Add an Article Add an Event Edit

St. Paul's United Church of Christ

1249 Trexlertown Road
610-395-4571

A Brief History of the United Church of Christ and St. Paul’s UCC

The United Church of Christ is a merger of two great Protestant denominations in 1957. The Evangelical and Reformed Church came from Germany and Switzerland, and the Congregational-Christian Churches came from England (the Puritans and Pilgrims).

As early as 1740, there was record of local folks gathering for worship at Trexlertown, the oldest town in the area. In 1874, St. Paul’s Union Church, made up of a Reformed and a Lutheran Congregation, was formed and a church erected. The original building served the two congregations until 1922. In 1925, the present impressive stone building was dedicated.

In 1986, the Lutheran congregation vacated the building and relocated in their present location just west of Trexlertown on Route 222. St. Paul's changed from a Union Church to a United Church of Christ under the leadership of Rev. Robert Titus.

In 1988, the Rev. Robert Titus retired after 32 years of ministry at St. Paul’s UCC. In July, 1990, the Rev. Jim Knappenberger was called to be the spiritual leader of the congregation.  Rev. Linda Lennon was called as an Associate Pastor in 1997. On Nov ember 1, 2007, Rev. Knappenberger retired after 17 years of service. The church was temporarily under the guidance of Interim Minister Rev. Harry W. Keppley Jr. as we search for a new senior pastor.

On July 19, 2009 the Rev. Al Bastin and his wife the Rev. Carol Bastin were called to serve as Co-pastors. They began their ministry at St. Pauls on October 4, 2009.


Photos