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.

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

Joint Sunday School

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!**

Topton Community Day & Yard Sale

May 17, 2025 ~ 8:00 am - 6:00 pm ~ Borough of Topton

~ Our churches will be selling Sno-Cones for this event. Stay tuned for more info!

Antique Engine, Tractor & Toy Show

June 14-15, 2025 ~ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm ~ William DeLong Memorial Park, 233 Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

~ All collectors of antique farm equipment and cars are invited to show and run their equipment. Vintage car gathering Friday evening and antique farm equipment all weekend. Tractor parades, flea markets, music and plenty of food. Admission and parking are free. Our churches will have our food stand open all weekend. Worship service will be held on June 15th at 9:00 am. For questions or more information, please contact Richard Miller at 610-926-6209.

Vacation Bible School

June 22-26, 2025 ~ 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm ~ Brandywine Heights High School, 103 Old Topton Rd., Mertztown, PA 19539

~ The theme will be "Wonder Junction: Answers in Genesis." Stay tuned for more info!

Vacation Bible School

July 21-25, 2025 ~ St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Mertztown, 50 Luther Dr., Mertztown, PA 19539

~ The theme will be "An EPIC Australian Adventure: An Unforgettable Journey with Jesus." Stay tuned for more info!

Community Outdoor Worship Service

August 10, 2025 ~ 10:30 am ~ William DeLong Memorial Park, 233 Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

~ Join us for worship with the Brandywine Community churches at the Bowers Park at 10:30 am - with a picnic following the service! There will be no services in either sanctuary on August 10, so make sure you join us in the park. In case of inclement weather, please check back here on our Facebook page. We will be posting where the service and picnic will be moved to. Leashed dogs are welcome. There are picnic tables to sit at or bring a chair and sit under the shady trees. Offering envelopes will go back to their home churches.

Topton Block Party

August 16, 2025 ~ Borough of Topton

~ More information to come!

Joint Worship Service & St. Peter's UCC's 100th Anniversary of the Cornerstone

September 21, 2025 ~ 10:00 am ~ St. Peter's UCC, St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ St. Peter’s will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the laying of the current building’s cornerstone. The celebration will begin with a worship service at 10:00 am. Following there will be a blessing of the cornerstone including putting new items in it.

A fellowship luncheon will finish the celebration. The cornerstone committee needs your help. We are looking for ideas on items to put in the cornerstone. Call or email the church with your ideas.

GALLERY