HISTORY OF RUHL'S CHURCH

Ruhl's Church began as a House Church about 1839. The house is on the Kline farm and to the right after you cross the Big Chickies Creek going north. The early founders of the church were John and Philip Ruhl. In  this house, services were conducted by appointed preachers traveling the Lancaster Circuit.


Both Philip and John Ruhl were strong Gospel preachers. Services were conducted every six weeks at first and later monthly. By the time the first church was erected, services were held on alternate weeks. During the summer, services were often conducted in the barn. Harvest meetings drew large congregations from the community. By the year 1867 the class member had grown to 45 and since preparing the house for worship entailed much extra work, and other churches in the community had places used for worship only, the Ruhl class gave serious thought to the erection of a special place of worship.

FIRST CHURCH BUILDING ERECTED

In 1867, Rev. John Ruhl donated a parcel of land directly west of the present cemetery along for the construction of Ruhl's Zion Church. Moving from Rev. Ruhl's farm in Elstonville, approximately 45 members were attending at that time....mostly Ruhl families. 


Ruhl's Zion Church was later changed to Ruhl's United Brethren. In 1946, the United Brethren and the Evangelical Churches merged so Ruhl's became Ruhl's Evangelical United Brethren. Until 1953, one pastor served Ruhl's and Salem Evangelical United Brethren Churches, holding services in the afternoon alternating Sundays.

ADDITIONS TO FIRST CHURCH

  • AN ANNEX WAS BUILT IN 1950

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  • A PARSONAGE WAS BUILT AND SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES WERE HELD IN THE BASEMENT

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RUHL'S CHURCH RELOCATED IN 1958

A new church building built on the present site was completed in April of 1958 with approximately 350 membership. It was made possible by a donation of $25,000 from Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Brubaker and a $25,000 annunity. 


In 1968, the General Conference again merged the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Churches, thus our name became Ruhl's United Methodist Church.
At present our church is in the process of leaving the UMC through the methodology of litigation. We are now known as Ruhl's Church.

ADDITIONS TO BUILDING

  • NEW MAIN ENTRANCE/CARPORT

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  • GYMNASIUMN/FELLOWSHIP HALL

    1992

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RUHL'S CHURCH AS IT LOOKS TODAY