The things you learn scanning the local interest book section on Labor Day at Borders in Lancaster:
I knew that a classical school that later became Marshall College started in York in 1834. I knew it started when the German Reformed Seminary moved here and that the seminary and classical school later moved to Mercersburg in Franklin County.
I knew that Marshall College moved to Lancaster to join with 1787-vintage Franklin College to become Frankin & Marshall College in 1853... .
I knew that Mercersburg Seminary remained in Franklin County, and that the small-town seminary started a national movement called Mercersburg Theology. I knew that theology, which restored liturgy and symbols abolished during the Reformation in Europe, became controversial. I knew some believed the movement threatened to return Protestantism to Catholicism and that many pastors schooled in this theology ministered at German Reformed — later United Church of Christ — congregations in York County. I knew that Mercersbury Seminary later moved to Lancaster to become Lancaster Theological Seminary and that its former campus became prep school Mercersburg Academy.
But here’s what I didn’t know: David Schuyler and Jane A. Bee’s Arcadia book on Franklin & Marshall credited Marshall College as starting with the prep school in York. So, it can be said that one of Franklin & Marshall College’s main stems came from York.
When you think about it, it’s not surprising that a college would trace its origins to a classical school. York College, for example, comes from two main branches: York Collegiate Institute and York Academy. The latter was founded in 1787, the first classical school west of the Susquehanna.
I will continue to visit enjoyed the reading thanks
Knowing that the Mercersburg theology influenced German Reformed churches not only nationally but also in York County, I guess it's not surprising that union churches contain Lutheran and German Reformed congregations. Both denominations possessed high -- well, higher than normal Protestant fare -- liturgies.
So perhaps they wouldn't have to, say, shift the pulpit to the center of the chancel in between services. They wouldn't have to take down crucifixes, either.
So I wonder if the German language wasn't the only thing gluing union churches together. I wonder if worship style did, too.
Joe,
Interesting theory you raise. The thing is that most union churches formed well before Mercersburg theology came into play. Charles Glatfelter's authoritative York County Pennsylvania Lutherans says that most of 32 German Reformed and Lutheran congregations in 1776 operated as union churches. (Look for a future York Town Squqare post on union churches.) To build on your theory, though, it could be that union churches stuck together longer because of their high church approach. Interesting topic for a master's thesis ... .