Salem United Church of Christ, Harrisburg

The origins of the Salem United Church of Christ can be traced back to the very foundation of Harrisburg.  The town’s namesake, John Harris Jr., when he and the other founders laid out plans for what came to be known as Harrisburg in 1785, set aside land specifically for religious purposes.  Two years later, in 1787, the German Reformed congregation built their house of worship on that land at the corner of 3rd and Cherry Streets, a two-story log structure which was the first religious building built in the town.  The church was shared with the local Evangelical Lutheran congregation until they built their own home, the original Zion Lutheran Church, along South Broad Street in 1814.

In 1818 the German Reformed Church became the German Reformed Salem Church of Harrisburg and began thinking about building a larger, more modern home for their growing congregation.  To that end, they attained the services of architects Samuel Pool and Henry Wilson to design a new church across the street from the old and construction began in 1821.  The two architects designed a Classical, two-story church constructed of brick with a traditional central nave which was dedicated on June 21, 1822. 

What makes the church unique, however, is the 110-foot square bell tower capped with a domed cupola that rises from its Chestnut Street façade.  Pool and Wilson then flanked that central tower with two smaller ones at each corner, topped with stepped gables.  Along the front façade and sides of the two towers are twelve-over-twelve windows while tall, arched stained glass windows run down the church’s nave.  The original interior was an ornate affair with Corinthian columnns on either side of the main alter which included an elaborate frieze just above it.  However, the interior has been remodeled several times since the original was installed and little now remains. 

In 1862, a large, two-story Sunday school annex was added to the rear of the church. Later, in 1876, the ornate interior was remodeled in a more austere and simple manner and the main entrance along Chestnut Street was removed and new entrances were placed in each of the corner towers.  The church was severely damaged by fire in 1890 and extensive repairs were required to be made to the church’s roof and interior.  Italianate roofs were added to the double towers after the fire as well. Today, the church aids the local community in ways other than providing spiritual guidance.  It operates a clothing center, contributes to the Ecumenical Food Pantry and offers Wellspring pastoral counseling.  Tours of the church are available by appointment only.      

1.  Watson, William.  "National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form."  United States Department of the Interior/National Park Service.  March 12, 1975.  Accessed December 7, 2017.  http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/CRGIS_Attachments/SiteResource/H000522_01H.pdf

2.  "Salem United Church of Christ."  Visit Hershey and Harrisburg.  Accessed December 7, 2017.  http://www.visithersheyharrisburg.org/listings/salem-united-church-of-christ/2088/

3.  "Old Salem Church."  Historical Marker Database.  Accessed December 7, 2017. https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=102334