Time to get out your calculators!  From this very prestigious list of pastors who have led and shepherded Bethany’s congregation for the last 166 years, who served the longest?  And who ably guided Bethany through the very difficult transition from Philly to Havertown all the while giving God the glory?  That’s right! Willard H. Wellman.  

 A graduate of Wheaton College and the Reformed Episcopal Seminary, Pastor Wellman served at Bethany for 22 years after which he accepted a call to St. Andrew's Kirk in Guyana, South America, where he trained lay pastors. He retired in 1993, at the age of 80, but stayed active in missions, including the Sonshine Swim/Bible Camp in the Bahamas, of which he was co-founder.  A fun fact is that he loved vacationing at Camp-of-the-Woods in upstate New York from which is where I am writing this post!

The story of Bethany Evangelical Presbyterian Church is simply extraordinary. It begins in February 1858. In that year Bethany Chapel was organized. What began in a tent near the Schuylkill River with a modest Sunday School community soon grew enough to begin construction on her first building in October 1858.

Bethany’s history begins with a young man of extraordinary faith responding with zeal to the Lord’s calling on his leadership by volunteering to organize a Sunday School mission at the height of the 1857-1858 revival in Philadelphia. At the time he was the Secretary of the Young Men’s Christian Association in Philadelphia actively impacting the hearts of men adjusting to life in the city during time of industrialization. It wasn’t until three years later in 1861 that he launched his first business. For nearly 65 years (1838-1922)  John Wanamaker served as elder and superintendent of Bethany and was devoted to Bethany in a way that he prioritized her above his business interest and all his many responsibilities.

There is much more we can remember about Bethany’s beginnings in Philadelphia from 1858-1948. But in particular now, we marvel when we remember that two weeks after celebrating her 90th anniversary of ministry in Philadelphia, Bethany Presbyterian Church worshipped the Lord as usual on Sunday, February 29th, 1948 but also prepared to pack up and leave her house of worship at 22nd & Bainbridge that was dedicated in 1870. It’s all she knew; the Bethany church congregation wanted to stay where she was but WW2 changed the city. And even the Presbytery of Philadelphia needed to expand in 1943 into Delaware County. The Lord was clearly doing something new and Bethany was walking by faith through this process of relocating from one place to another.

Sunday February 29th, 1948 was quite a momentous day in Bethany’s history.. We give all glory to God, so when we use the word history, we understand that it’s truly His story working through us, His church body. Bethany Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia relocated to Havertown in September 1949 as a church family and the way that it happened was only something God can do. We thank the Lord for His amazing providence. For His name’s sake, this year we want to celebrate the 75th anniversary of when “old Bethany“ relocated from Philadelphia to “new Bethany” in Havertown.

By God’s great providence, the Chambers-Wylie Memorial Presbyterian Church on Broad Street in Philadelphia offered Bethany a place to worship alongside her own congregation until the new Bethany Church was built. For the course of 18 consecutive months, spanning from March 1948-September 1949, Bethany’s congregation set up church in a borrowed house whose doors were open wide with great hospitality to welcome Bethany’s congregation in full to worship alongside the Chambers-Wylie church.

Praise the Lord!!! This is a wonderfully amazing story of God’s Providence in such a great time of Bethany’s need. He has been so faithful to provide as Bethany has continued to be faithful to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bethany now celebrates the anniversary of 75 years of ministry in Havertown since its building dedication services during the week of September 18 - 25, 1949.

“And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them” (St. Luke 24:50). John Wanamaker’s little red leather Bible was what he called the biggest purchase he ever made. And indeed the Bible was his roadmap to living his life for the Kingdom on earth especially to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…” (St Matthew 6:33). He was inspired by the Scriptures referencing Bethany and the home of Martha and Mary where Jesus during the years of his ministry found love and friendship. "That's what I want the school to be, a place of blessing, a home where spiritual food, comfort and love can be found!1

God still has a purpose for Bethany! And we can all agree that Wanamaker's wish for Bethany “to be a place of blessing, a home where spiritual food, comfort and love can be found!” holds true today.

