Bethany Church is celebrating 75 years of ministry in Havertown this year. But before Bethany came to Havertown from Philadelphia, she had celebrated her 91st anniversary in Philadelphia. To say that Bethany relocated in 1949 is an oversimplification. We want to celebrate how God provided for Bethany during this major transition period by remembering the history. Even though the original plan was to build first and then relocate. That wasn’t what happened. The Lord provided, but in a different way than imagined.
Bethany (EPC) was founded in 1858. Bethany Chapel was a mission church of the Rev John Chambers’ church until she became an independent church. Bethany Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia Presbytery was organized in September 1865 and was a PCUSA church until a 2012 gracious dismissal from PCUSA denomination.
In Philadelphia (1930-1960), there was a major population shift of residents from the city to the suburbs. Subsequent to this migration trend was diminishing church membership in the city as the commercial property development in urban areas was increasing. This led to churches having to either dissolve or merge with another congregation to survive. However by 1943, another possibility to survive was relocation to Delaware County.
In 1943, the Metropolitan Philadelphia Presbytery was organized from three separate presbyteries. The Philadelphia Central, Philadelphia North, and the Delaware County churches of the Chester Presbytery. This was the basis of how it was possible for Bethany to relocate from South Philadelphia to Havertown in Delaware County in 1949.
Bethany had been located at 22nd & Bainbridge since the 1870s, and was very reluctant to relocate, even though a majority of church members had been relocating to suburbs in or near Delaware County in West Philadelphia. By November 1945, a crucial decision was made by a congregational meeting, voting to relocate. The Philadelphia Presbytery recommended to Bethany an undeveloped parcel of land on Township Line at Concord Avenue.
Settlement of the old Bethany property at 22nd & Bainbridge was made in March 1948. The final worship service at old Bethany was on February 29th, 1948. The following Sunday, Bethany worshipped at a temporary location in Center City until the new Bethany church edifice was ready for building dedication in September 1949. The money used to build new Bethany in Havertown came from the sale of the old Bethany property in Philadelphia. Also much fundraising was happening throughout the construction process. Groundbreaking ceremony was May 1948. The Laying of Cornerstone ceremony was May 1949. And the building dedication was September 1949.
By the amazing Providence of God, after Bethany had been searching to rent vacant church buildings in the city to use for a temporary worship space during the construction phase of relocating, Bethany was worshiping side by side with her mother church at the Chambers-Wylie Memorial Presbyterian Church on Broad Street from March 1948 - September 1949.
So although the reluctant decision of Bethany to relocate from Philadelphia took place nearing the end of year in 1945, she celebrated her 90th anniversary (1858-1948) while packing up to move in February 1948. The following year in February 1949, Bethany celebrated her 91st anniversary at the Chambers-Wylie Memorial Presbyterian Church. Celebrating all the work that the Lord does in and through Bethany had long been a tradition, and even in those difficult and uncertain years of transition beginning in the early 1940s when membership had declined to a critical level, Bethany’s congregation was given the faith she needed to walk through the unknown as God continued to provide the way.
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!
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.
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.
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.
10:40 o’clock Monday night
March 12, 1888
My dear friend,
I have just come home this very cold snowy night from Bethany where after the Passion lesson we had a solemn tender talk about how one person could get another to find a blessing from God.
I could not but think of the dear members of my class & I feel it laid upon me to write you this personal note.
I write to each of you as a saved soul. If you are not saved my dear friend, flee to the merciful Savior as you would fly into this warm room tonight out of the cold streets and the drifting snow… If you are saved, humbly trusting in what Jesus did when His love failed not on the Cross, think of others not saved… NOT SAVED… going on to the eternal darkness, your near friend, your relative, and do something!
When you have faith enough and love enough to start out in the effort to bring a soul to the Savior. God the Holy Spirit joins in your effort, for God wants everyone saved and He works with even the poorest instrument that engages in His work.. Please read over again the words I have just written.
I want now to ask you to settle your mind and heart on some particular person to pray for and work with and not give up until that person is converted.
Your help is in God. He will put thoughts into your heart, ways into your mind, and words into your mouth. He will tell you when to be silent and only pray and show your concern.
If you once have the joy and sweet pleasure of bringing one soul to Christ, you will be hungry to get another. Do not argue, do not be rebuffed, be patient and gentle and keep on with a prayer in your heart and drop a good word here and there as you go along, an invitation to meeting, to the class, take your friend to the pastor or your teacher for a little talk. If discouraged go yourself and pray with your pastor or teacher. Persevere, it is an undying soul you are laboring for and any angel would come down from heaven if such could be, to do the very work you have the opportunity to do. Oh what a pleasure it will be to you to have some new born soul beside you at the next Supper of the Lord. If you would like to write to me and tell me who you have chosen to labor for and will let me remember you in prayer, I will be very glad. If you wish me to advise with you in any way let me know and do not fear that your letter or visit will take too much of my time. Do not put off a single hour- hearts grow harder and colder every day and Eternity is near.
God bless you every moment and your home also. Yours in the hope of heaven and to win our friends to go with us.
John Wanamaker,
Your Teacher
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.
