T he Universalist Church of Camp Hill is a sacred place where people to come together to share the love of God and community. The Church community puts an emphasis on learning and helping each other. Their passions and values stretch far into the community’s past, from those who continue to build the Church that graces downtown Camp Hill to those who invested their hearts in it through more than a hundred years of history.
Once the largest Universalist Church in the southeastern United States, First Universalist Church of Camp Hill originally met under a brush arbor in 1846 on the present site of Mt. Lovely Baptist Church. A simple cabin soon replaced the arbor and served until 1884 when a larger wood-frame church was built on the current site. The stately red brick church that still stands today was completed in 1907.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQms6D:8?65 3J q:C>:?892> 2C49:E64E s2?:6= p] w6=>:49[ E96 3F:=5:?8 H2D 4@>A=6E65 H:E9 >@DE=J =@42= :?5:86?@FD =23@C 2?5 C6AC6D6?ED 2 3=6?5 @7 EC25:E:@?2= 2?5 D:>A=6 v@E9:4 DEJ=6D] #@F?5 H:?5@HD E@A <6JDE@?6 2C496D E92E 7C2>6 DE2:?65 8=2DD H:?5@HD 23@G6 E96 5@F3=6 7C@?E 5@@CD[ 2?5 2 DA64E24F=2C EC:A=6\2C4965 H:?5@H @7 DE2:?65 8=2DD 4@>>2?5D E96 7C@?E G:6H] p DBF2C6 36== E@H6C C:D6D 23@G6 E96 DE66A 8C256 @7 E96 49FC49 3F:=5:?8[ 2?5 D:>A=6 DA:C6D 7=2?< E96 36== 42D:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmx? `he`[ E96 &?:G6CD2=:DE 4@?8C682E:@? 7@F?5 4@>>@? 8C@F?5 H:E9 E96 &?:E2C:2? 72:E9[ 2?5 E96 EH@ 4@?D@=:52E65 :? `he`[ 7@C>:?8 E96 &?:E2C:2? &?:G6CD2=:DE pDD@4:2E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 A2C6?E286 @7 E96 &?:G6CD2=:DE r9FC49 :?4=F56D 2 =@?8 =:DE @7 AC@F5 H2CC:@CD 7@C E96 4@>>F?:EJ[ :?4=F5:?8 =@42= 3C:4<>2<6C[ E96 #6G] qC:EE6? r@?:?6[ 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 #6G] r=2C6?46 $<:??6C[ |2CJ $=2F89E6C $4@EE 2?5 A2DE AC6D:56?E @7 E96 r9FC49[ q2C32C2 y2?6 %2J=@C] p7E6C %2J=@C’D A2DD:?8 :? a_`g[ ry |2C3FEE H2D 2H2C565 E96 A@D:E:@? @7 E96 AC6D:56?E @7 E96 r9FC49] p a_aa q2J2C5 #FDE:? r@>>F?:EJ 2?5 {6256CD9:A pH2C5 H:??6C[ |2C3FEE :D 4@>>:EE65 E@ 4@?E:?F:?8 E96 r9FC49’D =6824J H:E9:? r2>A w:==]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“(6 ?665 E@ E2<6 E:>6 E@ 36 DE:== 2?5 =:DE6? E@ C6>6>36C E92E H6 2C6 :? E9:D E@86E96Cj 2?5 E96? @?46 H6 5@ E92E[ H6 ?665 6249 @E96C 2D 2==:6D 2?5 2D A2CE?6CD E@ 27764E E96 492?86 :? E96 H@C=5 E92E H6 ?665 E@ D66 3642FD6 H6 42?’E 5@ 2?JE9:?8 2=@?6[” |2C3FEE D2:5] “xE 8@6D 324< E@ E96 H9@=6 :562 @7 C6DFCC64E:@?]