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St. Paul United Church of Christ in Shrewsbury is celebrating its 185th anniversary.

Church: St. Paul United Church of Christ, 161 S. Main St., Shrewsbury, 235-7003

Pastor: The Rev. John Denlinger

Founded: 1822

Events:

3 to 5 p.m. Sunday: Open house and light supper

7 p.m. Sunday: Anniversary service

History:

In 1822, land was deeded to the Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed congregations in what was then Shrewsbury Township.

The Reformed congregation was originally one of nine congregations in the Shrewsbury charge and offered both German- and English-language services.

A log schoolhouse was built and religious services held there until the construction of a church was finished in the winter of 1825-26. The union was called Solomons church.

The congregations shared space until the Reformed congregation purchased the Lutherans' share in the building in 1877 (the Lutherans became Christ Lutheran Church).

A new church building was dedicated in 1883 in southern Shrewsbury at the corner of a public road and the York/Baltimore turnpike (now Church Avenue and South Main Street).

After denominations merged, the congregation became part of the United Church of Christ in 1957.

Today, an average of 40 congregants gather for 10:15 a.m. worship Sundays. Adult Sunday school meets at 9 a.m.

The Rev. John Denlinger was serving half time until April when he began full-time work to try to help the congregation grow. He'd like to start a prayer group, contemporary

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worship service and a coffee house.

Source: Church records