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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

10:40 o’clock Monday nightMarch 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 […]

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 […]