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmx? pAC:=[ E96 7@==@H6CD @7kDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm k^DA2?m >2?J H@C=5 C6=:8:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 &?:G6CD2=:DE r9C:DE:2?D[ H:== 46=63C2E6 76DE:G2=D @7 C63:CE9[ =:<6 t2DE6C] %96 4@?8C682E:@? DEF5:6D >2?J C6DFCC64E:@? DE@C:6D[ 7C@> q23J=@?:2? 2?5 vC66< >JE9@=@8J E@ qF552 2?5 >@C6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“(6’C6 2 4@G6?2?E\32D65 56?@>:?2E:@?[ >62?:?8 E92E H6’C6 ?@E 96C6 @FE @7 D@>6 5:G:?6 564C66] (6’C6 96C6 3642FD6 H6 2== 28C66 E@ 36 E@86E96C] %@ FD[ E92E’D H92E >2<6D :E ECF=J[ D24C65] xE’D :?E6?E:@?2=[” |2C3FEE 6IA=2:?65] “(6 2C6 4@>:?8 E@86E96C E@ 3F:=5 2 36=@G65 4@>>F?:EJ] ‘sH6== E@86E96C :? A6246 2?5 D66< E96 ECFE9 2?5 =@G6 2?5 E@ 96=A @?6 2?@E96C]’ (6’G6 DECF88=65 E@ ECJ E@ HC:E6 2 36EE6C >:DD:@? @C 36EE6C 4@G6?2?E 3642FD6 E92E H2D 7C@> E96 `g__D[ 3FE 7C2?<=J[ x E9:?< :E D2JD 6G6CJE9:?8 E92E ?665D E@ 36 D2:5]”kDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm!2DE >:?:DE6CD @7 E96 r9FC49 ?@E @?=J =@@< E@ H@C=5 C6=:8:@?D 3FE 2=D@ E@ A9:=@D@A96CD 2?5 24E:G:DED[ =:<6 sC] |2CE:? {FE96C z:?8[ 2D H6==]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“q6=@G65 4@>>F?:EJ H2D 2 E6C> sC] |2CE:? {FE96C z:?8 A@AF=2C:K65 :? E96 ‘e_D 3FE :E H2D FD65 367@C6 9:>] r=2C6?46 $<:??6C[ 96 H2D 2 &?:G6CD2=:DE C6G6C6?5 324< :? E96 62C=J `h__D[ 96 8@E :E 7C@> 2?@E96C A9:=@D@A96C[ 3FE 96 EH62<65 2 >62?:?8 4=@D6C E@ sC] |2CE:? {FE96C z:?8[” |2C3FEE D2:5] p=E9@F89 :? =2E6C J62CD E96 72:E9 82:?65 7=6I:3:=:EJ[ E96C6 :D @?6 36=:67 E92E 2== >6>36CD >FDE 9@=5 562C[ 96 25565]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“#6G] r=2C6?46 $<:??6C H2?E65 E96 &?:G6CD2=:DED E@ 36 ;FDE E9:D r9C:DE:2? 8C@FA E92E 5:5?’E 36=:6G6 :? 96==] %96J 36=:6G6 :? v@5’D =@G6[ 2?5 =@G6 H:?D[ 2?5 D@@?6C @C =2E6C[ 6G6CJ3@5J 8@6D E@ 962G6?] v@5’D 2=C625J 564:565 E92E E96C6’D ?@E9:?8 E@ 5@ 23@FE :E] %92E’D E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E 3642FD6 :7 J@F =@G6 J@FCD6=7[ =@G6 J@FC ?6:893@C[ =@G6 v@5] (6 92G6 2 =:EE=6 DA@E 7@C 2== 72:E9D] %96D6 2C6 2== 2=D@ A2CE @7 E96 C6=:8:@FD J62C?:?8 @7 9F>2?:EJ[ D@ H6 8:G6 E96> DA246] (6 2=D@ 9@DE65 E96 %:36E2? >@?