In 1849, members of a church in Conestoga Township gathered to create a place of worship on a piece of land donated by Mary Jane Ross, the wife of Edward Coleman. The group constructed a brick building the same year, and the congregation comprised by a mere 30 members. By 1924, the church's community had grown to include nearly 50 members. Almost a century later, the congregation of what is now Colemanville Church is as large and vibrant as ever, encompassing members from the Millersville, Willow Street and Lampeter areas.

Colemanville Church, 210 Colemanville Church Road, Conestoga, will celebrate its 175th anniversary with various community events on Friday, Oct. 18; Saturday, Oct. 19; and Sunday, Oct. 20. Each day will feature different family-friendly activities to give its members and local residents an opportunity to enjoy fellowship and to learn about the church's rich history.

"We are grateful for those who have come before us with the vision of starting a church in this area, and we're grateful for God's presence throughout all these years," said Donna Eshleman, a member of the event's planning committee. "We pray we can continue with God's guidance to reach out and to show his love to the community and those whose lives we touch."

The festivities will begin with a free concert titled "Guitars for Veterans," at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 18. On Oct. 19, a video presentation will be shown in the sanctuary from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to detail Colemanville Church's history as well as significant historical events from the surrounding area. Multiple stations and displays will be set up in the church's social hall, and each station will provide further details on history covered in the presentation. One of the displays will feature a quilt made in 1922, and another will highlight information about the explosion of a dynamite factory in Shenks Ferry in 1906. Colemanville Church's cemetery includes a tombstone engraved with the names of the workers killed in the catastrophe. Other displays will highlight the many traditions carried on by church members in the past, such as its softball team and annual suppers organized by a group of women in the congregation. After the historical presentations wrap up, group hymn singing will take place at 2 p.m., followed by an ice cream social at 4 p.m.

Activities on the final day of the event will begin at 10 a.m. with a worship service, followed by a luncheon at noon. The church requests that attendees of the hymn singing and ice cream social make reservations, and individuals who wish to attend the luncheon must register by Tuesday, Oct. 1. For more information or to make reservations, call the church office at 717-872-7951 or email colemanvilleumc@outlook.com. The anniversary committee also invites community members who have photos of the church or its events to email them to the office's email address.

For more information, visit https://colemanvilleumc.org/175th-anniversary.