1 Wasson, Samuel A,, History of The Bethany Presbyterian Church and Sunday School 1858 - 1949.

If you remember, our last post was about Bethany’s pastors and Willard Wellman being the longest serving pastor at 22 years. Here is a newspaper clipping of Pastor Wellman in front of what many of you may recognize. Extra brownie points if you can tell us where it is located!

Back in the day, our church was named Bethany Collegiate Presbyterian Church and was known  as "Wanamaker's Church." It had one of the world's largest Sunday schools, and the largest Presbyterian congregation in Philadelphia. John Wanamaker himself was superintendent of the Sunday school. But times changed and WWII happened. Many of the congregation moved away from the city proper, and the church's ministry reached fewer and fewer people. In 1948, under Wellman's guidance, the old church structure was sold and the new building started in Havertown.  This tablet shown came from the original church structure in downtown Philadelphia. It has a beautifully colorful mosaic pattern embedded in the plaque.

The newspaper clipping is of Pastor Wellman with his father, Earl Wellman, of Lewiston, Minnesota, after dedication of Bethany's new building in Havertown.

2024 marks 75 years of ministry in Havertown

As many of you now know, Bethany was founded in 1858 as Bethany Chapel: a mission church of the Rev. John Chambers’ church. In September 1865, we joined the Presbytery of Philadelphia and grew in both size and scope for many decades. This year marks 75 years of sharing God’s Word from Havertown and an illustrious 166 years since first meeting in Philadelphia.

There is so much I hope to share about Bethany’s godly pastors, its varied ministries and people who had a heart for spreading the Good News. So let’s continue with another episode of Bethany Before…!

You ask how we came to be celebrating 75 years in Havertown and why Bethany moved from Philly to the suburbs? By 1949, the Lord made it clear that it was time for Bethany to leave the city. It is truly amazing how God provided for Bethany during a very long 18 month transition period. The original plan was to build first and then relocate. That wasn’t what the Lord had in mind!

May 15, 1949 Havertown, Pennsylvania. Bethany’s cornerstone was laid in their new building on Township Line Road. Seventy five years later we take time to celebrate all the amazing blessings God has bestowed on us.

This cornerstone ceremony marked a significant step in the life of our church. On our cornerstone, you will see two years: 1858 & 1949, representing 90 years of the Lord’s work at Bethany, first in South Philadelphia and throughout the move to our location in Havertown.

The significance of the cornerstone ceremony seventy five years ago transcends the laying of a stone; it represents the laying of a foundation for a faith community that, only by God’s grace, continues to thrive today.

Bethany had been located at 22nd & Bainbridge for over 75 years and was very reluctant to relocate, even though a majority of church members were moving to the suburbs. By November 1945 a crucial decision was made at a congregational meeting, voting to relocate. The Philadelphia Presbytery recommended Bethany purchase an undeveloped parcel of land on Township Line at Concord Avenue. By undeveloped I mean a large empty lot originally owned by Llanarch Golf Club. There were trees to clear and land to be leveled; a lot to be done!

Bethany put their church building up for sale with plans to use that money to begin building their new home in Havertown. This meant Bethany needed to find a place to meet for worship until the new building was completed. They began the search to rent a vacant church building in the city to use as a temporary worship space.

By the amazing Providence of God, Bethany ended up worshipping side by side with her mother church at the Chambers-Wylie Memorial Presbyterian Church on Broad Street from March 1948 - September 1949. What an amazing witness to God's guiding hand. And the person who shepherded Bethany through this difficult transitional time was Pastor Willard Wellman

Mother’s Day was celebrated at Bethany Presbyterian Church years before it was officially established by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. 

Bethany Sunday School began celebrating Mother’s Day annually in 1908.  Pictured here is a Bethany church bulletin from 1911 that honored our founder’s mother, Elizabeth Wanamaker (1818-1881). 

