About Us - St. Pauls United Church of Christ

St. Paul's UCC in Woodstock may be the oldest congregation in this part of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The German settler families of the Reformed faith had already been gathering occasionally for worship, when in May of 1748 the Rev. Michael Schlatter visited the town of Muellerstadt - now Woodstock. Here he preached and baptized many, as he noted in his diary, before continuing on his way. The first church building was a log structure erected well before the first full-time pastor came in the 1770's. It was located on the land which is at Church and South Streets. The land is still the site of the church cemetery containing graves of the early settlers, including the aide to General George Washington, Cpl. John Effinger, and others from the mid-twentieth century.

The present church building was begun in 1869, following the Civil War, after the old building had reportedly been used as a stable by the Union forces. In any case, it had outlived its usefulness. In addition to an 1896 renovation, the church has had numerous additions and renovations to provide for the educational, worship, fellowship, and service needs of the congregation and the community. St. Paul's church grew out of the Reformed Church of Germany and Switzerland, dating to the time of the Reformation of the 16th century. The Reformed Church traces its roots to the leadership of Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) in Zurich. From 1725 on German settlers brought their religion into the Shenandoah Valley from Pennsylvania and New York. Some came over the mountains from places like Germanna, Virginia east of the Blue Ridge, or south from Fredericktown - now Winchester. The German Reformed Church is an example of the developing American tradition of church life.

In uniting with the sister German Evangelical church of North America in 1934, the church became the Evangelical and Reformed church. Then in 1957 was the birth of the United Church of Christ through the forming of the newer church with the Congregational - Christian Denomination, itself the result of a merger in 1929. St. Paul's rich history includes the fostering of the Massanutten Academy, an educational institution for learning, which has served the community when there was a lack of public educational facilities. In 1910 the Church also supported the founding of Hoffman Homes for Youth in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, and continues to support this unique institution. Through the years the church has supported the mission program of the denomination in World-Wide concern for the needs of humanity, as well as programs of need in the community. It is always responsive to the needs and concerns of its members, as it is guided by the Holy Spirit. St. Paul's has always joined in the efforts of the local Christian community in worship and service.

Rev. Michael Schlatter 1748

Rev. Runkel, Stock, Wynant and Land visited 1748-1778

Rev. Snyder and Rev. Meyer 1779-1787

Rev. B. F. Willey 1787, 1907-1810

Rev. Hoffman 1796 - 1807

Rev. George Schneider (Supply) 1810-1819

Rev. George Leidy 1819 - 1821

Rev. Jacob Mayer 1822-1825

Rev. Dietrick Graves 1829-1832

Rev. J. Dieffenbacher 1832-1839

Rev. W. Colliflower 1839-1840

Rev. Jeremiah Heller 1840-1842

Rev. John Hoffmeier 1843-1845

Rev. J. Brittell 1845-1849

Reverend John Wolff 1850-1858

Reverend Daniel Feete 1858-1862

Reverend George Martin 1865-1884

Reverend Arthur Kline 1885-1893

Reverend N. H. Skyles 1893-1907

Reverend J. S. Hartman 1908-1910

Reverend A. W. Barley 1910-1914

Reverend M. Noacker 1914-1916

Reverend W. H. Causey 1916-1922

Reverend Robert L. Bair 1924-1928

Reverend Wayne H. Bowers 1929-1932

Reverend John B. Frantz 1933-1937

Reverend William T. Brundick 1938-1942

Reverend J. Bucher (Supply) 1942-1945

Reverend Ed Hamme (Supply) 1945-1946

Reverend Ed A Lautenschlager 1947-1952

Reverend Kenneth Bishop 1952-1963

Reverend Daniel Kasten 1964-1982

Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Clower, Jr. (Supply) 1982-1983

Reverend Dr. Jerrold L. Foltz 1983-1996

Reverend David E. Byers, Sr. (Interim Minister) 1996-1997

Reverend Barbara J. Rhodes 1997-2006

Reverend James Smith, Jr. (Interim Pastor) 2006-2007 Reverend Julie Overman 2007-2010

Reverend Dr. Charles Wood, II (Interim Pastor) 2010-2011

Reverend Peter Mitchell 2012-2015

Rev. Clara Young (Part-time Interim) 2015 - 2019

Rev. Anne Findlay-Chamberlain 2019 -

ST. PAUL’S UCC, WOODSTOCK VA
by Bill Dalke, III, February 2022
Hundreds of years ago, during medieval times, when most people were illiterate and could not afford Bibles, churches began providing stained glass picture books - stained glass windows that tell Bible stories. To this day, stained glass windows are prominent and beautiful aspects of many churches – such as St. Paul’s UCC – but the faith stories they tell are often not noticed.

