This stained glass window from St. Mary's Catholic Church in York was removed in March 2008 for restoration. A historical program on this landmark church is set for Sunday, Nov. 2. (See additional York Daily Record/Sunday News photos below). Background posts: Conewago Chapel steeple worker wondered if he'd ever get up there: Now, 'Here I am' , People of varying religious groups founded York County and St. Pat's: A church without a steeple ... by design .
In the mid-1800s, language wars hit York County's churches.
For example, the debate over whether services would be conducted in English or German caused St. Paul's Lutheran (English) to separate from mother church Christ Lutheran and Trinity German Reformed (English) to separate (at least in part) from what is today called Zion German Reformed or Zion United Church of Christ.
York's Catholic congregation dealt with the language issue in the opposite fashion. The mother church (English) is called St. Patrick's today, but St. Mary's Church was built in 1852 to accommodate German-speaking Catholics... .
Continue reading St. Mary's Church product of 19th-century York County language wars.
