Roth's Lutheran Church, August 2003 

Roth's United Church of Christ, August 2003 

In the southern part of Jackson Township, for more than 100 years what was locally known as Roth's church was used as a Union house of worship.  Abraham Roth, August 15, 1785, deeded thirty acres of land in trust for church purposes, for which 6 pounds, 14 shillings and 8 pence were paid.  The trustees were Bernhard Spangler, Abraham Roth and Christian Weist.  A log church was first built, then the log building was weather-boarded.  In 1845 a brick church was built.  The original grant of land was to the Reformed Church only, but the other denominations were allowed to worship in the church.  The Reformed element in this community at the time of the building of this church was the strongest.  The celebrated clergyman, Rev. William Otterbein, soon after his arrival in America, preached to the German Reformed congregation here, and held enthusiastic meetings.  The same clergymen who officiated at Paradise and the Dover churches ministered to the congregation here.  Of the Reformed pastors, the following could be obtained in order of succession: Rev. John Ernst, Charles Helfenstein, F. W. Vandersloot, John Umrich, Daniel Ziegler, D. D., eighteen years; Jacob Kehm, Jacob Ziegler.  Rev. I. W. Weisz was the pastor until 1894.

The first Lutheran preacher known to have ministered here was Rev. Albert, who was then pastor at Hanover.  Rev. A. G. Deininger succeeded him and preached fifty-two years.  Rev. Daniel Sell was pastor for many years.

The church erected in 1845 was used as a house of worship by the Reformed and Lutheran congregations of this vicinity until 1888, when the Lutheran congregation withdrew and built a church nearby.  In 1892 the Reformed congregation still occupying the old church building decided to erect a new one.  Meantime the pastor, Rev. I. W. Weisz, died, and the church was completed in 1894 under the pastorate of Rev. O. P. Schellhamer.  This building, constructed of brick, cost $15,000.  It was dedicated as Trinity Reformed Church, but is still familiarly known as "Pidgeon Hill Church".  The congregation contains over 300 members.

Christ Lutheran Church was erected about a quarter of a mile north of the original church in 1888.  It is a handsome brick structure, built at a cost of several thousand dollars.  Rev. Daniel Sell was the pastor of the congregation at this time.  He was succeeded by Daniel Stock, L. K. Sechrist and Fred. A. Geesey, who was the pastor in 1907.  The congregation has a membership of about 300.