In 1894, a Sabbath class of First Presbyterian Church decided to press for a Bethany Mission School in the
“West End” of Lancaster, because many children were without church facilities and transportations was
inconvenient to say the least.

A room was obtained from the Lancaster Township School Board at the Bitnerville School House in
December 1894, and the venture prospered so that the 130 members of the Mission Church School
petitioned the Session of First Church for use of the land owned by the church on the site of the present
Steamboat House at Marietta and West Orange Streets.

The Bethany Mission chapel was dedicated March 21, 1897, and five years later, on March 2, 1903, Bethany
Presbyterian Church was chartered. Two years later the church was free of all debt. Rev. Robert L. Clark
was called as the pastor and was installed June 6, 1903.

Jessie Schindle, a charter member and Sunday School teacher, supplied some incidents of these early days.
In one memorable recollection, when she does not actually recall seeing Rev. Clark, who was quite short-
tempered, administer corporal punishment to his son who was misbehaving during his sermon (which is
widely held to be true), but she says it would not be surprising. Another incident the Miss Jessie knew of first-
hand related to contributions in Sunday School each month to buy candy for the children at Christmas time.
Rev. Clark forbid this practice, saying that he would give cards depicting scenes of the Holy Land. The
children, as may be expected, took a dim view of this.

The Ladies Aid Society of Bethany Presbyterian Church was organized about 1904 or 1905. The officers
were: President, Mrs. Jane Slaymaker; Secretary, Mrs. George Stauffer; Treasurer, Miss Eva Roseboro. The
Ladies’ Aid Society met every other Monday to sew and make articles for a two-day bazaar that would be
held around the holidays. After some time, it was decided to meet only once a month. Their membership was
thirty-five.

The first Ladies’ Aid Society supper was a chicken and waffles supper. All the food was donated. Each lady
gave six chickens, prepared them, and carried them in containers to the third floor of the YWCA, where the
supper was served. They used their own linens, silverware, and other settings to make a good supper. Mr.
Hunsicker furnished all the flour for the waffles. A short time before the supper, Mrs. B. S. Schindle sprained
her leg. However, this did not stop her from getting her chickens prepared. Miss Jessie Schindle states that
with all the work, they had a lot of fun. Dr. Workman, John Fulton, and a few college boys from Franklin and
Marshall College helped serve the supper. They cleared $130.00.

Bethany continued to grow, and a $21,000 program for a new Sunday School building and renovations of the
church auditorium was undertaken. These improvements we dedicated April 15, 1913. It is recorded that
these services were conducted by Mr. John Roseboro, the Superintendent of the Sunday School. This may
be an indication of the increasing friction between Pastor Clark and his congregation, culminating in a
sermon by Rev. Clark sternly critical of the Session, Deacons, Trustees, and Women’s Association. This is
also confirmed first-hand by Miss Jessie, who added that her father told her that henceforth he would
continue to support Bethany financially, but would never attend as long as Rev. Clark was minister. It was not
unexpected that Rev. Clark resigned in June 1916.

Besides this turmoil, tragedy took a hand in the affairs of Bethany. Rev. John Ely succeeded Rev. Clark in
February 1917. In August 1917, he resigned to accept duty as Chaplain in the U. S. Army overseas. On
returning to New York, Rev. Ely died aboard the troop transport. Rev. John Wythe Lewis, Stated Supply for
Mr. Lewis, also died within two months.

Under the very able leadership of Rev. Harry E. Ulrich, who succeeded Rev. Ely in June 1919, both the
church school and the church membership increased greatly. By the time Mr. Ulrich resigned to go to First
Presbyterian Church in White Plains, New York, in April 1929, Bethany’s membership had reached 500.
Some still remember his excellent sermons, including “The House with the Golden Windows.” These
increases demanded larger facilities, and a committee was appointed in August 1929 to make a thorough
study of actions taken by other churches in similar situations. It is interesting that this committee reached the
wise conclusion that in view of the impending Depression, the congregation should not assume any debt.

Rev. Theodore C. Meek continued the tradition of excellent sermons at Bethany when he succeeded Mr.
Ulrich on June 4, 1930. Bethany continued to grow even during the difficult days of 1930-1933, and a
building program was completed to enlarge the Sunday School building at the cost of $19.000, which bought
a lot of building in 1932 when it was dedicated. Two of the contributions made during Rev. Meek’s pastorate
were the establishment of the rotary system for all church officers and a general spiritual uplift. Mr. Meek
resigned in 1937 to go to Mt. Airy Church in Germantown, Pennsylvania.

