St. Paul’s Reformed Church of Somerset was organized by Rev. Henry Giesey* in 1810. Among the original members were:
Michael and Elizabeth Hugus
The Ankenys
George Shaver and Rosanna his wife
Daniel Stahl and wife
Peter Huston and wife
Henry Keller and wife
In 1810 a union church edifice, a stone building, was erected by the Presbyterian and Reformed congregations upon a lot donated by Peter Ankeny. This was torn down and replaced by the present building in 1855.
Among other early pastors** were:
Rev. D. J. H. Kiefer
Rev. H. G. Ibbekin
Rev. D. B. Ernst
Rev. C. F. Hoffmeier
Rev. Hiram King is the present pastor of a congregation numbering sixty-six.
Salem Reformed church at Lavansville, with about eight members, and Ursina, a recently formed congregation, are parts of Somerset charge.
*Mr. Giesey preached here for several years before an organization was effected or a house of worship was built. He had served as chaplain and surgeon in a Hessian regiment during the Revolutionary war.
**As there are no records, no complete list can be given.
(Source: extracted from the History of Bedford, Somerset & Fulton Counties, PA; 1884)
About Author
