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The History of St. Matthew
Woodlyn's First Church: 1912 - 2006
Our Pastors – Historical Photos
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At the suggestion and with the cooperation of the Reverend Stanley Billheimer, Pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Norwood, PA, preliminary work started to form a Lutheran Mission in Crum Lynne begun November 10, 1911. This work was under the auspices of the Advisory Mission Committee of the Philadelphia Conference of the East Pennsylvania Synod. A lot of ground situated on the east side of Fairview Road north of Haverford Road in Crum Lynne was purchased February 12, 1912. A frame chapel used in Logan, Philadelphia, was secured to house the new congregation. The chapel was removed from Philadelphia and erected on the lot and furnished in the spring. This building was one large room, approximately 40’ by 60’. The furnishings were an altar, two large altar chairs, a pulpit, benches for seating, and two large iron stoves for heating. The first service of worship was held on Sunday evening, June 23, 1912 and conducted by Mr. William H. Roth of Philadelphia. The Lutheran Sunday School in Norwood voted upon the name for the new Mission, and St. Matthew was selected. This name proved acceptable to the people of Crum Lynne interested in the Mission. |
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The chapel was formally dedicated on Sunday afternoon, June 30, 1912. The temporary organization of the congregation was held on September 12, 1912; there were 15 adults and three children present. The church continued to serve in its original location until May of 1929, when it was deemed advisable to move to Fairview Road and Lukens Avenue, Woodlyn.
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St. Matthew Church, September, 1929 |
Ground was broken on October 12, 1930, and Palm Sunday, March 29, 1931, witnessed the dedication of the first permanent unit of our present church building. In September 1939 an organ was purchased from Nativity Lutheran Church of Chester. On January 1, 1941, we became a self-supporting congregation. Up to this time St. Matthew was under the auspices of the Advisory Mission Committee of the Philadelphia Conference of the East Pennsylvania Synod. At a special congregational meeting held May 3, 1942, the congregation authorized the purchase of the property at 138 Taylor Avenue, Woodlyn, to be used as a parsonage. The price paid was $5,600. On March 4, 1945, St. Matthew became a Free Will Giving Congregation. At a special congregational meeting held August 17, 1947, the congregation authorized the Church Council to have Mr. T. Norman Mansell prepare plans and specifications for the Western Unit. The bids received in the fall of 1947 ranged in price from $46,000 to $60,000. |
At the suggestion of the
Council the congregation accepted the proposal to have the men and women of
the church
do the building. A survey of volunteers followed and the response
was gratifying that enough manpower and skill was
available in every
department except stone workers and bricklayers. Accordingly outside hired
workers were engaged
to do this work.
An appropriate ground breaking
service was held on Sunday, April 4, 1948. The Cornerstone was placed in the
Western Wall on Reformation Sunday, October 31, 1948.
A very impressive dedication service of the new West Wing was held Sunday, June 25, 1950. This was the second permanent unit, and the dedication included many memorial gifts from our members. The Reverend Raymond Foellner was our Pastor.
In 1951 a new Wurlitzer Electric Organ was purchased at a cost of $2,771.
The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service was instituted in December 1954.
On November 24, 1957, the
congregation decided to build a Sunday School unit.
Robert Gilfillian of
Philadelphia was appointed architect to prepare plans
and specifications.
September 9, 1959 bids
were opened for a new building, and the contract was
awarded to
Joseph Abriola, builder, for $90,000.
The dedication services were
held December 11, 1960, the eighth year of Pastor Samuel Clarke's
thirteen-year ministry at St. Matthew.
At a special congregational
meeting held June 9, 1959, the congregation authorized the purchase
of the
Ward Johnson property (150 Fairview Road, Woodlyn) consisting of one acre of
land, a
frame dwelling, sixteen garages and a milk house; the purchase price
was $16,000. The dwelling
was to be used as a parsonage.
The Kindergarten Program was instituted September 17, 1962.
The parsonage at 150 Fairview Road was greatly in need of repair, and it was decided that it would be more advantageous to demolish the house and build a new parsonage. The milk house had been demolished shortly after purchase. At a congregational meeting held September 20, 1964, the Council was authorized to have the house demolished by E. F. Murphy at a cost of $950.
The Reverend David G. Krewson, Jr., assistant pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran
Church of Ardmore, accepted the call as
Pastor of St.
Matthew at a congregational meeting held May 1, 1966 to become effective
June 16, 1966. The Installation
Service
was held June 26, 1966. Not having a parsonage available, a house was rented
for Pastor Krewson and his family
at 643 Tenth
Avenue, Prospect Park.
At a congregational meeting held March 12, 1967, it was decided to build a new parsonage to be located, on the rear of the property at the corner of Fairview Road and Essex Avenue, facing on Essex Avenue, and the lot at the corner of Fairview Road and Essex Avenue to be paved for use as a parking lot. In order to erect the parsonage, it was necessary to demolish the twelve garages. The architect appointed was George Savage, and the builder was Frank A. Springfield; the approximate cost to be $25,000. Wayne J. Lyster & Son gave us a cost of $6,725 did the paving of the parking lot.
On May 2, 1967, the congregation authorized the Council to purchase the Dougherty Estate property adjoining the church property at 156 Fairview Road, at a cost of $16,000, to be used for Youth and Sunday School purposes.