For example, as a child, sitting with my family during worship, I would gaze at the stained-glass windows, my eyes eventually wandering to a snake on a cross in the window above the organ. That stained glass picture tells the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, turning against God, who sent poisonous snakes to punish the people. The Israelites repented and God told Moses to make a serpent of bronze and lift it up on a pole and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person need only look up at the bronze serpent and live. (Numbers 21.8-9)
Jesus used this Old Testament story to make the point that just as Moses lifted up the bronze snake in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up (on a Cross) that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. (John 3.14)
CAN YOU FIND THE FOLLOWING STAINED-GLASS PICTURES IN ST. PAUL’S UCC? DO YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY THEY EACH TELL?
Jesus Praying in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26.30-56)
Lamp and Book – A lamp is an ancient symbol of the importance of education and learning. The open book is a symbol of the Bible, open to all who want to learn the Word of God.
Noah’s Ark and the Great Flood (Genesis 6.5-8.22)
Dove with Olive Branch in Mouth – refers to the end of the Great Flood when a dove returns to Noah’s ark with a sign (olive branch) of dry land (Genesis 8).
Two Doves Descending – Descending Doves represent the Holy Spirit. Also, Mary and Joseph, following the Law of Moses, took the baby Jesus to Jerusalem to “present him to the Lord” and offered a sacrifice, according to the Law of Moses, of a pair of turtledoves (Luke 2.21-24).
Descending Dove and Baptismal Font – In the story of Jesus’ Baptism, the Holy Spirit descended “like a dove” (Mark1.10)
Open Bible and Descending Dove – God’s Word (Bible) and Holy Spirit (Descending Dove) is open to all.
Open Book – The Bible is open to all who desire to learn from it.
Triangle and Descending Dove – A Triangle is the symbol for the Holy Trinity three ways of understanding God: God the Father (Parent, Creator), God the Son (Christ, Messiah), God the Holy Spirit (descending on us like a peaceful dove).
Harp – An ancient musical instrument used in praise of God especially related to King David’s Psalms (Psalm 150, 2 Samuel 6.5).
Cross and Crown – Symbolizing the reward in Heaven (Crown) coming after the trials of this life (James 1.12). Also, the empty Cross symbolizes the crucified and risen Christ who is King (Crown) of all.
Crown – Represents Jesus as Lord and King the three points of the Crown symbolize the Holy Trinity.
Purple or Red Heart and Cross – The Heart symbolizes Love. Love is the greatest teaching of Christianity (John 3.16, I Corinthians 13.13). The empty Cross reminds us that Jesus the Promised Christ was crucified and rose to life again.
10 Commandments – Represented by two tablets.
Chalice, Bread, Grapes, Stalk of Wheat – Symbolizes the Sacrament of Holy Communion (Lord’s Supper).
Sheaf of Wheat and Sickle – Symbolizes the harvest a reminder of the autumn of life.
Sheaf of Wheat Bound and Ready to be Taken to the Barn – Jesus’ parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13.24-30).
Easter Lilies – Represent the joyous resurrection of Jesus.
Lamb Resting on Book with Seven Seals – The Book of Revelation (Last Book of the Bible) tells of the Lamb of God (Jesus) opening the seven seals that had been sealed by God, announcing the second coming of the Christ.
Addendum: The cornerstone of the current church building was laid August 15, 1867. The church building was completed Fall 1868. “Extensive repairs” to the church building were made 1894-95. The Narthex window is dedicated to Rev. George H. Martin D.D., Pastor 1865-1884. Rev. Martin died 1887, aged 71 years. As St. Paul’s Pastor, Rev. Martin made two or more trips to German Reformed churches in Maryland and Pennsylvania to raise money for the building of St. Paul’s in its current location. “He secured the handsome amount of $4500 for the new church.” The original church building was made of logs and over 100 years old located next to the German Reformed Cemetery at the current corner of Church and South Streets. It is likely that the current stained-glass windows were installed prior to the 20th century.

Mary Danley Catlett has been a life-long member of St. Paul's since arriving at the tender age of 4 years old! Although she is a Retired Family Nurse Practitioner, she continues to substitute at the local elementary school as a School Nurse where she cares for children who have a special place in her heart. As a lover of music, she has followed in her mother's (Julia Danley Lambert) footsteps as Music Director. She enjoys directing, writing, and arranging music for the choirs and bell ringers of St. Paul's. She also directs the Singing Christmas Tree held at St. Paul's, which has become a community favorite. Mary...

St. Paul's UCC

St. Paul's History

Ministers who served st. paul's

Stained Glass Stories

Current Staff Members

Rev. Anne Findlay-Chamberlain

Settled Pastor

Becky Lytton

Secretary

Mary Catlett

Music Director

Emily Koon

Organist

Patty Snarr

Pianist

Jorge and Belquis Lake

Cleaning Service Team

St. Paul's UCC