Union Churches were noted in Kimmel, King, Lincoln, East St. Clair, Bloomfield, Broad Top, Hopewell, Juniata, Napier, Bedford, Colerain, Snake Spring, East Providence, West Providence, Cumberland Valley, Monroe and Southampton Townships. |
Despite the fact that the name 'Union' Church appears on various historical maps and atlases, and in the text of every county history especially from the 1800s, the Union Church was not a denomination in and of itself. The Evangelical Lutheran Church and the German Reformed Church were rather close in doctrine and dogma. So in many communities, the two denominations would share the cost to build an edifice, which they then would share for their devotional services. So while the building was known as a 'Union Church' there did not exist any denomination bearing that name.
As has been noted previously in regard to the German Reformed church and the Lutheran church, in 1934, the Reformed Church in the United States merged with the Evangelical Synod of North America to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church. In turn, the new entity joined in a 'Basis of Union,' in 1943 with the General Council of Congregational Christian Church. Then on 25 June 1957, the two denominations merged to form the United Church of Christ. In essence, the UCC became the spiritual descendant of the Union Churches of the 1800s.