Using memorial funds from James and Alice Royer a new Two-Manual organ was purchased in November 1970 at a cost of $11,127.
In October 1970 a cross replaced the "'Reredos" backdrop behind the altar. The "Reredos" was a memorial given by Charles and Ann Jacobs. The cross was built by Mr. Casey Sach and donated by Fritz and Viola Sach. The men of the church installed it.
New choir robes were purchased in September 1973 also using memorial money from James and Alice Royer. A total of 42 robes for the senior choir and thirty for the youth choir.
After the public schools began
a kindergarten program, we disbanded our kindergarten and began a nursery
school for
4 year old children in 1972 followed by a program for 3 year olds in 1974.
Also enhancing worship in the
1970's was the addition of a Folk-Song Group & Liturgical Dance.
In 1973, a children's choir of kindergarten through third grade was begun with Doris Krewson as director. These children raised their voices in song at "special services"; they have robes that match those worn by the older choirs, which are a memorial to Christian Potter, a choir member.
In 1973 when Verna “Mom” Davis
died after 38 years of service as organist, her piano was donated to the
Sunday School and Jeanne Sach took on the position of organist in addition
to her present position as choir director.
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In 1975 a beautiful Sanctuary Piano was dedicated in memory of Phyllis Sach also a member of the Children’s choir. Our youth and adult choirs, led by Jeanne Sach for 40 years continue to bring us joy every Sunday in our worship services and in 38 magnificent concerts each spring since 1965. The youth have also praised our Lord with an orchestra on Christmas Eve. Our very active Senior Saints group began in 1974. They bring new life and joy to the church the first Wednesday of each month. Later, a new group called "55 Alive" was formed and welcomes any retiree who would like to join them on the 2nd Monday of each month. In July 1982, St. Matthew paid off its indebtedness on the property and they celebrated this Stewardship event, with a mortgage burning on October 1982. Organizations active in St. Matthew at the present time include a very busy Sunday Church School, Women of the ELCA, and a Youth Group. The church also hosts community organizations of Alcoholics Anonymous, Girl Scouts, and at times, is available for groups such as Community Dispute Settlement and Delaware County Juvenile Restitution Program. |
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On September 25, 1983, the congregation authorized the council to have the parish house demolished. For several years, it had not been used in winter months due to heating costs. It had, however, made a very spooky "haunted house" for our youth on Halloween in 1982 and 1983, benefiting the World Hunger Appeal. New thermal windows were installed in the nave in 1986 and beautiful stained glass overlays were dedicated in October 1987 along with pew cushions given in memory of Bertha Coverdale and a chair lift for the disabled. In 1987 Jeanne Sach was recognized for 25 years of service as Director of Music. Jeanne was presented with an engraved watch. On May 20, 1990, a special congregational meeting was called to discuss and be approved by the Church Council to obtain a contractor to replace all the roofing of the church. The cost would be $23,000. Also, steps at the nursery entrance were replaced. In June 1991, Pastor Krewson was honored at a luncheon for his 25 years of ministry at St. Matthew. The congregation's gift to him was to charter an aircraft so that Pastor and Doris could attend their two son’s college graduation on the same day in two different cities.
An Alternative worship using
guitars was introduced instead of organ music. The following year,
Bonnie Brysiak and In August 1995, the roof loan was paid off. In 1998 a $136,000 loan was approved by the congregation to renovate the downstairs Fellowship Hall. Curtis Ray and the special property committee have overseen this project, which has been completed. In 1998, three St. Matthew sport teams won championships. Volleyball team #1 were champions, our bowling team won their church league and our softball team won their championship. Pastor David G. Krewson retired in June of 2000, having served St. Matthew for 33 years. He and wife Doris and sons, David, Douglas and Daniel contributed much to the growth and richness of our congregation and the spreading of the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ in the church family and the community. A retirement service at the church, and a recognition dinner were held to commemorate this event. Pastor Krewson was presented a certificate naming him Pastor Emeritus of St. Matthew. Following the retirement of Pastor Krewson, St. Matthew has been served by interims Pastor Arlene Greenwald and Pastor Jesse Brown. Pastor Steven Caler was called in May of 2002 and served for one year until June of 2003. During this period of time St. Matthew developed a Mission Statement for the church, which reads as follows: “As children of God, we are moved by the Holy Spirit to Speak out for God, Share our Faith, and Serve Others in Christ’s name.”
In October 2003, Nancy B. Brown accepted a Synodical Call to serve as Pastor of St. Matthew. Nancy Brown currently serves as Pastoral Assistant at Christ Lutheran Community Church in Upper Darby, PA. She was ordained on November 29, 2003 at Tabernacle Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, PA, and was installed as Pastor of St. Matthew on December 13, 2003. To date, St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church is a strong presence in the community with outreach programs and assistance. We are also an active congregation within, sharing Christ’s witness with all ages through may vary and thriving programs as well as weekly faith-lifting worship services. Our 90th Anniversary reflected that the ministry of St. Matthew is strong and special. Mr. George Ramont has hand carved many liturgical symbols, which have been placed within the church. Marie Highley introduced hand-made "CHRISMONS" as decorations for our sanctuary Christmas Trees, a tradition that continues. |
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