Second Church
The first log church no longer met the needs of the church so under the leadership
of Rev. Graeber, it was decided to tear down the first church, which served the
congregation for about 35 years. There is no recorded record as to when this
happened
but it appears to happen prior to May 17, 1812 for on this
date
“the Whitsuntide Communion” was held in the
Reformed Church. Again, there is no record
as to when the church was started but it was
probably about 1813 or 1814. The second
church was built on the current site, made of brick
and was 40 X 50 feet. The steeple for this church large and was made in
Shepherdstown and was transported to Middletown on wagons by Michael Bowlus
and Jacob Crone with the help of George Bowlus. The cost of the new church was
$9,000, of which a portion of the money was raised by a lottery authorized by the
state, a painful remembrance. Once the steeple was hoisted in place the bell from
the first church took its honored position. The steeple stood at about 126 feet off
the ground, 30 feet lower than the current one. There is no date given in any
records as to when it was completed but we do know that it was finished and in use
by the congregation on May 29, 1814, “Whitsuntide” first Communion was
observed, and Confirmation was held on that date in the new church. Although
completed sometime in 1814, the dedication of the new church did not take place
until September 24, 1815. The sermon delivered that was from the Book of Psalms
26:8. It is from these early records of the dedication that we learn that the name
“Zion” is first used in connection with our congregation. The Nave was filled to
capacity with records stating that there were 1200 people present at this service. A
silver sacramental cup, lined with gold, was presented to the congregation at this
service, by Mrs. Philip Heistand, as a memorial to her late husband. This church
served the people for 45 years and during that time the church had nine pastors.
Another fact about this old church, Rev. Graeber’s, (our 6th pastor) his wife lies
buried beneath the church.