A Brief History of the Churches of God

     The Church of God was founded by John Winebrenner in 1825.  John Winebrenner was born March 25, 1797, on the family farm in Fredrick County, Maryland.  He was a member of the German Reformed Church.  He was ordained on September 24, 1820, at the Synod of the German Reformed Church at Hagarstown, Maryland, and accepted the invitation to pastor the Salem Reformed Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on October 4, 1820.

     The 1822, Winebrenner had serious disagreements with the vestry of the church.  They accused him of not consulting with them on church affairs.  They objected to his having preached a sermon at the Methodist Church, holding long, frequent prayer meetings in private homes, and several other things.

     On March 23, 1823, Winebrenner engaged Mr. Brown, who was not a minister in the German Reformed Synod, to preach a sermon for him so that he could conduct a funeral in the country.  One of the vestrymen kept the church doors locked so that the service could not take place.  Winbrenner met with the vestry but could not agree to their regulations.  The following Sunday he found the church doors locked and the congregation gathered outside.  About half of them followed him to the banks of the Susque-hanna River two blocks away where he had the morning service.  The rest of the congregation voted to absolve itself of all relationships with Winebrenner.

    In 1825, the Synod sided with the vestry.  Winebrenner began to dissolve his ties with the German Reformed Church and became an 'independent' minister in the Harrisburg area.  Converts from his increasing revivals and camp meetings began to look to him as their pastor and worshipped with him wherever they could find a place.

    On May 9, 1826, his congregation voted to build a new church.  The cornerstone was laid on May 12, 1827, and the new building was called the Union Bethel.  In 1829, Winebrenner published 'A Brief View of the Formation, Government, and Discipline of the Church of God'.  By 1830, several of the local churches of God had established in the Harrisburg area.  In October of 1830, several of the churches organized an eldership, although Winebrenner had originally opposed forming a new denomination.  In 1844, Winebrenner's religious opinions, theological position, and the emphasis of the Church of God were summed up in twenty-seven points in 'The Avowed Principles of the Church of God in the United States'.

    For More Detailed History on this Period - The Church of God: Origins

     As more and more people came to hear Winebrenner preach and to read his writings, Churches of God were established in other towns in Pennsylvania and later in neighboring states.  John Winebrenner died on September 12, 1860.

     Today there are Churches of God in nineteen states:  Alabama, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.  There are also missions in New Mexico and three foreign countries:  Haiti, Bangladesh, and India.  The official name of the denomination is now The Churches of God General Conference.  Headquarters of the church is now located in Findlay, Ohio, together with Findlay University and Winebrenner Seminary.

For Further Detail - Visit

History of the Churches of God by Richard Kern

Also visit our other churches online:

CGGC Churches ONLINE