Southampton Township near Shippensburg in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Middle Spring Church

Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, April 30, 2015

1. Middle Spring Church Marker

Inscription. Founded 1738 by pioneer Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. Until 1781, the church was at the old cemetery which is about one-tenth mile NW from here. Present church built, 1847; parsonage built, 1855.

Erected 1950 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. (Marker Number 104.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the American Presbyterian and Reformed Historic Sites, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1738.

Location. 40° 4.901′ N, 77° 32.477′ W. Marker is near Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. It is in Southampton Township. Marker is on Middle Spring Road, 0.2 miles north of Walleye Drive, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 135 Middle Spring Rd, Shippensburg PA 17257, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Our Fallen Patriots (within shouting distance of this marker); Middle Spring Presbyterian Church Commemorative Marker (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hagerstown Silt Loam (approx. 1.7 miles away); High-Speed Ammunition Run on the Cumberland Valley Railroad

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 1.7 miles away); Engine of Prosperity (approx. 1.9 miles away); Lt. James F. Bearer, USMC Memorial Trees (approx. 1.9 miles away); Delivering An Education (approx. 2 miles away); B&O Coal Hopper (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shippensburg.

Regarding Middle Spring Church. Middle Spring Presbyterian Church is one of 445 American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Sites registered between 1973 and 2003 by the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS), headquartered in Philadelphia. Approved sites received a metal plaque featuring John Calvin’s seal and the site’s registry number (PHS marker location unknown).

The following text is taken from the Presbyterian Historical Society website:

As early as 1736, preaching services were held on the banks of Middle Spring Creek. Scotch-Irish settlers constructed the first meeting house in 1738. The present red brick building, erected in 1847, is the fourth used by the congregation on this site. Thomas Craighead, the first pastor, was succeeded by John Blair and then Thomas Cooper, who served as a chaplain in the Revolutionary War.
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, April 30, 2015

2. Middle Spring Church and Marker
Three cemeteries surround the church, the oldest dating to the 1730s.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 30, 2015, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 425 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on August 24, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 30, 2015, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.