Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
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Source: October 1956 Volume 9 Number 2, Pages 35–39


St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church : Devon, Pennsylvania

Reverend Theodore Schlack

Page 35

As is the case with the histories of all institutions or societies, it is rather difficult to know just where to begin this account of the life of St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Devon, Pennsylvania. As far back as the late thirties, pastors of congregations in the lower Main Line area had attempted to interest synodical home mission authorities in this locality. Although the plea for action was renewed almost yearly, the official Boards were reluctant to investigate this area for the possibility of establishing a congregation.

Finally, and primarily on the insistence of the Rev. Donald G. Doll, pastor of historic St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Ardmore, the Board of Home Missions of the Central Pennsylvania Synod requested the Division of surveys of the Board of American Missions of the United Lutheran Church in America to canvass the area. The survey was made in the Strafford area during the month of July, 1953. So poor were the results of the canvass that the survey reports were never forwarded to the Board of American Missions of the ULCA and the area was declared "no field" as far as a new congregation was concerned.

When the results of the survey were told to Pastor Doll, he insisted that the impression left by the canvass was misleading and that there was decidedly a need for a Lutheran Church. He was joined in this stand by the Rev. Cletus A. Senft, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Narberth and the Rev. Robert F. Fisher, pastor of Temple Lutheran Church, Brookline. At this point it was obvious that any action would have to result from local initiative.

In January, 1954, the need for local leadership was met in the persons of Mrs. Robert J. Crawford, Mrs. William H. Oberlander, and Mrs. Herman H. Hummel, all of Devon. A meeting of these women, the above-mentioned pastors, and officials of the Board of Home Missions of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania and the Adjacent States (responsibility, had shifted as a result of synodical realignment in 1953) was arranged for February 11, 1954. At this meeting the women from the local area were told what would be required to have the field approved by the Board of American Missions of the ULCA. The most important item was a prospect list of at least 200 persons.

Page 36

The church agencies were amazed at the rapidity with which the effort moved after this first official meeting. By March 8, 1954, enough interested persons had been contacted to call a meeting of those people. This gathering of 91 prospective members met with the church officials on the above date in the old dance hall in Devon. Since the field had subsequently been approved by the Board of American Missions after its requirements had been met, action was taken at this meeting to begin services on April 4, 1954, and a provisional committeee to conduct the affairs of the growing group was elected. The Isabel E. Rogers Hall, Stone and Gables, Devereux School, was obtained as a meeting place. Plans formulated at the March 8 meeting were carried through with the result that services have been held regularly since.

Isabel E. Rogers Hall

In May, 1954, the Board of American Missions called the Rev. Theodore C. Schlack as a mission developer and assigned him to the Devon field. His work was to begin on September 15, 1954. Until he arrived services were conducted by clergymen from neighboring Lutheran churches or by retired Lutheran ministers living in the area. Early in September the large provisional committee was dissolved and in its stead a five member Ways and Means Committee was elected. Included on this committee were Mr. Harold J. Brunkhorst, Berwyn, Mrs. Robert J. Crawford, Devon, Mr. B.I. Woodrow, Devon, Mr. Winfred J. Shewell, Berwyn, and Mr. Arthur W. Clapp, Jr., Berwyn.

Page 37

After Pastor Schlack's arrival in September, plans for official organization were made immediately. The Charter Membership Roll was opened on October 17, 1954. On November 19, 1954, the Sunday Church School was started. On December 5, 1954, at a special service attended by Dr. Charles M. Cooper, President of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Roy L. Winters, Superintendent of Home Missions of the Ministerium, the congregation was declared officially organized with 102 charter members. That afternoon the constitution for the new congregation was adopted and the first church council, composed of the five members of the Ways and Means Committee plus Mr. Edwin W. Carey, Paoli, Miss Frances R. Kohler, Paoli, Mr. Benjamin F. Custer, St. Davids, and Mr. Roy C. Foltz, St. Davids, was elected. On December 30, 1954, the congregation was incorporated, and on January 2, 1955, the charter membership roll was closed with a total listing of 117 persons. On January 30, 1955, Pastor Schlack was called as the first pastor of the congregation.

Progress in the development of the church continued at a fairly rapid pace. The Church took her place with other congregations in the area by participating in community evening Vesper Services, as well as in the community Lenten Services.

The first of the official auxiliaries of the Church was organized on May 17, 1955, when "The Women of St. Luke's" took its place with other organizations of the congregation. The group was organized on the Guild Circle plan.

On May 34, 1955, the congregation along with its pastor was received as an official member of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, the name of the regional organization of the Lutheran Church. On June 5, 1955, Pastor Schlack was installed as the first regularly called pastor by Dr. Charles M. Cooper, President of the Ministerium.

At this point in the development of the Church two significant events took place. The first of these was the inability of the officials at Devereux School to allow the congregation to meet further at the Isabel E. Rogers Hall, Stone and Gables. This, of course, necessitated a change in meeting place at a time when members of the congregation had become accustomed to their temporary headquarters. After a thorough search for possible meeting places in the area, arrangements were made with the Paoli Branch of the American

Page 38

Red Cross to use its facilities behind the Acme Market in Berwyn. As of June 1, 1955, the meeting place of the congregation was moved to the Berwyn location.

The second important event which took place at this time was the closing of an Agreement of Sale with Mr. and Mrs. George H. Parsons of Devon for the purchase of a northern strip of their property in Devon which comprised 3.014 acres with a six-room house on the premises. The arrangement of the property was such that plans were to use the house as a parsonage and the surrounding ground as a site for the new church. The Agreement of Sale was consummated when settlement was made for the property on July 13, 1955.

While negotiations for the property were in progress, another first for the congregation had taken place when the Vacation Church School met during the last two weeks in June. Forty-five children from the congregation met at the School, supervised by ten adults.

With the completion of the purchase of the parish site, the next phase in the planning of the congregation was the organization and conduct of a Building Fund Drive. It was decided by committees responsible to conduct three successive one-year campaigns. Planning for the first of these campaigns was done during the late summer and early fall. The event resulted in cash contributions and pledges amounting to slightly more than $15,000.00. As a result of this effort, a meeting was arranged between the congregational Building Committee and Council and the Director of the Division of Church Extension to set principles and procedures for the planning of the building program of the Church.

While much of this was going on, the increased attendance and the difficulty in preparing the Red Cross Building for worship each Sunday made it imperative that some organization be established among the men of the Church to help with ushering and arranging the building for worship. The outgrowth of this need was the organization of the second auxiliary of the congregation, "The Men of St. Luke's", in November, 1955.

At the present time the congregation is composed of 185 adults and 88 child members. Plans are being developed for the construction of the first unit of the parish plant, with hopes that such construction will be completed by the end of 1957. Work is also being initiated to establish a young people's organization within the congregation.

Page 39

Although the age-group was small numerically, a program for young people was thought necessary. Accordingly, the Luther League was planned and organized in February, 1956.

In April, 1956, a contract was signed for the preparation of schematic drawings and a plot-plan study for the future development of the church site; this work has now been completed. As soon as approval of the higher authorities has been obtained, work will begin on the drawings for the first unit. The Committee hopes that this and the financial arrangements will be completed in time to permit ground-breaking during 1957.

By June, 1956, the congregation membership had grown to 237 adults and 138 children and additional space was needed for worship and for the Sunday School. The latter problem was solved by the Berwyn Fire Company which generously made space available. An early Sunday morning service took care of the otherwise crowded conditions at regular services.

Those who were active in the formation of the church are most thankful for the blessings that have accrued to it.

Red Cross Building

 
 

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