Swamp Church Cemetery
Inscriptions from Tombstones in the Graveyard adjoining Swamp Church, West Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, copied by William Frederic Worner, librarian of The Lancaster County Historical Society, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1935.
The Swamp Reformed Church is one of the oldest congregations in northern Lancaster County. Settlers of the Reformed faith located in the vicinity of the Church as early as 1749. Muddy Creek Reformed Church is the mother Church{1732}. A preaching point was established at Michael Amwey's {now Swamp Church} about four miles distant from Muddy Creek as early as 1749. Professor W. J. Hinke, in his early history of Swamp Church is the authority for the following: " In the year 1754, Rev. John Waldschmidt, pastor of Muddy Creek Reformed Church, gave up Muddy Creek probably through the successful opposition of an independent preacher, named Mueller. To compensate for his loss a new Church was built in West Cocalico Township, at Michael Amweg's. In the extract of a Baptismal book at Michael Amweg's the first baptism is dated July 20, 1749. If the record of a baptism is sufficient evidence that an organized congregation was in existence at the time then Swamp Reformed Church was founded in 1749.
In 1806 the members of the congregation engaged in the erection of the present Church building, which is the second structure to occupy the site. By invitation of the Reformed Church congregation the Lutheran's joined in building this structure and have worshiped ever since alternately in the same building. The edifice was remodeled and restored to it's Colonial dignity and simplicity in 1933, under the leadership of the present pastor of the Swamp Reformed congregation, the Rev. Martin W. Schweitzer, Ph.D.
Adjoining the Church is a piece of ground 100 by 250 feet, which has been used for burial purposes since the organization of the congregation. On the West, a driveway, lined with Walnut, Locust, and Maple trees, separates the Church building from the graveyard, which is enclosed on the South by a wire fence; and on the East and North by a wooden fence.
On Saturday, June 22nd, 1935, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Goodhart, warm personal friends, we paid our first visit to Swamp Churchyard for the purpose of transcribing the epitaphs. The number of tombstones and the vast Genealogical information on them necessitated a return visit on the following Saturday. A week later, a third visit was made to verify the inscriptions transcribed the previous Saturday's. We were accompanied by the Goodhart's and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Cavin. Mr Cavin is a native of Basel, Switzerland, and his wife was born in Altamontal, Prischib, Ukraine, South Russia, but lived for a number of years in Berlin, Germany. These two friends rendered valuable service in translating not only the archaic German inscriptions but also those inscribed in the crude Pennsylvania-German dialect. Too much credit cannot be given to these two generous-hearted people for their unselfish and praise - worthy labors. It is doubtful if in the entire County of Lancaster there are four people who are more genuinely unselfish and who would be so willing to contribute their time and devote their energies and abilities to this fine service. Truly, they deserve not only the thanks of the Swamp Church congregations but also of all who are interested in preserving records of the past.
The graveyard is well worthy of a visit. It's ancient tombstones, with quaint carvings, are a delight to the antiquarian, and the genealogical information inscribed thereon is a treasure to the historian. The view of the surrounding country is surpassingly beautiful. The little Church, with it's quaint steeple, the graveyard nestling in a fertile valley, and the wooded hills in the distance, make a picture that would charm the eye of any lover of nature.
It is greatly to be regretted that when the Church was restored in 1933, some attention was not given to the graveyard. The wooden and wire fences should be removed, the tombstones straightened and placed in an upright position , and a stone wall, with an appropriate gateway in keeping with the architecture and hollowed surroundings of the fine old Church, should be placed around the churchyard. This would greatly enhance the beauty of the sacred edifice and give it a proper setting for so venerable a structure. A Church honors itself by honoring it's dead.
© Copyright 2000 JLG