St. Jacob's Lutheran Church was located one-half mile north of South Bend, South Bend Township, Annstrong County, Pennsylvania. The church was known by various names over the years, including "Hill Church," or "White Church," and also "Frantz Church." It was considered the second oldest church in Armstrong County by the General Synod of the Lutheran Church.

In 1817 Jacob Frantz of Westmoreland County came to this vicinity and bought the land and grist mill of Charles Campbell. Pastor John M. Steck of Greensburg followed his parishioner and held German services in this mill during the same year. In 1822 Jacob Frantz donated two acres of ground to the Reformed and Lutherans for church and burial purposes, to which was later added one-half acre by purchase from the Hart heirs. Before the Frantz land was legally conveyed, the donor died; but John Frantz carried out the wishes of his father and executed the deed. The first body laid to rest in this burial ground was that of John Allison, a schoolmaster.

10 May 1823. The first church erected on this ground was built of logs in the spring of the same year. It was a plain building, without ornamentation of any description, not even being provided with chimneys, since no services were held at first in the winter. The pews were made of heavy slabs.

The first regular organization of the congregation was held 1 May 1823. It was a union church, the Reformed being represented by Rev. William Weinel, and the Lutherans by Rev. Gabriel Adam Reichert. A communion service was held on that day, conducted by Pastor William Weinel, attended by both Lutherans and Reformed. Reformed Church records indicate that 24 persons were confirmed and 40 members communed. The relations between the two bodies in those days was extremely cordial.The rights of each part were fully respected by the other, and they lived and labored as brethren.

Both denominations conducted services exclusively in German for a number of years, the first English sermon being preached by Rev. John H. Bernheim in 1838. When Rev.Jacob Zimmerman took charge in 1841, it was his custom to preach a German and an English sermon on the same day. After 1860 practically all German was eliminated. The services of Rev. Reichert continued from 29 April 1823, to 30 May 1834, during which he preached regularly every four weeks in German, and administered communion once a year. People traveled eight or ten miles to attend services, and the log church was often crowded.

There was evidently some trouble in the church in 1834 when Pastor Reichert resigned in as much as he continued to serve all his other churches for three more years. It appears that the church was vacant from 1834 to 1838 when Rev.John H. Bernheim became pastor for three years, being succeeded by Rev. Jacob Zimmerman who served from 16 October 1841 to 30 January 1859. The salary received by Rev. Zimmerman amounted to $90 a year. When Zimmerman began his pastorate in 1841, the congregation was still using the old log church.

Larger quarters became imperative and a new frame church, often called the "White Church" was dedicated 23 November 1842. Pastors Nicholas P. Hacke and William Weinel of the Reformed, and Michael J. Steck, John H. Bernheim, and Jacob Zimmerman of the Lutheran church were present at the dedication. No names of communicants were entered in the old "Kirchen Buch" (Church Book) of St. Jacob's until 11 June 1843, when Jacob Zimmerman administered communion to 96 persons, 36 of who were confirmed on the previous day.

The Kirchen Buch, or Church Book, of St. Jacob's contains Kirchen Ordnung, or articles of agreement, for the two congregations. These articles were written in German and were Fur die Evangelisch Lutherisch und Refotmiten Gemeinden (for the Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Congregations). The agreement was signed in January 1844. Signers for the Lutheran congregation were: Leonard George, Jacob Rubbert, William Heinselman, Christian Rubbert, Jacob Klingensmith, John George, Samuel Rubbert, John Frantz, Philip Rubbert, Heinrich Jung (Young), Peter Heffelfinger, Frederick Rubbert, Peter Young, John George, and Solomon Fink.

Those signing for the Reformed congregation were: Jonathan Crum, George Rubart (of Georg), John Shoup, Jacob Allshouse, William F. "'\llshouse, Samuel Frantz, Abraham Frantz, Joseph Rubart and Philip Rubart.

The Refonued and Lutheran congregations worshipped together in the frame church of 1842 for a period of thirty-eight years. On 14 January 1881, a new frame church, built by the Lutheran congregation alone, was dedicated by Pastor Jacob H. Wright. It was built on a quarter-acre lot donated by Frantz George, and cost $2,365. In 1891 the Reformed congregation built a new church in South Bend. The last united act of the two congregations was to dispose of the old church building at public sale.

The synodical relations of St. Jacob's have been varied, the people being governed by the wishes of their pastor. From 1823 to 1825 St. Jacob's was connected with the Ministerium; from 1825 to 1841 it was a part of the West Pennsylvania Synod; from 1841 to 1860 it was in the Ohio Synod; in 1860 it became part of the Pittsburgh Synod and on 7 April 1860 the constitution recommended by the Pittsburgh Synold was adopted. In 1867 the General Council controversy made quite a stir in the community; but the influence of Jacob H. Wright was dominant and the congregation cast its lot with the General Synod.

By 1899 St. Jacob's had become one of the three congregations to make up the Elderton Charge. The other two congregations were Mt. Union (originally named Pleasant Union), situated about 1.5 miles south of Elderton on Old Route 210 and Christ Lutheran in Gastown, about 2 miles north of Elderton, also on Old Route 210. During the pastorate of Carl F. Miller, 1913 to 1915, a parsonage was secured in Elderton.

The congregation of St. Jacob's continued worship services until 1988 when the congregation disbanded, thus bringing to a close 163 years of worship. The "White Church" was completely dismantled, ending a long history in South Bend.

The last officers for St. Jocaob’s Lutheran Church ~ 19985 - 1988:

Beverly Jamison, President

Pat Jamison, Secretary

Sandy Duncan, Treasurer

Dan Cilo

Barry Jamison

Randy Lukehart