The efforts of the Pulpit Committee were crowned with success when Rev. Earl Franklin Fowler was installed
on April 1, 1938. Bethany had never had a better sermonizer than Rev. Fowler. Again during this period,
Bethany’s membership increased markedly. Many were attracted to Rev. Fowler’s interest in community
projects and organizations, as well as the sermon quality.

During the week of February 15-22, 1942, Bethany observed its fortieth anniversary year. It was a beautiful,
inspiring, and joyous celebration and the Reverends Ulrich, Meek, and Fowler all contributed to the
observance. Elder Oliver Sprout prepared a booklet on the history of Bethany 1902-1942, and much of the
present material was gleaned from that able summary. Mrs. Albert Herr, Elder J. Donald Glenn as assisted in
various phases of this milestone in Bethany’s history.

Also during Rev. Fowler’s term, the Session (William F. Smith, Clerk) made a wise decision to set up a
Building Fund for future use.

In the 1940’s, Rev. and Mrs. Fowler fulfilled an ambition of many years by taking an inspiring trip to the Holy
Lands. On the way home, they were waiting to take off at the Cairo airport and the English announcer had
some trouble with the name – “Calling Mr. and Mrs. Foul Air.” They shared their interesting slides and stories
of their trip with the congregation at a mid-week service. Rev. Fowler resigned in 1946 to accept the
pastorate at Sixth Presbyterian Church in Washington, D. C.

In 1947, Rev. Edwin Garrison Sloan was installed as our sixth pastor. During his term as minister, a marked
improvement was made – Bethany became the first Presbyterian church in Lancaster County to install
women elders, and Margaret Johnstone and Mary Nissley were ordained in 1948. They performed their
duties admirably. Since then, women have graced our Session rolls. Rev. Sloan resigned from the pastorate
of Bethany Church in 1950.

The Pulpit Committee, with the assistance of several very capable women, engaged in a diligent search and
was rewarded with the installation of Donald D. M. Jones in 1951. In addition to his preaching talents, Rev.
Jones was to demonstrate real abilities as an administrator and organizer.

From February 22 to March 8, 1953, Bethany celebrated its 50th Anniversary, aided by the Reverends
Ulrich, Meek, Sloan, and its current pastor Rev. Jones. The Anniversary Committee was comprised of Mrs.
Donald Glenn, Mrs. John S. Graybill, Richard H. Barr, Jr., Robert Preston, Jr., Oliver Sprout, and Robert
Garrett, Jr., Chairman.

It became obvious in 1953-54 that major enlargements to the main sanctuary were necessary, estimated to
cost $225,000. Professional fund raisers were considered, but wiser counsel in the persons of William Noyes,
Building Chairman, (later A. C. Perry), James Deily, Jr., Judge William Johnstone, Walter Doner, and others,
seconded by the Building Finance Committee comprised of Richard H. Barr, Sr., Dr. Clifton Benson, Jed
Harshman, Robert Preston, Paul Siegler, Mrs. Virgil S. Spencer, Mrs. Harcourt Darmstaetter, and others,
decided that with the $75,000 already in the Building Fund, we had the ability to raise the remaining
$150,000 ourselves. By the dedicated work of many people, this amount was pledged and paid off within a
few years. Barrett Jackson was the chairman.

March 6, 1955 was a day long to be remembered by many even years later – it was dedication day for the
new sanctuary, seating 400. The speaker for the occasion was Dr. Ralph Waldo Lloyd, Moderator of the
General Assembly. But a terrific snowstorm, grounding all plane flights from Tennessee where Dr. Lloyd had
been speaking the day before, intervened and gave our minister, Rev. Donald Jones, a chance to burn the
midnight oil in preparing the inspiring message on March 6; Ann Jones suggested comparing this dedication
to the pledges given by man and wife in the holy bonds of matrimony. Our church was filled to overflowing,
and the congregation was held spellbound by the inspiring message. With the impressive dedication service,
it was indeed a day to remember.

