Improvements in the church building were made from time to time, and the entire structure was remodeled and placed in its present condition in 1867-68. About the same time a chapel was erected beside the church, on the site of the old lecture-room. Two or three years afterwards the tower of the church, which had been loft unchanged when the remodeling took place, was replaced by a new one. The new spire, however, was blown down by a violent tornado in June, 1878, — a heavy loss to the congregation, which it has not as yet been able to repair. The Sunday-school connected with the church numbers thirty odd teachers and over two hundred scholars.
The Consistory of the congregation consists, in addition to the pastor, of six elders and four deacons. These are at present the following:
Elders.— D. C. Hammond, H. K. Tice, M. A. Berry, A. D. Bennett, Wm. Gassman, E. M. Recher.
Deacons.— W. H. McCardell, J. T. Seiss, W. D. Troxell, George Shaver.
Christ Reformed Church. — During 1852 religious meetings were held in the lecture-room of the First Reformed Church, in Hagerstown, for the benefit of those who desired services exclusively in the German language, and were attended by Germans, members of the German Reformed and Lutheran Churches, and others not members of any church. Rev. Carl Kast, a minister of the German Reformed Church, ministered to the special wants of the new congregation for several years. No organization was, however, effected at this time, although measures were taken to build a Reformed church in which those who desired German services exclusively might worship. A location was ultimately selected on Franklin Street, and the work of building went forward. In March, 1855, the Germans assembled in the First Reformed church and organized a Reformed congregation, after which they proceeded in a body to the new church, where the corner-store was laid, and the church received the name of " Christ Church," and was popularly known as the Second Reformed Church. The church was completed in 1856, and was dedicated in the spring of the same year. Among the ministers present were Rev. Samuel H. Giesy, D.D., pastor of the First Reformed Church, Rev. Philip Schaff, D.D., and Rev. Dr. George Wolff. The following were the officers of the congregation: Henry Winter, Leonard Maisack, Mark Benner, Jacob Gruber, Theobald Kiefer, William Beslard, and George Steinmetz. Rev. Mr. Kast continued to serve the congregation for a number of years, and was succeeded by Rev. John B. Poerner. Rev. Dr. George Seifert followed Mr. Poerner. In 1868, Rev. Henry Louis G. Mienard became pastor, and served for one year. He was succeeded by Rev. Casper Scheel, who was in turn succeeded by Rev. Theobald Heischman, who was a member of the Lutheran Church, and the only Lutheran minister that ever served its congregation. It appears that he was not installed as pastor of the congregation. During his brief term of service difficulties arose, and the Reformed Classis of Maryland, which held jurisdiction over Christ Reformed Church, at its next meeting took into consideration the difficulties and complaints made by the Reformed portion of the congregation, and by resolutions declared its unwillingness to have under its jurisdiction a congregation served in so irregular and unsatisfactory a manner. As a result of this action the German Lutheran portion of the congregation left the church and proceeded to build a German Lutheran church. Rev. William F. Colliflower succeeded Rev. Heischman in 1872.
During his pastorate there was practically a reorganization of the congregation. Quite a number united with the church by confirmation and certificate who were not familiar with the German language, and in consequence there were only occasional German services, and in a short time German services were discontinued. This change from German to English services rendered necessary a change in its constitution, and on Sept. 18, 1877, such changes and alterations as were necessary were made. Rev. Mr. Colliflower continued pastor of the congregation for about three years and three months, and his successor, Rev. C. H. Coon, was installed in the fall of 1876, and was succeeded on Oct. 1, 1878, by Rev. Leighton G. Kremer, the present pastor. The officers of the congregation are: Elders, George Fridinger, Charles Fridinger, C. G. Boryer, Henry Haltzapple; Deacons, George G. Solliday, John Gassman, Solomon Baker, Theodore Weagley. The present number of communicants is ninety-seven, and Sabbath-school scholars one hundred and sixteen. Extensive improvements were made in the audience-room of the church in the fall of 1878, and the congregation possesses a neat and comfortable place of worship. The basement of the church has lately been fitted up for a Sabbath-school and lecture-room.
The Presbyterian Church. — Traces of the Presbyterian Church are found as far back as 1774, when Rev. Thomas McPherrin was called by the united congregations of Conococheague and Jerusalem, the latter being known as " Hagerstown charge," to the pastorate of the Presbyterian congregations west of the South Mountain. In 1788 it is mentioned that, in compliance with a "supplication" from Falling Waters, Hagerstown, and Williamsport, Rev. Mr. Caldwell was appointed by the Presbytery " as a constant supply for those places for one year." There are, however, no known records of the church earlier than 1817, when the society was organized.
Previous to this, from about 1809, John Lind divided his time between Greencastle and Hagerstown. He was a son of Rev. Mathews Lind, and came from Ireland in 1774, and shortly afterwards organized the Associated Reformed Church, his church being erected in Greencastle. Under the pastorate of the younger Lind the first church on South Potomac Street was erected. Before this, service was held in the German Reformed church.
On Nov. 15, 1817, Robert Douglas, John Kennedy, Joseph Gabby, and John Robertson were ordained to the office of ruling elder, and the church was known as the Associated Reformed Church. On the following day the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered for the first time by an English Presbyterian minister. The society thus formed comprised thirty-seven members. The church had just been completed at a cost of 89149.17. This included also the price of the lot.
The lot upon which the church was erected was purchased for fifteen hundred dollars from Gotleib Zimmerman. Of the one hundred and sixty-seven contributors to the church fund, only one, Frederick Humrickhouse, was alive in 1875. It is mentioned that two of the subscriptions to this first Presbyterian Church amounted to six thousand dollars. From the organization of the church until the end of 1824 there were added to its membership fifty-seven persons. In 1824, Rev. Mr. Lind died, and was succeeded by Rev. Matthew L. Fullerton. The church, together with that of Greencastle, united in the spring of 1825 with the Presbytery of Carlisle. Mr. Fullerton was installed as pastor Sept. 28, 1825, and ministered to the congregations of Hagerstown and Greencastle upon alternate Sundays. He died Sept. 17, 18.33, and was succeeded by Rev. Richard Wynkoop, who was installed June 25, 1834, when the severance from the Greencastle Church became final. In January, 1836, the Session having determined upon the election of three additional elders, on the 26th of that month Messrs. Joseph Rench, Samuel Steele, and John McCurdy were elected. In the opposition to the ordination of Mr. McCurdy was begun a difference which ultimately resulted in a division of the church. The pastorate of Rev. Mr. Wynkoop continued until his death, April 6, 1842. He was succeeded by Rev. Herman Douglas, and he by Rev. John F. McLaren, whose pastorate continued until it