates for the church carpenters and masonry work were received as follows”
Daniel L. Althouse of Mohrsville offered to do the carpenter work at $.16 per hour and his board or $.20 per hour and find his own board.
John Dunkelberger offered to do the masonry work
at $.20 per hour and board or $.25 per hour and find themselves (board)....
By motion it was ordered that the work of razing the church should begin April 9th and everybody was asked to join in the work.”
With willing hearts, many of the members and friends of the church, including women and children spent much time cleaning the usable bricks of the razed church to reclaim them for the building of a new house of worship.
And so, with willing hearts, busy hands, and sacrificing spirits, the new church was undertaken.
The cornerstone was laid on June 3, 1906. The services were opened by the Rev. Dr. Albright who read Psalm 132 in German. It was read in English by the Rev. Beckley of Landingville. Dr. Albright preached briefly but eloquently on the 3rd verse of Psalm 11. The Rev. Beckley preached in the English language and the Rev. J. R. Blecker in the German Language.
The cornerstone has upon it these words:
SALEM CHURCH of the UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST 1871 Rebuilt in 1906
It was, then, in the year 1907 that the congregation could move from its temporary meeting place in the old church at Centerport to the new church sanctuary then dedicated.
The church was originally built for approximately $6,000.00. Its location is about a mile south of “old Route 22” at a point four miles east of Shartlesville on an elevation overlooking farmland dotted with housing to the south and a view of the Appalachian Mountains to the north.
FOUNDERS’ MEMORIAL ANNEX
In 1984, a few members of the Sunday School discussed the need for an educational building with a fellowship hall and kitchen. After prayer and the encouragement of the pastor, a building committee was named.
On November 3, 1985, a ground breaking service was held. Construction of this new addition by Reistville Builders of Myerstown, PA began in November. The completion date of April 30, 1986 was set. A consecration Service was held on June 8, 1986, with the District Superintendent, officiating. The first fellowship luncheon was held after this service.
On June 30, 1990, the building debt of $92,178.24 was retired. A loan of $50,000.00 was received from the Eastern Pennsylvania Loan Fund. A personal loan of $10,000.00 was forgiven and the balance of $42,178.24 was received from the parishioners in the form of pledges, memorials and gifts.
The building became known as Founders’ Memorial Annex on September 16, 1990, as we celebrated the dedication of our new addition.