The dedication ceremonies concluded on March 20, 1955. Any chronicle of the Don Jones ministry would be
incomplete without mention of Ann Jones’ beautiful contralto voice as a major asset to our choir. In 1958 Rev.
Jones resigned to accept a call to Sixth Presbyterian Church in Washington, D. C.

A Pulpit Committee with Barrett Jackson as chairman brought rev. Robert W. Jewett to Bethany, and his
installation service was held on April 10, 1959. During the major rebuilding dedicated in 1955, the old manse
at 23 N. West End Avenue was demolished, and the manse moved to 305 N. West End Avenue. With the
arrival of Rev. Jewett, a new manse was purchased at 330 Race Avenue. With the membership now over
700, the Christian Education building was rebuilt.

As Bethany was established in 1903 with members and financial aid from First Church, in 1958 Highland
Presbyterian was established by personnel of some of our very good members as well as financial aid,
together with members and help from Frist and Memorial Churches.. In October 1967, Rev. Jewett resigned
to accept a call to First Presbyterian Church, Northport, New York.

Bethany has been blessed with many excellent interim pastors, but none better than Rev. Gladstone P.
Cooley, who served from November 1967 to September 1968. He was responsible for many innovations that
are in use today.

Under the competent leadership of Robert Ruthart, the Pulpit Committee devoted countless hours to the
selection of a pastor that they were sure would be best for Bethany. Accordingly, it was not until almost a
year later the Rev. John Wesley Anderson of Montoursville was presented to the congregation and
enthusiastically accepted. With his charming wife Joan, he always called her “my bride,” and their family of
five, soon to be augmented by Rodney, became an indispensable part of all the activities at Bethany,
particularly contributing to the choir. The installation was September 8, 1968.

Even before their arrival a good offer was made for the manse at 330 Race Avenue, it was sold, and Pastor
Anderson became our first minister to decide to buy his own home, at 517 Big Bend Road.

If there is one thing that can be said to be more characteristic of the Anderson pastorate, it is that Bethany
became more of a family-oriented church.

The Children’s Sermon, as popular with adults as children, became a regular feature of the worship service.
Each child took a turn at selecting a subject for the Children’s Sermon for the following Sunday. The free and
easy exchanges between the minister and the children often bring sallies of laughter from the congregation.

The young people, in cooperation with Memorial Presbyterian and neighborhood churches, presented
excellent plays and musicals that also enjoyed widespread adult support, and had the assistance of the
Christian Education program.

The American Association of Retired Persons, Chapter #530 Senior Citizens, was given a room for a
discussion group at Bethany.

However, under Rev. Anderson’s leadership, Bethany also expanded its community outreach programs.
Substantial annual contributions from our Benevolence Fund have been made to Christian Social Ministry
and Lancaster County Council of Churches; smaller amounts to Northeast Cluster of Churches; Presbyterian
University of Pennsylvania Medical Center; Welsh Mountains Medical Center, and the local Meals-on-Wheels
program.

In addition to sharing in our Benevolence Fund, the S. June Smith Center for Special Children was given
office space and rehabilitation rooms in the Christian Education building to help their small charges five days
a week.

To demonstrate their love and high regard for the Andersons, almost the entire congregation shared a
benevolent secret in inviting them to a “youth recognition” service on Sunday evening, May 21, 1978 that
became in reality a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the wedding (May 23, 1953) of John and Joan
Anderson. It was indeed a wonderful and joyous occasion, attended by some members of his former
congregation at Montoursville, as well as a capacity audience from Bethany.

While developing this Bethany Church history, it became apparent that 1978 was our 75th Anniversary. As a
Session meeting, July 25, it was decided that an Anniversary Committee would be appointed to develop
appropriate recognition of this important milestone.

It is inappropriate to close this narrative without giving thanks to God for the many and bountiful blessings
showered on Bethany Church during its seventy-five years; to Jesus Christ, the Author of our faith; to the
countless devoted men and women who aided in many ways to bring us the Bethany we have.

- Martin K. Bare, Chronicler

Since this history was written, Rev. John Bowe served as pastor from 1995 through 2004 and Rev. Laura C.
Kelsey was called as Bethany’s first female pastor in April of 2007.
The History of Bethany Presbyterian Church
Lancaster, Pa
Bethany Presbyterian Church
25. North West End Ave.
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717)393-2690
Fax : (717)393-8444
Email:
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