St. Paul’s Reformed church, of Elk Lick township, was organized October 22, 1859, by Rev. A.B. Koplin. At this time David Hay and Benjamin Wilhelm were elected elders, and Reuben Kretchman and Peter Wilhelm, deacons. The other original members were Anthony Zimmerman, his wife and sister.
In 1868 the present fine church building was erected at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars, which was largely contributed by the Wilhelm family. This family bequeathed the balance of their large estate to the theological seminary and Franklin and Marshall college of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A portion of the estate was eventually secured by their heirs.
The following pastors have officiated in the order here given: Revs. A. B. Koplin, W. A. Gring, A. B. Koplin and C. U. Heilman.
The church, under the faithful and efficient ministrations of its present pastor, C.U. Heilman is in a most flourishing condition, and has two hundred and twenty communicants and a Sunday school of one hundred and twenty- five scholars. Prior to his death, Elder David Hay gave the church one thousand dollars as a poor- fund.
(Source: History of Bedford, Somerset & Fulton Counties, Pa; 1884)
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