Egg Hill Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Egg Hill Church
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Southwest of Spring Mills on Egg Hill Road, Potter Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 2.3 acres (0.93 ha) |
| Built | 1860 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002189 |
| Added to NRHP | June 04, 1979 |
The Egg Hill Church is a very old and special church building. It is located in Potter Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. This historic church was built in 1860. It is a one-story building made of pine wood, sitting on a strong stone foundation. The church is about 35 feet wide and 42 feet long. Regular church services stopped in 1927. The church stands at the southwest end of a place called Egg Hill.
This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it is recognized as a significant historical site.
Contents
The Story of Egg Hill Church
Early Settlers and Traveling Preachers
Before the 1800s, many German immigrant families moved to this area. Most of these new settlers were farmers. They needed spiritual guidance, but there were no permanent churches yet. So, special ministers called "circuit riders" would travel around. They rode horses for weeks, visiting homes and holding church services. People would gather in their houses for worship. Reverend Philip Fithian was one of these early traveling preachers. He visited Penns Valley as early as 1775.
The Evangelical Movement Begins
A man named Jacob Albright started a new religious movement called the Evangelical movement. He began preaching in 1796 and quickly gained many followers. In 1806, there was a big spiritual awakening, and Jacob Albright was chosen as a Bishop. During this time, he came to Centre County. He preached in the homes of pioneers, including John Dauberman's home on Egg Hill.
Building the First Church
By the 1830s, there were enough followers of the Evangelical movement to think about building a church. The circuit-riding ministers often held services in four to six different homes. This showed how much a dedicated church building was needed.
In 1838, the very first Evangelical log church was built on Egg Hill. The land for this church was given by the Dauberman family. Members of the Dauberman family had been buried on this property since they moved to the western end of Egg Hill around 1799.
The Current Church Building
The original log church was replaced in 1860 by the building you see today. This new church was built simply, using only pine wood. This simple design showed the humble beliefs of the Evangelical founders.
Regular weekly services continued at Egg Hill Church until 1927. At that time, the church closed because fewer people were attending. However, they still held an annual "Homecoming Service." This special event usually took place on the last Sunday in September.
Key Moments in Church History
- 1800: The Evangelical Association was founded by Jacob Albright. These groups were very popular in German communities across central Pennsylvania.
- 1838: John and Mary Dauberman donated the land on Egg Hill for the church. The property also included the original Dauberman Lutheran Cemetery. Family members had been buried there since the late 1700s.
- 1838: The cemetery became known as Egg Hill Cemetery. The first recorded burial there was Daniel Waggoner, a Revolutionary War veteran. The last burial allowed in the cemetery happened in 2016.
- 1860: The old log church was replaced by the current wooden building. Church members built it using pine wood, showing their simple and humble beliefs.
- 1927: Many local families supported Egg Hill Church for years. However, regular services stopped in 1927 due to low attendance. After this, the church was mainly used for the annual Homecoming Service, and sometimes for weddings or other special events.
- 1970: The church steeple was removed because it was too damaged to repair.
- 1978: Paperwork was completed to nominate Egg Hill Church for the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1979: The church needed many repairs. A group of trustees, family members, and other interested people worked with the Centre County Historical Society to save the church from being torn down. On June 4, 1979, the church was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1979: The local trustees of Egg Hill Church formed a non-profit group called Egg Hill Conservancy, Inc. This group was officially approved on December 11, 1979.
- 1980: The Egg Hill Cemetery Association was formed. This group leased the church to the Egg Hill Conservancy for $100 a year. This agreement helped ensure the cemetery would be cared for and the church would be saved. If these actions hadn't happened, the church might have been sold and torn down.
- 1988: The church was featured in a film documentary. This film was about William Penn's idea of creating a community where people had religious freedom.
- 2019: Inspections showed the church building was safe, but its foundation was in poor condition and needed to be replaced. A fundraising effort was started to collect money for this work.
- 2020: The foundation work and other necessary repairs on the Egg Hill Church were completed.
- 2024: Several repairs are still needed for the building. These include replacing some exterior wood siding, shutters, and windows. The eaves and soffit also need immediate attention. It is not known when the roof will need to be replaced. A new historical group is being formed to raise money for these repairs. A Facebook page called "Egg Hill Preservation" was created to share updates about the church.
