Donegal Presbyterian Church
Mount Joy, Lancaster County, PA
Built ca. 1740
Donegal Presbyterian Church, 1891 Donegal Springs Rd, Mount Joy, PA 17552
This is one of the oldest continually operating churches in Lancaster County. The original church on the left was built ca. 1740. The education building on the right is from 1958.
History in Churches and Cemeteries
of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania:
Donegal Presbyterian Church
1721 - Church organized and first log church built
1721 - 1727 - Served by itinerant missionary preachers
1727 - First resident minister
1740 - Present church built; land purchased
1777 - Witness Tree Oath, in support of George Washington’s troops
Source: Churches and Cemeteries of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, A. Hunter Rineer, 1993, page 116. LancasterHistory
Above: Limestone wall around the cemetery.
Above: Limestone wall around the cemetery. Built 1791. Rebuilt 1893.
Description in Our Present Past (1985)
By the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County:
Donegal Presbyterian Church, Donegal Springs Road, west of Colebrook Road; part c. 1740; one and one-half story, three bay stuccoed stone church; two entries; gambrel roof; nine over six sash on five side bays; matching addition; nearby brick office dates from early 1800’s; site of Witness Tree event at beginning of the Revolution; congregation organized c. 1720; land patented in 1740. Our Present Past, page 119, Historic Preservaton Trust of Lancaster County.
Above: In 1925 the Donegal Society constructed this memorial gateway into the church grounds. Two limestone pillars serve as gateposts.
Above sign: Donegal Presbyterian Church / Founded Prior to 1721.
Above: This abundantly flowing spring of water encouraged early settlers to choose this location for their church.
Above: The church ca. 1902, before additions. Image source: An Authentic History of Donegal Presbyterian Church, J. L. Ziegler, 1902
The Limestone Bedrock and Building Stone
at Donegal Presbyterian Church:
Above: Multiple limestone formations have provided building stone here in East Donegal Township, Lancaster County. Apparently the church’s building stone came from the limestone on site. Image source: PaGEODE.