On October 14, 1888, Reverend Samuel L. Weist preached a missionary sermon in Steelton, PA, which resulted in the organization of a highly spiritual evangelical mission in this town. The service, blessed with genuine evangelical atmosphere, was held in Dunkel's Hall on Front Street in Steellton. Services in this rented building by John Campbell were held until November 1889. As was the custom in early American Evangelistic circles, a new Class was organized on December 23, 1888. This was was a group of sixteen Christian people of whom Brother John. D. Campbell was the chosen leader. Brother Jacob Keener was the exhorter who fervently preached from the Holy Bible. This group, known as a Class, held regular services. Following the development of the Class nucleus, a Sunday School was organized on January 6, 1889. Some of the leaders of the school were J. D. Campbell, C. L. Bowman, Lizzie Bowman, H. E. Messner, and Mary Jane Davis.

Following a Revival and period of growth in February 1889, the church reported a membership of twenty-two men and women to the Annual Conference of 1889 in Pottsville, PA. At this conference in the year 1889 the Steelton Mission was directed to be a charge united with the Harrisburg Mission. A church building was authorized by the conference, the cost limited to $1500.

At a meeting of the Steelton congregation on March 19, 1889, the decision was made which led to the birth of our church building. The committee consisted of the pastor, the Rev. Samuel L. Weist, Brother C. L. Bowman, and Brother J. Keener. The trustees were Brothers J. D. Campbell, W. Sheetz and David Dasher. It was decided that the chapel be built on beautiful Lincoln Street on the lot purchased from A. B. Dunkle. On March 27, 1889, the congregation chose its name to be "Grace Church." Ground was broken for the new church in August 1889, and on the first day of September 1889 the cornerstone was laid. Bishop R. Dubs dedicated the new church on November 24, 1889. The cost was $1602.77.

In the early 1920s a merger proposal was developed, as there had been one in 1891. Until 1928 our congregation was with the United Evangelical name, but the merger between the United Evangelical Church and the old Evangelical Association was not favored by our Christian body and therefore we, with many others, remained independent of the merger which united the Evangelical Association and the United Evangelical Church into the group presently known as the Evangelical Church. (Since 1922 these have again merged with the United Brethren and were known as Evangelical United Brethren. Recently the third merger took place, merging the EUB with the Methodists forming the United Methodist Church.)

The independent group, which preserved the creed and spirit of the original church fathers, then reorganized into our group now called the Evangelical Congregational Church. It was during the pastorates of Rev. S. B. Quincer and Rev. J. J. Hine that we became Faith Church. The new Faith Evangelical Congregational Church at 600 Strites Rd, Chambers Hill, Harrisburg, PA was dedicated on Sep. 9, 1969.

Looking for a new vision, a new attitude or a new church?

Faith Evangelical Congregational Church is in a process of revitalization and retooling. We want to be your church for a new day and a new challenge in our community. Our message rooted in the Bible remains the same, and our methods are geared to meeting your life hopes and dreams. We want to know Christ and make him known through following biblical principles, discipling believers, recognizing and using spiritual gifts, sharing the Good News and community outreach.

Sunday Services

9:00 AM