The roots of Church of the Apostles UCC trace back to 1971, when St. Paul’s began exploring new directions, including fostering cooperative ministries with neighboring congregations. In January 1973, St. Paul’s and First Reformed UCC initiated merger talks. By late spring, St. John’s UCC joined the discussions. Despite First Reformed’s eventual rejection of the final Plan of Union, St. Paul’s and St. John’s overwhelmingly approved a revised plan to merge and relocate to the Brubaker property. This union of two vibrant congregations laid the foundation for the dynamic and inclusive Church of the Apostles UCC we know today.

The merger committee chose the historic 84-acre Brubaker farm on Marietta Ave, just east of Rohrerstown, as the future site for Church of the Apostles UCC. This property, rich in history, included an 18th-century farmhouse, a 19th-century barn, a tenant house, and a garage/workshop. The Aaron Brubaker family, twelfth-generation descendants of Hans Brubaker who received the land from William Penn in 1717, were the then-owners. The decision to purchase this property for $675,000 was made even before the final merger decision. See pictures of Rev. Rader and Rev. Schellenberger at the Brubaker farm, envisioning the future campus of Church of the Apostles UCC.

On December 11th, 1977, Church of the Apostles UCC celebrated a momentous occasion with a groundbreaking ceremony for the new church building. The project, estimated at $1.8 million, marked the beginning of a new chapter after a four-year de lay due to controversy surrounding rezoning. Members gathered to envision and construct their future place of worship on the historic Brubaker farm.

In 1979, a cornerstone ceremony marked the beginning of a new chapter for the church. By December 23rd of that year, the inaugural service echoed through the Fellowship Hall of their newly constructed building. Just a few months later, on February 10th, 1980, the congregation gathered in the completed Sanctuary for their first official service, cementing their journey from cornerstone to sacred space.

Since 1965, Apostles Community Preschool has played a vital role in the community, initially founded by Rev. Glenn Rader and Janet to fill a gap in preschool education at St. John’s Church. Dr. Dorothy Kroehler’s leadership from 1965 to 1985 shaped its early foundation, emphasizing the preschool’s integral role in church life. In 1980, it expanded and was renamed Apostles Community Preschool, then under the direction of Bonnie Eshbach and Susan Sensenich. Financed primarily by tuition, the preschool offers Janet Rader Memorial Scholarships to support local families. Today, over 58 years later, ACP remains committed to providing a nurturing educational environment for children aged 2 to Pre-Kindergarten, fostering a legacy of community support and educational excellence.

The Church of the Apostles UCC’s Sanctuary is graced with 16 stunning faceted glass windows, crafted by the talented Latvian-born artist Leonids Linauts. Collaborating with Revs. Schelleneberger and Rader, Linauts designed each window to reflect profound biblical themes, including Creation, The Law, Prophecy, The Birth, and Light of the World. Each window, weighing over 1,000 lbs and composed of more than 2,000 pieces of faceted glass, offers a breathtaking portrayal of these timeless stories. To explore the inspiration behind these masterpieces, Click Here