Title–9 | 10–19 | 20–29 | 30–39 | 40–41 42–43 44–45 46–47 48–49 | 50–59 | 60–69 | 70–79 | 80–89 | 90–99 | 100–109 | 110–119 | 120–129 | 130–139 | 140–151
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HOLY INFANCY R.C. CHURCH
Holy Infancy R.C. Church
The people of the parish of the Church of the Holy Infancy will celebrate the Church’s Golden Jubilee or fiftieth anniversary this Fall coincident with the town’s celebration, and the event will mark some noted improvements in the church edifice, at Fourth and Locust Streets, which will include handsome marble altars and a marble communion rail and sanctuary, the main altar being a gift from one of the members of the congregation, Michael L. Connolly.
Prior to 1856 the Catholics of all this section worshipped in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, South Easton. In 1855 Rev. John Tanzer, its pastor, purchased from Aaron Radley the lot or piece of ground on Union Street, Bethlehem, size 71 x 100 feet, on which was erected the frame church which still stands there. The price of the lot was $300.00. The church was dedicated on Christmas Day, 1856, and was called the Church of the Nativity of Our Lord. Father Tanzer conducted services in the church every third or fourth Sunday of each month, he also having charge of all the churches in the Lehigh Valley to Mauch Chunk. He was assigned as an assistant to Rev. Father Tuboly, in 1857, who resided in Allentown, and took charge of the Bethlehem church, coming here every month. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Schrader, who was succeeded by Rev. Rudolph Kuenzer. On May 15, 1862, Rev. Michael McEnroe was appointed pastor with Rev. Xavier Kaier as assistant. In 1863 Father McEnroe started the English congregation in South Bethlehem and built a church on the site of the present Church of the Holy Infancy at the southeast corner of Fourth and Locust Streets, the lot of ground having been donated to the congregation by the United Brethren (Moravian Society) of Bethlehem. Up to this time Father McEnroe had resided in Allentown, but in 1865 came to South Bethlehem and took up his residence here. He still continued the pastorate of the little Church in Bethlehem. The corner stone of the old church was laid in the fall of 1863, by the Most Rev. Archbishop Wood, of Philadelphia, who dedicated the church in the following year, 1864. Originally it was intended that the church should be called the Church of the Nativity, but owing to the fact that Bethlehem had a church of that name and also that this place had one in the Episcopalian Church, it was decided at the suggestion of Archbishop Wood that it should be called the Church of the Holy Infancy.
The congregation bought a house at the northwest corner of Fourth and Locust Streets, and Father McEnroe took up his residence in it as a rectory. He continued his pastorate of the church until 1877, when he was succeeded by his brother, Rev. Philip McEnroe. The growth of the congregation necessitated a larger church, and in 1882, having obtained the approval of Archbishop Wood, the present edifice was begun, ground being broken on May 22, 1882. The erection of the new church was prosecuted around the old edifice until the Sunday after Easter, 1883, after which the old church was torn down. The present church was completed exactly in four years after its erection was begun. In the meantime services were held in St. Michael’s Hall, which was subsequently sold an is now used as a place of worship on East Fourth Street, near Spruce, by the Hungarian Reformed Congregation. Services were conducted in the basement of the new church until 1886. The church was dedicated by Archbishop Ryan of Philadelphia, and Bishop Farrell, of Trenton, N.J., preached the dedicatory sermon. On great fact that Father McEnroe always was proud of was that there was not a dollar debt on the church when it was dedicated.
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The present church is 67 feet front on East Fourth Street and has a depth of 147 feet on Locust Street. It is built of Trenton sandstone and broken range masonry. It is surmounted by a spire 196 feet, 4 inches high to the top of the cross. The church was designed by Durang of Philadelphia and is of Gothic architecture. It is furnished with a massive sweet-toned organ. Prof. W.K. Graber is the organist and choirmaster, which position he has most successfully filled since 1865.
In recent years there have been added to the church property a parochial school and convent. The school is in charge of a Mother Superior and eleven Sisters. There are 600 pupils in attendance. The School and Convent were erected in 1894 and the Sisters of St. Joseph are in charge. Both buildings were erected under the pastorate of Father McEnroe, whose death occurred on October 13, 1910. He was succeeded by Rev. J.J. O’Connell, who immediately on assuming his duties as pastor began making improvements to the church property. The two lots immediately east of the church were purchased and he erected the present handsome rectory on the site. Father O’Connell was not destined to remain long with his people, his death occurring in December, 1912.
Rev. H.J. McGettigan, the present pastor, was appointed his successor and assumed his duties on December 28, 1912. His assistants are Rev. Thomas McLaughlin and Rev. Edward Stapleton.
FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
First Reformed Church
The congregation of the First Reformed Church of South Bethlehem, Pa., was formally organized on November 10th, 1867, by Rev. Isaac K. Loos, D.D. Rev. Loos and his predecessor in the Bethlehem charge, Rev. D.Y. Heisler, had held services for some time previous to this in the Lutheran Church, Corner of Vine Street and Packer Avenue, and continued to do so until the Lutheran people desired the church for themselves when, beginning with December 22, 1867, the services were held on the third floor of the School House on Vine Street. Services were regularly continued and endeavors made to procure a site and building. In the Spring of 1870 the present site was procured and the first church building begun.
Rev. Henry Hess was supply pastor from June, 1870, to May, 1871. Rev. N.Z. Snyder, D.D., began his pastorate on September 1, 1871, and on the 21st and 22nd of October following, the church edifice, built during the pastorate of Rev. Hess, was dedicated. Rev. Dr. Snyder served the congregation efficiently for twenty-one years.
Rev. David Scheirer became the pastor in May, 1893, and continued his pastorate for ten years. During his pastorate, the present new church building was erected. The last service that was held in the old church was on April 12th, 1896, and on June 7th following, the corner-stone of the new church building was laid, and completed and dedicated on May the 30th, 1897.
The present pastor, Rev. D.B. Clark, was elected when a student in the Theological Seminary, in November, 1903, and became pastor upon his graduation and licensure in May, 1904. During the present pastorate the congregation has increased in strength and membership. The heavy debt resting upon the church was rapidly reduced and completely paid off by December, 1913. In June of the same year the large property adjoining the church, then belonging to Rev. Dr. Snyder, was purchased for the use of a parsonage and to permit of enlarging the church equipment in the future. A large pipe organ was installed and various improvements made. Services are held regularly in the English language.
This congregation now has a valuable site with well-equipped buildings located at 15 to 19 West Fourth Street, with a membership of 631 and a large number of active organizations.
Since the organization of the First Reformed Church, three other congregations have been organized and churches built to provide for those of the Reformed faith: The Shiloh Reformed Church, The Hungarian Reformed Church, and The Grace Reformed Church.
Title–9 | 10–19 | 20–29 | 30–39 | 40–41 42–43 44–45 46–47 48–49 | 50–59 | 60–69 | 70–79 | 80–89 | 90–99 | 100–109 | 110–119 | 120–129 | 130–139 | 140–151