<D :? a_`d]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmx? E96 `h__D[ 2 >:?:DE6C @7 E96 &?:G6CD2=:DE r9FC49[ E96 #6G] qC:EE6? r@?:?6[ >2C<65 9:>D6=7 2D 2 >6>36C 3J >2<:?8 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 2== E96 3C:4<D 7@F?5 :? E96 49FC49 3F:=5:?8] w6 4@?E:?F65 E@ >2<6 3C:4<D[ 2?5 :? r2>A w:==[ :7 J@F A:4< FA 2 3C:4<[ :E’D AC@323=J 2 r@?:?6 3C:4<[ |2C3FEE D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmqFE |2C3FEE’D 2AAC64:2E:@? @7 E96 3F:=5:?8 8@6D 36J@?5 :ED 3C:4< 2?5 >@CE2C 6IE6C:@C 2?5 :?E@ :ED 2C49:E64EFC2= 362FEJ]kDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“!2CE @7 E96 362FEJ @7 E9:D 49FC49 :D :ED 2C49:E64EFC6[” 96 D2:5[ A@:?E:?8 @FE 2 =2C86 A@DE] “%9:D :D A2CE @7 2 =2C86 362>[ E9:D H9@=6 4@C?6C] xE 8@6D 2== E96 H2J FA[ 2?5 2E E96 E@A[ E96C6’D 2 42DE\:C@? 3C24<6E 3:8 6?@F89 E@ 9@=5 2 9@FD6[ =:E6C2==J[ E92E 9@=5D 2?@E96C 362> E92E’D CF??:?8 2=@?8 E96 D:56 @7 E96 H2== E92E 8@6D FA E@ E9:D 3:8 DBF2C6] p?5 E96C6 :D DE:== 2?@E96C 362> DE2?5:?8 FA[ 96=5 H96C6 E96 DE66A=6 :D :? E96 46?E6C E96C6j 2?5 E96?[ 2== @7 E9:D :D AFE 2C@F?5 E92E D<6=6E@?] xE’D 2? 2>2K:?8 H@C< @7 2C49:E64EFC6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 >@C?:?8 =:89E DA:==D E9C@F89 2 7:=E6C @7 4@=@CD :? E96 DE2:?65 8=2DD H:?5@HD[ 4C62E:?8 2 H2C> 2?5 A62467F= 2E>@DA96C6 :? E96 ?2G6] %96 =:89E 42DE :?E@ E96 A6H 4@F=5 D6CG6 2D 2 C6>:?56C E@ E96 @G6CH96=>65 2?5 E:C65 E92E E96J 2C6 =@G65] x? E96 A2DE[ E96D6 D62ED 96=5 >@C6 E92? `a_ 6286C D@F=D] |@C6 C646?E=J[ E96 4@?8C682E:@? 92D ?F>36C65 23@FE d_]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 $=2F89E6C 72>:=J :? r2>A w:== 2=D@ 92D 2 9:DE@CJ @7 42C:?8 7@C E96 2AA@:?E>6?ED @7 E96 49FC49[ 2?5 E96:C AC:56 :D 76=E 6G6? :? E96 ?2:=D @7 E96 7=@@C3@2C5D[ |2C3FEE D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“|2CJ $=2F89E6C $4@EE H2D 3@C? :? `h__] $96 H2D E96 @?6 E92E H6?E @? 2?5 96=A65 24EF2==J 7@C> E96 ?2E:@?2= @C82?:K2E:@? H:E9 E96 96=A @7 96C 9FD32?5 2?5 @E96C 7C:6?5D 2?5 2==:6D] p?5 E96? :? `he_[ E9@D6 $=2F89E6C 72>:=:6D H6C6 2=D@ :>A@CE2?E :? E96 ?2E:@?2= 56?@>:?2E:@?[ H9:49 H6’C6 A2CE @7]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm k^DA2?m$4@EE[ D6CG65 @? E96 3@2C5 @7 ECFDE66D @7 E96 &?:G6CD2=:DE r9FC49 @7 p>6C:42 7@C E96 4@?D@=:52E:@? 