Our History
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Historical Notes of the Smithville Church of God
August 17, 1849 - The church was organized by J.C. Owens in the home of J.A. Augustine in Martic Township.
March 5, 1853 - The first House of Worship was completed at a cost of $463.18. It was called Union Bethel. Also that year the church was admitted to the East Pennsylvania Eldership of the Churches of God and was known to be included in the Lancaster County Circuit. Carlton price was the first Pastor and his salary was $35.37 per year.
November 12, 1893 - A new bethel was built at a cost of $1,425. This was a frame building and it still serves the congregation. A.P. Stover was the Pastor then.
In 1896 - A Sunday school began but the sessions were held only from April to September. One month the Treasurer reported a $0.15 balance. Motions were made to pay bills and the Pastor’s salary when the money became available.
In 1898 - A new board fence was built around the property.
October 23, 1899 - Ground for a parsonage was donated by Elder O.E. Martin.
March 27, 1901 - The parsonage was completed at a cost of $973.50 which was paid by both Smithville and Fairview (currently New Providence Church of God), since the same pastor served both churches at that time.
September 29, 1908 - Land across the road was bought from the PA R. R. Company for a parking lot.
July 11, 1910 - A platform was built to elevate the pulpit and choir.
In 1912 - A Christian Endeavor Society was organized. A retaining wall along the cemetery, and steps from the road to the bethel were built.
In 1913 - A Ladies Aid Society was organized. A shed for horses was built.
In 1953 - The basement was excavated and rooms for the Junior Department of the Sunday School were made.
In 1956 - A vestibule was built and the entire bethel was brick veneered, a driveway above the cemetery was made and a new tool shed was built at a cost of more than $8,000.
In 1959 - The parsonage was renovated for $1,800.
In 1960 - The parsonage was covered with aluminum siding at a cost of $2,210.
In 1961 - Mr. and Mrs. Martin Fellenbaum gave the church $2,475. Out of this generous gift a new piano and new pulpit furniture was bought. Also, several men of the church spent many hours of labor clearing the bank back of the bethel. The fill was used on the parking lot. The parking lot was paved at a cost of over $3,000. A mimeograph was purchased. The Ladies Aid purchased scarves for the new chancel furniture. Pastor Lucas donated a new Pulpit Bible. The Ladies Aid had new capstone put on the retaining wall along the cemetery.
In 1962 - A new Hammond organ was purchased and a new constitution was adopted.
In 1963 - The parsonage was improved again with a semi-bath on the first floor, and storm windows were installed. The ladies’ sewing group donated $150 to this project.
In 1964 - The Ladies Aid had an automatic water system installed in the bethel at a cost of $1,130.25. Also the class in the corner had an awning put on the kitchen window at the parsonage. Later this year, as a Christmas gift, a water conditioner was placed in the parsonage.
In 1965 - Mrs. Mabel Eshleman donated a parcel of ground adjacent to the parsonage lot which adds ten feet to both the north and south sides.
In 1965 - The Churches of God Youth in Action (CGYA) was reactivated. It met every two weeks at the same time as P.M. worship.
In 1966 - The big tree was removed and the lawn of the parsonage was renovated.
In 1967 - The bethel was renovated at the cost of $7,112.18 by installing new windows, paneling, wiring, ceiling, portico over the front door and steps, and aluminum storm windows. The interior walls and exterior woodwork was painted.
October 10, 1968 - The 5.5 acre property adjoining the church was bought for $4,000.
February 7, 1969 - The old parsonage was sold for $11,300.
April 29, 1969 - A special congregational meeting was held to reveal the church’s financial condition and present proposed plans of a new parsonage building. The congregation voted unanimously in support for a new parsonage building.
June 1969 - Ground was broken for the new parsonage building.
June 14, 1970 - The new parsonage was dedicated. The total cost of the parsonage was $34,718 with a mortgage of $18,000.
April 2, 1974 - The parsonage indebtedness was liquidated.
April 9, 1974 - A congregational meeting was held to examine architectural drawings for a new addition to the church.
November 19, 1974 - A special congregational meeting was held to approve the proposed plans for the new addition and renovations to the church. The congregation voted unanimously in support for the building program.
April 1, 1975 - A gift of 8 acres of land was given to the church by the Findley families.
March 16, 1975 - A ground breaking service was held for the new building. Mrs. Phares Ulmer, Sr., our oldest church member, and Rodney Denlinger, our youngest member, participated in this service. Items included in the building that were gifts include carpet, furnished restrooms, draperies, water cooler, showcase, public address system, turntable and recorder, bell tower and bell, central vacuum system, clock in sanctuary, ceremonial spade, furniture scarves, classroom clock and pictures, palms in sanctuary, lawn seed, land, solarium in restrooms and kitchen, church pew bibles, and church furnace
January 11, 1976 - A dedication service was held for the new addition and renovations made to the church at a total cost of $59,509.65.
January 9, 1984 - New fans were installed in sanctuary.
November 12, 2009 - Purchased first computer projector.
June 12, 2012 - New roof for the church was completed $12,432.
September 2013 - Parsonage exterior was painted $3,583.98
June 2015 - Retaining wall and steps in front of church were replaced $41,473.
Please provide any additional updates for these notes by contacting the church office…Thank you!
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