JACOB ROLLERS HOME AND THE 1800 LOG CHURCH

6421 BLUEBIRD LANE AND BLUEBIRD LANE

 

Worship services were held in private homes by the Baptists and others living within the northern part of Dover Township in the late 1700’s, as early as 1760. Such services included one conducted by Christian Newcomer, a bishop of the United Brethren denomination in the home of Jacob Roller on June 9, 1799. 

 

The homes used for worship included a log structure, which was the sole home in the immediate area of the first house of worship. This may have been Jacob Rollers home and it is believed that services were held there as early as 1790. In 1990, this building was still standing adjacent to the house at 6421 Bluebird Lane; additions have been made to two sides of the building and it was being used as a rented home.

 

Residents of the community, desiring a building in which their children could be given an elementary education and in which they could hold their worship services, purchased a plot of ground from Jacob Roller. The land adjoined a graveyard containing the bodies of persons buried there as early as 1767.

 

The schoolhouse/house of worship was erected of logs in 1800 adjacent to the cemetery. It had two windows on each side. There was one door in a corner of the building. A passage way extended between the rear-most seats and the rear wall to a center aisle.  The seats were hewn planks resting on six legs and had no backs. There was an amen corner in the front of the room. 

 

In 1804, a congregation was organized as the “Dover Baptist Church” and was the first congregation of that denomination in York County. A regular Baptist minister served the congregation for about four years. Baptist clergyman then occasionally visited it until 1842, when a regular pastor served about another ten years. By the year 1870, there were only two Baptist families worshiping in the Union Church. 

 

The church then became known as the Rohlers Union United Brethren Church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dover History 250^th Anniversary / Prowells History Volume 1 1907

 .