The Great Conewago Presbyterian Church...

"You may hear the distant toll of the school bell, the happy sounds of children at play
or music from the old church pump organ."
Linda Cleveland, Historian

Photo by Rev. Donald Mitchell

Founded in 1740

174 Red Bridge Road
Gettysburg, PA. at Hunterstown
717-642-9094

"Whatever you do,
In word or deed,
do everything in the name
of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father
through Him."
Colossians 3:17

This beautiful old church has been in use since 1787, but the congregation has worshipped in the immediate area since 1740.
From 1747 to 1787, the congregation met in a small log cabin near the cemetary gate. During the pastorate of the Reverend
Joseph M. Henderson, the present church was built, thus the name,
Henderson Metting House. At the time of the Battle of Gettsyburg,
the church served as a field hospital. In 1849, the present entrance was made and the three other entrances closed. The pulpit and the high back pews were changed and a foyer and choir loft were added.
Again, in approximately 1870, general repairs were made which included new pulpit furniture, new carpet, pews and oil lamps. The present six chandeliers include two originals which hang in almost the exact place
as a hundred years ago. In 2002, all roof trusses were reinforced,
a large masonary crack was repaired, pews were restored,
floor joists were replaced, floor boards were rehabilitated and replaced, the balcony was totally rebuilt, a handicapped accessible restroom
and entrance were made, a utility room was added,
heating/air-conditioning systems were installed,
and carpeting was replaced.
A Celtic cross was fashioned out of salvaged timbers
from the old balcony and hung behind the pulpit.

(07-29-09)

Gettysburg Times carried an article today announcing Dave Shupe's book he self published regarding the 269 years of history of The Great Conewago Presbyterian Church. This book, with many pictures old and new (including the new addition to the chapel) plus church burial records can be obtained for $9.95, if mailed first class $11.75. Also a trifold, not mentioned in the article, but a valuable addition to the book, is an additional $1.00. This trifold has names of all veterans buried in the Cemetery at the church by time periods, ie. Revolutionary War, Civil War, etc. Both items can be purchased and mailed in the states for $12.75. Checks can be made out to Dave Shupe and mailed to 772 Company Farm Rd. Aspers, PA 17304. Dave can also be reached at 717-528-8382 or via e-mail at dkshupe@embarqmail.com. Dave is already starting his next book about the village of Hunterstown. I believe you will enjoy the way he presents historical fact.

Blessings - Linda Cleveland

Tours of the cemetery may be arranged in advanced. Please telephone Dr. Glenn Zepp at 717-337-9571. Or click to send an email.

To View the Historic Village of Hunterstown...

For More Information...

Dedication

Cemetary Tour

Hunterstown native Fred Kammerer
giving a tour of the Great Conewago
Church Cemetary to the members of
HGAC during their Annual Summer Picnic
in August of 2006.

Special Note:
There are 30 Revolutionary soldiers
and 9 Civil War soldiers buried in the
Great Conewago Church Cemetary.

Historic Gettysburg of Adams County presenting The Great Conewago Presbyterian Church with a Civil War Hospital plaque. Pictured from left to right: Troy Harman, National Park Service ranger and historian; Gerry O'Brien, local historian; Mike Vallone, Gettysburg Battlefield Guide; Laurie Harding, board member HGAC and president of Hunterstown Historical Society; Chuck Teague, president of HGAC and NPS ranger; and the Reverend Donald Mitchell.
Dedication was held in the spring of 2005.

Deb McCauslin

Debra Sandoe McCauslin of Gettysburg’s For the Cause Productions speaks about the life of Hunterstown resident Eliza Jane Payne. Eliza was born a slave in Virginia.
She was manumitted at age 5 and moved to Pennsylvania with her mother Catherine a.k.a. “Kitty.” Kitty and her children were kidnapped by 5 men in 1845, beaten, gagged, loaded into a wagon and taken back to Virginia to slavery. The were imprisoned in the Rappahannock County Jail for over 300 days. The local Quakers aided Kitty and her children and eventually they were freed again and returned to Adams County. Kitty was penniless and afraid to live alone so she placed her children with area families. Eliza went to live with the Campbell family near Hunterstown. She resided with them until the last remaining member of that family died and then she joined her sister in Kansas. In 1863, she was a member of the Great Conewago Presbyterian Church and she had a pew assignment in the last row. She endured the battle
and avoided capture by Confederates and she later saw President Lincoln deliver his immortal speech.

For more information on Eliza Jane Payne, contact Deb at www.gettysburghistories.com or call 717-528-8553.