Church | St. Peter's Christ DeLong United Churches of Christ

ST. PETER'S & CHRIST DELONG UNITED CHURCHES OF CHRIST

Sharing a joint ministry and a common mission since 1991

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St. Peter's UCC, Topton, PA
Worship Service begins at 9:00am

Christ DeLong, UCC, Bowers, PA
Worship Service begins at 10:30am

Our churches are located in beautiful, rural Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Situated comfortably between Allentown and Reading, the area boasts many advantages.

Our proximity to larger metropolitan cities allows access to major business opportunities, quality medical care, and the treasures of the fine art world. Colleges and universities abound, as well as regional cultural and heritage events.

We are two separate congregations enjoying the benefits of a joint ministry since 1991.

Our congregations have a long history of sharing God's word together, and with the larger community around us.

We hope to share God's word with you!

Missed a service? Click on the link to view our services on YouTube.

Video

ABOUT

Our mission, as a combined ministry, includes the common purpose to live as God's people by sharing the faith with our community and beyond. Through service, spiritual growth, fellowship, preaching, teaching, caring and love, we strive to honor our traditions while looking to the future.

St. Peter's History

The institutional religious life in Topton began sometime between 1865 and 1869 when a Sunday School was formed. Excelsior Subscription School housed the Sunday School for a period of time. On October 29, 1871, St. Peter's Union Church was established. Rev. A.J. Herman was the Reformed Pastor and Rev. B.E. Kramlich was the Lutheran Pastor. The cornerstone of the first church building was laid on the same site as the Subscription School building. In 1881 the church was rebuilt and enlarged. Beginning January 1913, the two congregations severed their relationship. On May 11, 1924, blueprints were prepared for a new church building. On Sunday, September 24, 1925, the cornerstone for the new building was laid at its current location. The first service occurred on Palm Sunday, 1926 and the building was dedicated on June 5, 1927. In 1934, the Reformed Church in the United States and the Evangelical Synod of North America merged, forming a "Plan of Union". In 1957, St. Peter's elected to join the Evangelical and Reformed Church with the Congregational Christian Churches. St. Peter's separated from the charge in 1964. In 1991, it was approved by both St. Peter's and Christ DeLong to share a joint ministry that

continues to this day.

Christ DeLong's History

The German Reformed congregation was started in 1759. Peter Delong (Delangh) donated two acres of land and a log cabin was erected to serve as the first sanctuary. The first regular pastor to serve was

Rev. John Henry Helffrich who served from

1772 until 1810. Rev. Charles G. Herman, served the longest pastorate from 1810 to 1861. During his pastorate, Zion's Church at Maxatawny was organized and became a part of his charge.

In 1859, the church became a "union" church. His son, Rev. Alfred J. Herman, served the two congregations for thirty-one years. During his pastorate, St. Peter's Church in Topton was organized. In that same year, St. Peter's and St. Paul's Reformed Church in Kutztown were united in a separate charge. In 1892, The Maxatawny Charge was formed by combining the four churches, served by Rev. George B. Smith, D.D. for almost forty-five years. After his death, St. Paul's separated from the charge. In 1937, Rev. Franklin D. Slifer, D.D. became pastor of the Maxatawny Charge. During the years, the name of the church changed from Christ DeLong's Reformed Church to The Christ (DeLong's) Evangelical & Reformed Church and to the present name, Christ DeLong United Church of Christ.

ABOUT

EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

All dates and times are subject to change.

If you have any questions about an event, please contact the church office at (610) 682-7633.

St. Peter's Drive-Thru Sausage Sandwich Sale

October 4, 2025 ~ 10:00 am - ? ~ St. Peter's UCC, St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ St. Peter's UCC, Topton will be having our last DRIVE-THRU Sausage Sandwich Sale of the year on October 4th! Sandwiches are $6 each (cash only) and are available with or without sauce, onions & peppers. Please enter at our parking lot at Broad Alley and exit at Franklin Street. The sale begins at 10am and goes until we sell out!

The Antique Engine, Tractor & Toy Club Consignment Sale

October 11, 2025 ~ 9:00 am - 6:00 pm ~ William DeLong Memorial Park, 233 Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

~ Consignment sale of farm related machinery, farming equipment and collectable toys. If you are interested in selling anything please contact either Dale at dleidichsr@ptd.net or Duane at dnotto58@aol.com. There will be a $10 nonrefundable service fee due at registration and 20% commission. Our churches will be selling food and beverages. Stay tuned for more info!

Papa Sarge's Homemade Pierogie Sale Joint Fundraiser

October 25, 2025 ~ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm ~ St. Peter's UCC, St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ Our churches will be selling Papa Sarge's delicious Homemade Pierogies for our Joint Pastoral Ministry Account!

Cheese: $8.50 / dozen
Cheese & Bacon: $9.50 / dozen
Sauerkraut: $9.50 / dozen
Jalapeño & Cheddar: $9.50 / dozen
Cheesesteak: $14.00 / dozen

Pick up Saturday, October 25, 2025 between 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at St. Peter’s UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

Call orders to Mike at 610-392-0968 or Tammy at 610-463-7213 by October 12.

Exploration Committee Town Hall Meeting

October 28, 2025 ~ 6:30 pm ~ Pioneer Grange Hall, 46 E. Keller St., Topton, PA 19562

~ EVERYONE IS WELCOME! Our congregations face an important decision on what the future is for our churches.

St. Peter's Soup & Sandwich Sale

November 8, 2025 ~ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm ~ St. Peter's UCC, St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ St. Peter's UCC will be having a Beef Vegetable Soup and Ham & Cheese Sandwich Sale on Saturday, November 8th from 9am to Noon. Soup is $7 per quart and sandwiches are $5 each. To order, please call the church office at 610-682-7633 by NOVEMBER 2nd. PLEASE DO NOT PLACE ORDERS ON FACEBOOK. Baked goods will be available for purchase as well. Thank you for your support!

Christmas Eve Services

December 24, 2025 ~ 6:30 pm ~ Christ DeLong, UCC, 63 Old Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

8:30 pm ~ St. Peter's UCC, St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ *Updated times*

RECURRING EVENTS:

Bible Study

1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month ~ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ~ Christ DeLong, UCC, 63 Old Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

~ From the Epistles (New Testament letters), to the Psalms, to the Gospels, we will delve into the scriptures and study what they mean for our lives. Join us the first and third Tuesday of each month from 2:00 - 3:00 pm, at Christ DeLong UCC and hear good conversation centered around God's word.

Joint Sunday School

*Will Resume in September*

3rd Sunday of each month ~ 10:30 am ~ Christ DeLong, UCC, 63 Old Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

~ All children are welcome to attend Sunday School during the church service.

Mat-Weaving Ministry

3rd Saturday of each month ~ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm ~ St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ Join us to weave mats for our local homeless population, distributed through the Opportunity House. They are used as waterproof sleeping mats to lay on and each mat requires 500-700 plastic grocery bags! All ages are welcome to help - no experience or tools necessary. We need folders, cutters and weavers. The more, the merrier! Please use the back entrance to St. Peter's UCC and go down the steps.
**At this time we do not need for any more bag donations. Thank you to everyone who brought some in for this project!**

GALLERY