We can thank Anna Jarvis for conceiving of Mother’s Day in 1905 as a way to memorialize her own mother.  By 1907 she began writing letters to people of influence with the vision of inspiring a nation to honor the sacrifices mothers make for their children.  Her passion caught the attention of our very own John Wanamaker (1838-1922) and in fact gained financial backing and support from him. In May 1910 Anna Jarvis and the Mayor of Philadelphia addressed a large audience of mothers who gathered in the Egyptian Hall auditorium at the Wanamaker’s Department store across from City Hall. Miss Jarvis went on to campaign in Congress for establishing a national holiday on the second Sunday in May.

At that time there were yet 18 states celebrating Mothers Day.  Four years later, in 1914, it was made official by President Wilson who signed it into law. 

Happy Mother’s Day!

Here is a tidbit I’m betting you never knew!  John Wilbur Chapman, who served as Bethany’s pastor from 1890–1892 and 1896–1899, wrote the lyrics to a hymn in 1908 and titled it “One Day”. Then Casting Crowns came along and used those lyrics to compose “Glorious Day”, a very popular praise song! Who knew?  Chapman also wrote the popular hymn “Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners”.

However, Chapman’s lasting claim to fame is his work as an evangelist.  While at Bethany, he tried something new and innovative. Working with 15 evangelists, he organized simultaneous revival meetings throughout the area.  He later left Bethany to lead similar events in other U.S. cities. More than sixty million people attended his evangelistic campaigns worldwide and he was a strong influence on Billy Sunday’s ministry.

Bethany has a rich history with so many stories that show how God has blessed us with godly pastors and generous benefactors. In fact, today is the birthday of John Wanamaker, one of our most generous members. Today I would like to highlight the story of another generous soul.

Have you ever noticed the baptismal font that is located at the front of the sanctuary? It’s a beautiful piece of artwork with an amazing story behind its existence.

On the second Sabbath of February, (Feb. 14), 1858, a Sabbath School was opened in two second-story rooms of the house 2135 South Street, with twenty-seven scholars and two teachers.

It was not long before the rooms, halls and stairways were crowded with scholars, and the question what to do with the children became a serious one. The erection of a tent was resolved upon, and on the 18th of July, 1858, a tent, erected on the north side of South Street, west of Twenty-first Street, was opened for religious services, and a sermon preached in the morning by Rev. Dr. Challen. In the afternoon over three hundred children, with many of their parents, assembled in the new school-room. The evening service was a very precious one, a blessed earnest of better things to come. The canvas church was crowded with a motley audience. Old people tottering on the verge of the grave, mothers with children in their arms, young men and maidens, all eagerly listened to the Gospel as there preached.

So great was the success of the work during the summer months, that a portion of the lot on which the tent was pitched was purchased from Mr. R. Dunning, who had kindly given the use of the ground for the tent; and on the 18th of October, the corner-stone for a chapel was laid, with appropriate services. After the history of the enterprise had been read by Mr. John Wanamaker, the superintendent, addresses were delivered by Rev. Drs. Leyburn, Brainerd, Chambers and McLeod.

During the winter, and while the chapel was being built, the school met, first, in the depot of the Passenger Railway, and afterwards in the public school-house on Twenty-third Street. The chapel cost about $3,700 and measured forty by sixty feet.

It is a dangerous thing to praise one man’s work over and above God’s handiwork. With that in mind, I mention John Wanamaker as a great man but only because he was convicted by God and acted on that conviction to reach out to the people of South Philly. At the age of 19, he began his misssion.

“On February 7, 1858, like the Hebrews of old, John Wanamaker, in company with Rev. E H Toland of the American Sunday School Union, went on a scouting expedition in the territory in that part of Philadelphia south of South Street in the Schuylkill River district. Like the Jewish spies of old, they found giants in that land, giants of sin, ignorance, prejudice, hate, poverty, disease, intolerance, violence- enough to daunt the bravest missionary, but they also found that there was need of the Gospel of the saving grace of God which could slay the devil's giants.” (Quoted from Sam Wasson, History of Bethany)