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Presbyterian Church of Freeland
Presbyterian
Church of Freeland - formerly Union
Presbyterian Church,
stands at 607 Front
Street. This partial view of the cornerstone was photographed a few
years ago when there was a lovely shrub in front of it, so the photo
shows the name but
not the dates on the cornerstone, 1894-1916.
In May 1894 contracter
A. K. Burger (or Berger) moved the Eckley
Presbyterian church to a new location in Freeland. The pulpit, seats
and lighting fixtures were stored in Williamson's stable and were
destroyed by fire the following month. The cornerstone was laid on
June 21, 1894 (from Charles Stumpf's notes). This postcard view and the
one at top left (same photo, colored differently) show the church
around that time at its new Front Street location. The photo at left
appears courtesy of Bob Zimmerman.A Brief History of the Freeland Presbyterian Church (from the church's 50th anniversary booklet in 1944)
Presbyterianism in Freeland grew from the shifting of Presbyterian families from the nearby vicinities of Eckley, Upper Lehigh and Sandy Run, all of which are older communities than Freeland, and in which churches had earlier been established. The Eckley Church was founded 1861, the Upper Lehigh Church in 1868, and the Sandy Run Church in 1886.
As Freeland grew
these outlying communities declined, and in
turn, their Presbyterians moved to Freeland. The first move was from
Eckley and in 1894 the Eckley Church building was moved to Freeland,
and erected upon the present site. Later in 1916,
during the pastorate
of Rev. Howard J. Bell, the Church was remodeled and the manse was
built. Then in 1918 the Upper Lehigh congregation agreed to become a
part of the Union Presbyterian Church of Freeland, though still holding
services in the Upper Lehigh Church. Later the Church building at Upper
Lehigh was sold and the membership of the Church transferred to
Freeland. In like manner the Sandy Run Church carried on in their
building until it was decided that they too would abandon the use of
their Church as a preaching place and they too came to Freeland. Photo
of Sandy Run Presbyterian Church appears courtesy of John Zubach.
In 1929 the name
Union Presbyterian Church was changed to the
Presbyterian Church of Freeland. A Sunday School was continued in the
Sandy Run Church and one preaching service per month until 1942, when
it was decided to discontinue services in the Sandy Run Church. The
Church building was in bad repair and it seemed best to sell the
building. This was done last year. The furniture was brought to the
Freeland Church, as weas the bell which has been hung in our belfry and
is to be dedicated as part of this Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration.
The bell had been presented to the Sandy Run Church by Mrs. Anna
Kemmerer in 1884, thus had called folks to worship at Sandy Run for 50
years, and it is appropriate that it should be dedicated again to begin
another half century of service for us as we begin our second fifty
years in this Church. The old bell which was taken from the Church
tower will be mounted and kept as a sacred memento in the Church.
Postcard image at left appears courtesy of Captain Clint.Pastors who have served the Freeland Presbyterian Church (this information comes from the 50th anniversary booklet and a Standard Spearker article from 1995, and is the most recent information that I have at present):
Rev. J. W. Bischoff, April 1893 to August 1903
Rev. John F. Nicholas,
September 1903 to July 1910Rev. William Usher, January 1911 to January 1914
Rev. Howard Bell, October 1915 to March 1918
Rev. Edwin R. Worrell, July 1919 to January 1930
Rev. T. Arthur Patterson, September 1930 to 1952
Rev. William Spangler, 1955-1957
Rev. Edward Breitback, 1958-1962
Rev. Thomas Francis, 1962-1969
Rev. Neal EArly, 1972-1976
Rev. Elizabeth Beck, 1973-1977
Rev. Steven Weightman, 1974-1977
Rev. Thomas MacAdam, 1981-1994
Rev. Eleanor Allen, 1994-?
These additional notes come from a Standard Speaker newspaper article from 1995: The building was dedicated in 1894 in Freeland and the church was incorporated on September 7, 1896. The church was rededicated on Easter Sunday 1917. In 1936 it was redecorated, and structural improvements were made in 1947. In 1952 a new heating plant was installed, and the next year the manse was redecorated, the sanctuary completely redecorated, and the organ rebuilt. The church was rededicated on September 22, 1953. (Also from Charles Stumpf's notes: while the church was being remodeled in 1916, services were held in the Mayberry Bank building, with pastor Edward J. Bell presiding)