CAMP HILL, Pa. — Editor's note: The attached video is from Oct. 14.
The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) has announced plans to explore transferring ownership of the historic Peace Church in Camp Hill to the Friends of Peace Church, a group that currently manages operations at the property.
The potential change in stewardship follows the conclusion of a bid process supported by local stakeholders that PHMC led to move towards establishing a long-term lease for the Peace Church property.
The bidding period closed last week and ended without receiving any bids.
Although there were no bids for the long-term lease, the Friends of Peach Church, who manage the operations at the property, recently voted to pursue ownership of Peace Church.
PHMC has reportedly begun discussions with the Friends of Peace Church to ensure that Peace Church remains accessible to the public and is preserved for future generations.
The church has sat on top of a Hampden Township hill since 1798 and played a pivotal role in the Civil War.
“General Lee called the troops back and had they gotten past here, Gettysburg may not even be on the map," said Don Paul Shearer, president of the West Shore Historical Society.
For over five decades, the church- which is also a museum- has been owned by the state and operated through the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.