Egg Hill Church

Egg Hill Church is a historic church located at Potter Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1860, and is a one-story, banked building built of pine on a stone foundation. It measures 35 feet wide and 42 feet long. Regular services at the church were suspended in 1927. The church is located at the southwest end of Egg Hill.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Potters Mills PA - Egg Hill Church...

Before the 1800s, the German immigrants were settling this area. Most of the immigrants were farmers. They had a circuit riding minister who travel on horseback to the area. During his six week trip, he would travel in a circle and visit as many homes as possible and conduct church services. People would have church in their homes. Rev. Philip Fithian, was one of these ministers. He traveled Penns Valley as early as 1775.

Jacob Albright started the Evangelical movement. He started to preach in 1796. Had a lot of followers and 1806 there was a major revival movement and Jacob Albright was elected Bishop. During this time he came to Centre County to preach in pioneer homes, including John Dauberman’s home on Egg Hill.

By the 1830s, there were enough followers and it was realistic to build a church. Circuit riding ministers would have as many as four to six homes where they was hold services. By 1838 the first Evangelical log church was built on Egg Hill.

In 1860, the old log church was replaced with the current building. The simple wooden structure, which was built entirely of pine, reflected the simplicity and humility of its evangelical founders.

Regular weekly services were held on Egg Hill until 1927 when the church closed. They would continue to have an annual Homecoming Service. The service is held the last Sunday in September. There will be a Homecoming Service this September 2024.

This section is attributed to Centre County, PA historian Vonnie Henniger.

Chronological order of events:

1800 – Evangelical Association was founded by Jacob Albright. These associations were popular in the predominately German communities of central Pennsylvania.

1838 – John and Mary Dauberman donated land on what the locals called Egg Hill. The original log church was built on this property. An adjoining cemetery, the Dauberman Egg Hill Cemetery saw its first recorded burial. Daniel Waggoner was a Revolutionary War veteran and lived close by the church. The last burial allowed in the Cemetery occurred in 2016. See the link below for a list of those buried here.

1860 – The original log church was replaced by the current building. Congregation members built the simple wooden structure using pine wood which reflected the simplicity and humility of its founders.

1927 – For many years, the Dauberman, Hennig(h), Dillman and other local families supported the Egg Hill Church until it suspended regular services. The only time the church was used after this year was for an annual Homecoming Service, along with sporadic weddings and other special events.

1970 – When it was determined that the church steeple was beyond repair, it was removed.

1979 – With the church badly in need of many repairs, the Egg Hill Conservancy was established by Centre County Historian, Vonnie Henniger, Lynn Miller and other interested parties. Had this Conservancy not been formed, Egg Hill Church would have been sold and the building would have been razed.

1979 – The Egg Hill Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. (#79002189)

1988 – The church was used to in a film documentary on William Penn’s vision of creating a utopian community where religious freedom and toleration would be observed.

2019 – After inspections were done at the church, the building itself was deemed safe, but the foundation was in poor condition and needed to be replaced. A GoFundMe account was established and that work was completed in 2020.

2024 – There are several repairs needed to the building. The wood siding on the outside back of the building, shutters and windows need to be replaced. The eaves and soffit need immediate attention also, and it is not known how long it will be until the roof will have to be replaced. After many years as caretaker of the property, Vonnie Henniger has requested that Beth Kennedy take her place. A new Preservation group is being formed with the intention of raising funds to cover these repairs.