T
he Universalist Church of Camp Hill is a sacred square bell tower rises above the steep grade of the church place where people to come together to share building, and simple spires flank the bell casing. the love of God and community. The Church In 1961, the Universalist congregation found common community puts an emphasis on learning and ground with the Unitarian faith, and the two consolidated helping each other. Their passions and values stretch far in 1961, forming the Unitarian Universalist Association. into the community’s past, from those who continue to The parentage of the Universalist Church includes a build the Church that graces long list of proud warriors downtown Camp Hill to those for the community, including who invested their hearts in it local brickmaker, the Rev. through more than a hundred Britten Conine, along with years of history. the Rev. Clarence Skinner, Once the largest Universalist Mary Slaughter Scott and past Church in the southeastern president of the Church, Barbara United States, First Universalist Jane Taylor. After Taylor’s Church of Camp Hill originally passing in 2018, CJ Marbutt met under a brush arbor in 1846 was awarded the position of on the present site of Mt. Lovely the president of the Church. A Baptist Church. A simple cabin 2022 Bayard Rustin Community soon replaced the arbor and and Leadership Award winner, served until 1884 when a larger Marbutt is committed to wood-frame church was built continuing the Church’s legacy on the current site. The stately within Camp Hill. red brick church that still stands “We need to take time to be today was completed in 1907. still and listen to remember that Designed by Birmingham we are in this together; and then architect Daniel A. Helmich, once we do that, we need each the building was completed other as allies and as partners to with mostly local indigenous affect the change in the world labor and represents a blend of that we need to see because traditional and simple Gothic we can’t do anything alone,” styles. Round windows top Marbutt said. “It goes back to the Beauty Past and Present keystone arches that frame whole idea of resurrection.” Above: An ornate wood-clad Bible was gifted stained glass windows above In April, the followers of to the Church in the 1800s; Below: Stained glass the double front doors, and windows bear witness to the Church's founders; many world religions, including Facing Page: The Camp Hill Universalist Church Universalist Christians, will a spectacular triple-arched features traditional and Gothic architectural window of stained glass celebrate festivals of rebirth, like elements. commands the front view. A Easter. The congregation studies
28 Lake Martin Living
