Title–9 | 10–19 | 20–29 | 30–31 32–33 34–35 36–37 38–39 | 40–49 | 50–59 | 60–69 | 70–79 | 80–89 | 90–99 | 100–109 | 110–119 | 120–129 | 130–139 | 140–151
38
ST. JOSEPH'S CHAPEL
ST. MARK'S CHAPEL
39
South Bethlehem Moravian Church
The history of the First Moravian Church, on the corner of Packer Avenue and Elm Street, dates back to the years immediately preceding the Civil War. The congregation had its origin in the successful Sunday School work which the late Miss Amanda Jones, of the Bethlehem Moravian Church, began on the south side of the Lehigh, May 1,1859. In June of the same year, the Rev. Lewis P. Kampmann, President of the Moravian Theological Seminary, conducted the first church service in the District School House. With the exception of the services begun in 1850 at Oppelt’s Water Cure on the site of St. Luke’s Hospital for the benefit of the patients and summer guests, this was the first Moravian work on the south side.
Two years after Miss Jones had commenced her efficient labors, the Sunday School and the services were transferred to a vacant grain depot near the railroad, the school-house being too small to accommodate the rapidly-growing Sunday School any longer. At this time the population of the town was about 950. Before long the south-side Moravians became anxious to have a congregation and a church of their own. This desire was fulfilled, December 25, 1862, when the congregation was formally organized in the old grain-house. Some time later the corner-stone of the first church was laid on the lot donated by the Honorable Asa Packer and located “between Schreiner and Birch Streets back of Hauck’s at the edge of the woods." This building, now known as “Christmas Hall," while still in an unfinished state was sold to the trustees of the newly-founded Lehigh University, April, 1866.
The congregation then chose the present site for the erection of another edifice, and on March 29, 1868, the consecration of the new church took place. For over forty years the members worshipped in this building, when it was replaced by the beautiful, modern, thirty-thousand dollar brown-stone brick church, formally opened to the worship of God and the service of man, May 28, 1911. The equipment of the present church includes a splendid gymnasium, a large dining room and a well-appointed kitchen. Adjoining the church is a large, modern parsonage and the sexton’s house, both owned by the congregation.
The first regularly-appointed pastor of the congregation was the Rev. Henry J. Van Vleck, who was afterward consecrated a bishop of the Church. He took charge of this work in 1866 and served the congregation for eight years. Since his time the congregation has been served by the following pastors: William F. Oerter; Bishop Edmund A. Oerter; Julius Wuensche; William Hoch; Charles B. Shultz, D.D.; A. Dobler; Wilson A. Cope; Lewis P. Clewell, who died in office after serving ten years; Bishop Edmund A. Oerter; Frederick Wantzell; William Strohmeier; William Henry Rice, D.D., whose death ended his service after two years; and Harry E. Stocker, Ph.D., the present incumbent. The total membership of the congregation is between 350–400.
CHRISTMAS HALL
Originally the first house of worship of the First Moravian Church.
FIRST MORAVIAN CHURCH
1863
FIRST MORAVIAN CHURCH
1915
Title–9 | 10–19 | 20–29 | 30–31 32–33 34–35 36–37 38–39 | 40–49 | 50–59 | 60–69 | 70–79 | 80–89 | 90–99 | 100–109 | 110–119 | 120–129 | 130–139 | 140–151