The Historic Salem Chapel is a genuine Methodist Episcopal meeting house that started as a class meeting and eventually grew to a Methodist society of the Methodist movement in Mechanicsburg.

Built in 1818, this meeting house is the third oldest church still in use church in the Cumberland Valley, with Silver Spring Presbyterian Meeting House first established in 1784, and the Historic Peace Church established in 1798.

The land and stone donated by the Abraham Stayman family, the church was first known as the Stayman Meeting House.

This privately owned structure built on a knoll in the valley by the Stayman family drew some attention. Many people believed by the way the Stayman’s were dressed that they were Quaker or Mennonite or Dunkards.

It could be that the Stayman’s originally thought to build a “Quaker” meeting house. But both Methodist Episcopal and the Society of Friends say it never was a Quaker meeting house. 

Many people in the nearby village of mechanics and iron ore workers establish a faith community which became the catalyst for the Mechanicsburg Union Church which erected a church on Main Street in Mechanicsburg in 1825. Prior to the church being built, these believers were known to walk to Salem Chapel to gather with the Staymans or gather in homes for worship and Christian fellowship.

 In 1818, Jacob Gruber, a Methodist Episcopal circuit rider originally on the Carlisle circuit, was sought out by members of the Stayman class (meeting).

Jacob Gruber is consistent described as eccentric, ultraconservative, individualistic, old-fashioned Methodist. He was a vigorous opponent of newfangled ideas yet an outstanding and wise leader of his generation. He was a personal friend of Francis Asbury who had ordained him. 

Both Rev. Jacob Gruber and the Staymans were Pennsylvania German, and the Christian friendship was strong between them. Rev. Jacob eventually becomes the presiding elder of the meeting house. 

The Stayman family were class members converting to Methodism under Gruver’s ministry that eventually became a Methodist society.

In 1828, the meeting house, still owned by the Stayman’s, was sold for $200 to the Methodist Episcopal Church. At this point, it is renamed the Salem Meeting House. 

The Stayman’s were generationally established with the Methodist meeting house through three sons: Joseph, Abraham and Christian. All of them generously supported the church and served as class leaders it’s local Methodist Society. Christian Stayman became one of the first Trustees of Dickinson College. 

In the 1860’s, the United States entered into the Civil War. As written in the book Here Come the Rebels in June 1863, a Virginia Calvary regiment and artillery battalion under General Jenkins advanced to the Salem Church yard where the Confederate troops positioned their canons toward the area of Sporting Hill where Union troops were located on Eberly’s farm … that’s about 1 mile east of here.

To give context, the Rebels were aiming for Rt 581 and the area just before the Sporting Hill Elementary School.

Susquehanna (Central PA) Conference records trace the pastoral appointments from 1893 to 1922. During this time, the Salem Chapel was affiliated with the Camp Hill, Boiling Springs, Hickorytown and Pine Grove circuit.

In 1922, the district superintendent’s report showed Salem Chapel with a role of four adult members and five others under 15 years old – 9 total. The church was unable to continue as an appointment. 

The church stood in disuse then from 1922 to 1954. Weather conditions cause considerable damage, especially to the roof and the interior of the building, which was near collapse.

In 1953, the trustees and members of the Wesley Church congregation in Mechanicsburg (thank you) undertook the task to repair, renovate and reopen Salem Chapel for use again. 

The roof was repaired first. 

The original kerosene chandelier and the wall lamps were electrified. 

The pump organ was restored. 

The original 20 pews and pulpit refinished and painted.

The interior of the church painted, keeping the colonial aesthetics. 

The carpet was donated and installed by Maslands & Sons of Carlisle. 

A furnace was installed.

An outhouse was built where a utility shed now stands.

In 1954, much of the repair was done by interested local folks who eventually became the charter members that reopened the chapel.

In 1954, Reverend O.B. Paulson was the minister that reorganized the church and threw his inspiration and hard work as a new congregation was formed. 

In the reopening of Salem Chapel, a white swamp oak tree was planted to the left of the chapel by Reverend Polson. When the tree was planted, Paulson remarked “as long as the tree lives so shall the church” A plaque with his name was placed on the tree during the period when Karen Layman served here in the early 90s.

In 1962, the education building was built on the property. This was a two-story structure with modern plumbing, indoor bathrooms, Sunday School rooms, a fellowship hall and kitchen.

In 1963, the (then) Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical United Brethren Church purchased land from Oscar Shafffer and Delbrook Manor of Mechanicsburg.

It was during the 1963 session of Annual Conference that William Garrett was assigned the first Pastor to the Delbrook Mission Church and to Grace EUB Church of Enola.

In July 1968, the Reverend Richard Felty was appointed pastor of Delbrook Community Church.

With the union of the Methodist Church and the EUB Church to become the United Methodist Church, the Salem Chapel and Delbrook Mission Church congregation were joined together in 1970 to become Hope United Methodist Church. 

Delbrook Manor is located in the area of Trindle Bowl on the Trindle Road.

In 1970, the Reverend James Schell was the first minister of Hope UM Church. He was the longest tenured appointment. The parsonage at Delbrook was retained for the Schell family.

In 1981, the Reverend William Walker and his wife Shirley were appointed to Hope UMC. 

In 1991, Karen Layman was appointed at Hope UMC until 1994.

In 1994, Rick Denison was appointed to Hope UMC. Denison decided that a larger modern sanctuary was due. In the middle 90s, the large multi-purpose sanctuary and lower level classrooms were carved out of solid limestone to expand ministry potential on our campus. Denison led the church through this monumental project and also coordinated work teams from across the Conference to lend support.

In 2002, Denison, an US Army chaplain, was deployed to Iraq for the Gulf War.

Pastors continue to serve Hope UMC to this day, and a currently listing is posted inside Salem Chapel.

Our website shows all three buildings on our campus at 6260 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg.

If you wish to visit our campus and the historic Salem Chapel, you can find us here every Sunday morning in our main building on campus. We would be happy to open the door for you

Salem Chapel is available to rent upon request.