36EH66? E96 &?:G6CD2=:DE r9FC49 2?5 E96 &?:E2C:2?D] $96 :D C6>6>36C65 3J 2 C@3FDE H@@56? E23=6 FD65 7@C 4@>>F?:@?]kDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%@ E96 =67E @7 E96 4@>>F?:@? E23=6 D:ED 2 52C< H@@5 2=E2C E23=6 E92E 9@=5D 2? @C?2>6?E65 q:3=6[ 8:7E65 E@ E96 r9FC49 7C@> E96 &?:G6CD2=:DE r9FC49 @7 p>6C:42 2C@F?5 `gg_] %96 H@@56? 42CG65 4@G6C 2?5 >6E2= 9:?86D 8:G6 E96 G:6H6C 2 AC6G:6H @7 E96 A@H6C 2?5 >2;6DEJ @7 E96 8:7E] %96 q:3=6 H2D 7:CDE AC6D6?E65 E@ v6CECF56 |2CJ ~C4FEE 3J pC236== ~C4FEE @? |2J b[ `gg`] |2C3FEE 92?5=6D E96 3@@< H:E9 H9:E6 8=@G6D E@ AC@E64E :E 7C@> E96 @:=D @? 9:D D<:?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 &?:G6CD2=:DE r9FC49 @7 r2>A w:== 9@DED 2? @?=:?6 D6CG:46 2E e A]>] @? (65?6D52JD 2?5 2? :?\A6CD@? >66E:?8 @? E96 E9:C5 $F?52J @7 6249 >@?E9 2E `` 2]>] ~? E96 E9:C5 (65?6D52J @7 6249 >@?E9[ E96 4@?8C682E:@? >66ED :? A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 E96 u@@5 q2?< @7 t2DE p=232>2 E@ 5:DEC:3FE6 7@@5 E@ E9@D6 H:E9 7@@5 :?D64FC:E:6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“%96 7@@5 A2?ECJ :D r9FC49] (@CD9:A :D 2 H@C5 E92E ;FDE >62?D E@ 24<?@H=6586 H@CE9[ 2?5 E92E’D H92E H6’C6 5@:?8] (96? H6’C6 8:G:?8 A6@A=6 7@@5 H6’C6 24<?@H=658:?8 E96:C H@CE9[” |2C3FEE 6IA=2:?65]kDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 r9FC49 7665D 23@FE b_ 9@FD69@=5D 6249 >@?E9 2?5 :? 5@:?8 D@ AFED 2 F?:BF6 6>A92D:D @? 2FE@?@>J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“(6 5@ 4=:6?E 49@:46] (6 24EF2==J =6E E96 4=:6?ED A:4< @FE E96:C 7@@5] %96 :562 @7 ;FDE E9C@H:?8 7@@5 2E A6@A=6 2?5 ?@E 8:G:?8 E96> 2 49@:46 23@FE H92E E96J’C6 24EF2==J 8@:?8 E@ 62E] x E9:?< E92E’D H9J x AC676C E@ 8:G6 A6@A=6 286?4J] {6E A6@A=6 24EF2==J E2<6 9@>6 DEF77 E92E E96J’== 2AAC64:2E6[” 96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 u:CDE &?:G6CD2=:DE r9FC49 @7 r2>A w:== 92D 566A C@@ED H:E9:? E96 r2>A w:== 4@>>F?:EJ] pD 4FCC6?E AC6D:56?E @7 E96 r9FC49[ |2C3FEE DEC:G6D E@ 6I6>A=:7J E96 BF2=:E:6D @7 A2DE =6256CD 2?5 @7 E96 &?:G6CD2=:DE 36=:67D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm“%96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E E9:?8 x’5 D2J E@ E96> :D A=62D6 E6== >6 H92E J@F ?665] (6’C6 ?@E E@A\5@H?] (6’C6 3@EE@>\FA[ 2?5 H6 2C6 C6249:?8 @FE E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ[” 96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE E96 u:CDE &?:G6CD2=:DE r9FC49 @7 r2>A w:==[ G:D:E E96 u2463@@< A286 @C k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^42>A9:==FF]@C8Qm42>A9:==FF]@C8k^2m]k^DA2?mk^Am