300! Brethren Traditional Geocache

.....In August of 1708, Alexander Mack was baptised and then baptised seven other separatists from the traditional German Reformed, Luthern and Catholic churches by trine emersion in the Eder River near Schwartzenou, Germany. Mack's group grew in spite of persecution, spread and relocated several times. In the early 1700's, when circumstances became too trying, Peter Becker, one of the leaders, brought his congregation to the New World. Mack followed in 1726 with about 126 persons.

.....About 1754, William Stover moved to this area. His home is now a private residence on Fort Stouffer Road west of Waynesboro. The house served as a meeting place until Price's Church (now Trinity Fellowship Church of the Brethren) was built in 1795. Stover, himself, preached the dedication service. This was the first Brethren meetinghouse erected west of the Susquehanna River. The land was transferred to the Congregation in 1797. The building was enlarged in 1826 and 1830. It was rebuilt in 1892 and remodled in 1969. At least part of the foundation on which the present church stands is original.

.....This congregation was "mother" to 15 churches: Manor, Welsh Run, Ridge, Back Creek, Beaver Creek, Falling Spring, Hagerstown, Chambersburg, Waynesboro, Shippensburg, Broadfording, Long Meadow, Greencastle, Welty's and Rouzerville. The adjoining cemetary holds many early Brethren including family names Mack, Price, Holsinger, Bonebrake and Knepper.

.....Currently, the church is occupied by an independent congregation, (the original disbanded when numbers dropped to seven families) which was an offshoot of the Upton Congregation and organized as Trinity in 2002. Around 80-90 people worship on the first Sunday of the month. Women in this group wear prayer coverings and do not wear shorts or slacks. Wedding bands are also not worn. Twice since 2004 there have been open air baptisms in the stream in the field to the south. At least one of these occurred in December!

....The church building closest to Rt. 316 was built in 1886 by about 100 members who withdrew from the Price's congregation in 1881. A peek inside the building will reveal a large room with pews and a long table in front where the "ministers" sit during services. Rows of coat hooks line the walls but there is no other adornment save ceiling lights and a clock. Surprisingly, the basement was added after the church was built and houses a freezer, gas stove and the furnace, as well as rows of canned goods used during Love Feast.

..... Also worthy of note might be the road between the cemetaries. This road was part of the original Waynesboro Road and aligns perfectly with a section by Paul's Market to the north and the driveway to the blue renovated one room schoolhouse at the top of the hill along 316 to the south. For RR buffs, one can visually follow the stream eastward to the now abandoned bridge.

The ratings are probably worst case scenario. Sunday is not recommended for caching, as services may be in progress. Please be respectful of your surroundings.