Church | St. Peter's Christ DeLong United Churches of Christ

ST. PETER'S & CHRIST DELONG UNITED CHURCHES OF CHRIST

Sharing a joint ministry and a common mission since 1991

HOME

St. Peter's UCC, Topton, PA
Worship Service begins at 9:00am

Christ DeLong, UCC, Bowers, PA
Worship Service begins at 10:30am

Our churches are located in beautiful, rural Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Situated comfortably between Allentown and Reading, the area boasts many advantages.

Our proximity to larger metropolitan cities allows access to major business opportunities, quality medical care, and the treasures of the fine art world. Colleges and universities abound, as well as regional cultural and heritage events.

We are two separate congregations enjoying the benefits of a joint ministry since 1991.

Our congregations have a long history of sharing God's word together, and with the larger community around us.

We hope to share God's word with you!

Missed a service? Click on the link to view our services on YouTube.

Video

ABOUT

Our mission, as a combined ministry, includes the common purpose to live as God's people by sharing the faith with our community and beyond. Through service, spiritual growth, fellowship, preaching, teaching, caring and love, we strive to honor our traditions while looking to the future.

St. Peter's History

The institutional religious life in Topton began sometime between 1865 and 1869 when a Sunday School was formed. Excelsior Subscription School housed the Sunday School for a period of time. On October 29, 1871, St. Peter's Union Church was established. Rev. A.J. Herman was the Reformed Pastor and Rev. B.E. Kramlich was the Lutheran Pastor. The cornerstone of the first church building was laid on the same site as the Subscription School building. In 1881 the church was rebuilt and enlarged. Beginning January 1913, the two congregations severed their relationship. On May 11, 1924, blueprints were prepared for a new church building. On Sunday, September 24, 1925, the cornerstone for the new building was laid at its current location. The first service occurred on Palm Sunday, 1926 and the building was dedicated on June 5, 1927. In 1934, the Reformed Church in the United States and the Evangelical Synod of North America merged, forming a "Plan of Union". In 1957, St. Peter's elected to join the Evangelical and Reformed Church with the Congregational Christian Churches. St. Peter's separated from the charge in 1964. In 1991, it was approved by both St. Peter's and Christ DeLong to share a joint ministry that

continues to this day.

Christ DeLong's History

The German Reformed congregation was started in 1759. Peter Delong (Delangh) donated two acres of land and a log cabin was erected to serve as the first sanctuary. The first regular pastor to serve was

Rev. John Henry Helffrich who served from

1772 until 1810. Rev. Charles G. Herman, served the longest pastorate from 1810 to 1861. During his pastorate, Zion's Church at Maxatawny was organized and became a part of his charge.

In 1859, the church became a "union" church. His son, Rev. Alfred J. Herman, served the two congregations for thirty-one years. During his pastorate, St. Peter's Church in Topton was organized. In that same year, St. Peter's and St. Paul's Reformed Church in Kutztown were united in a separate charge. In 1892, The Maxatawny Charge was formed by combining the four churches, served by Rev. George B. Smith, D.D. for almost forty-five years. After his death, St. Paul's separated from the charge. In 1937, Rev. Franklin D. Slifer, D.D. became pastor of the Maxatawny Charge. During the years, the name of the church changed from Christ DeLong's Reformed Church to The Christ (DeLong's) Evangelical & Reformed Church and to the present name, Christ DeLong United Church of Christ.

ABOUT

EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

All dates and times are subject to change.

If you have any questions about an event, please contact the church office at (610) 682-7633.

Christmas Eve Services

December 24, 2025 ~ 6:30 pm ~ Christ DeLong, UCC, 63 Old Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

8:30 pm ~ St. Peter's UCC, St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ *Updated times*

Joint Contemporary Worship Service and Dale Cullin Memorial Breakfast

January 11, 2026 ~ 9:00 am ~ St. Peter's UCC, St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ Sign-up sheets for the Dale Cullin Memorial Breakfast will be located in the Narthex.

Congregational Meetings

January 18, 2026 ~ 9:00 am ~ St. Peter's UCC, St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ 10:30 am ~ Christ DeLong, UCC, 63 Old Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

~ Annual Congregational Meetings will follow the regular church service at each church.

Installation of Council/Consistory

January 25, 2026 ~ 9:00 am ~ St. Peter's UCC, St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ 10:30 am ~ Christ DeLong, UCC, 63 Old Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

~ Please join us in welcoming the new Council/Consistory of each church.

Souper Bowl of Caring

February 2026

~ While the big game captures the national attention, nutrition insecurity remains a major challenge in the United States. Souper Bowl of Caring helps to make sure "no one goes without a bowl of soup to eat." Join us as we mobilize the community to fight hunger! The idea is simple, but powerful: SMALL GIFTS, BIG IMPACT. For over 35 years, Souper Bowl of Caring has generated over $220 million for local food charities in all fifty states. Join St. Peter's and Christ DeLong UCCs in collecting items for the Brandywine Food Pantry for the month of February. Money and paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, tissues) are being collected. Money will be collected in a soup pot and the paper products will be collected in a box in each Narthex.

St. Peter's UCC Soup & Sandwich Sale

February 14, 2026 ~ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm ~ St. Peter's UCC, St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ St. Peter's UCC will be having a Chicken Corn Noodle Soup and Ham & Cheese Sandwich Sale on Saturday, February 14th from 9am to Noon. Soup is $7 per quart and sandwiches are $5 each. To order, please call the church office at 610-682-7633 by February 7th. There will also be baked goods available for sale. Thank you for your support!

RECURRING EVENTS:

Bible Study

1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month ~ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ~ Christ DeLong, UCC, 63 Old Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

~ From the Epistles (New Testament letters), to the Psalms, to the Gospels, we will delve into the scriptures and study what they mean for our lives. Join us the first and third Tuesday of each month from 2:00 - 3:00 pm, at Christ DeLong UCC and hear good conversation centered around God's word.

Joint Sunday School

3rd Sunday of each month ~ 10:30 am ~ Christ DeLong, UCC, 63 Old Bowers Rd., Bowers, PA 19511

~ All children are welcome to attend Sunday School during the church service.

Mat-Weaving Ministry

3rd Saturday of each month ~ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm ~ St. Peter's, UCC, 122 W. Franklin St., Topton, PA 19562

~ Join us to weave mats for our local homeless population, distributed through the Opportunity House. They are used as waterproof sleeping mats to lay on and each mat requires 500-700 plastic grocery bags! All ages are welcome to help - no experience or tools necessary. We need folders, cutters and weavers. The more, the merrier! Please use the back entrance to St. Peter's UCC and go down the steps.
**At this time we do not need for any more bag donations. Thank you to everyone who brought some in for this project!**

GALLERY