At the present time we are not aware of a single church organization within Pike Township. This condition arises probably from various causes. It is not, we presume, because the people are morally so good and perfect that they have no need of the restraining and salutary effects of churches; neither is it because they are so far the reverse of this that they repel them from their midst. But there is no town of any magnitude that forms a center and a nucleus upon which to lay the foundation and draw from the sourrounding country the necessary support. the township, as has been stated, contains several large farms, and hence is rather sparsely settled; and it is quite probable that among the scattered population there is quite a diversity of opinions on doctrinal points, and in consequence a limited number of any one faith and doctrine — too limited to secure and support a denominational church. But we find there have been church organizations in the township, and it comes within our province as historians to record upon these pages such facts as we can glean of their history in by-gone days.
Methodist Episcopal Church. — Early in the settlement on Barron Run the Methodists organized a class, and it is believed it was organized by John Rathburn, who, with the Allens, the Carrs and some others, were probably members of the first class. They held their meetings for many years in private houses and in the schoolhouse; but about 1832-33, they erected a frame building for church purposes, which still stands on the Worthington road, but in a very dilapidated condition, and, of course, unused. Meetings and services were held in this house till about 1865-66. At one time this society was quite large and prosperous, but from death, moving away and from other causes, the church waned and finally became extinct. Among the early ministers who preached here were Rev. Morrison, Elder William Raper, Elder George Walker, Rev. Chase and Rev. Webster.
Protestant Methodist Church. — About the year 1840, a few persons, of whom John H. Surfus was the leader, caused the erection of a brick church in the west part of the village of Liverpool, in which was organized a Protestant Methodist society. The class embraced the following persons: John H. Surfus and wife, I. Whitcomb and wife, some of the Williams family and a few others. This society continued as an organization but a few years, as, after the death of its leader and principal supoprt, Mr. Surfus, it dwindled away and the property was sold to the Catholics, who held services here for several years, when their organization was removed to Mechanicsburg, since which the church building has stood unoccupied. We have been informed that at quite an early day there was an organization of a Christian Church on Little Darby, but it has long been extinct, and, as we failed to obtain any definite information of their organization, we simply give the above.