Calvary PCA - History

WORSHIP

9:30am Sunday School
11:00am Worship Service

2nd & 4th Sundays Celebration of the Lord's Supper

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Potluck Lunch
Please join us for a Labor Day weekend picnic this Sunday at 12:30. Please bring a main dish and a salad/or side dish. Dessert will be provided. Meet and greet our new Westminster students!

Home Bible Studies
Delve deeper into the word of God! Studies are starting soon...

GriefShare Program
Weekly sessions beginning October 20 in the Education Building, for those grieving the loss of someone close...

EVENTS

Young Adult BBQ/Pool Party
Saturday, September 4, 11:00am...

Youth Kick-off BBQ
September 11, 5-6pm for the Junior and Senior Highs.

Corn Roast
September 11, 6:00 pm. Bring a chair and your appetite!

Promotion Sunday
September 12, 9:30 am. Learn about our Sunday School classes.

View full calendar of events

History

On Sunday, October 4, 1936, 225 loyal followers of Jesus Christ left the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. at a time when many of the denominational leaders were departing from historic biblical and presbyterian beliefs. This group, under the leadership of Dr. Robert Strong, met for three years in the American Legion Hall in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. During this time, the church incorporated as Calvary Presbyterian Church, and found a denominational home with the newly formed Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In 1939, the first building on the present property was dedicated.

Dr. Richard W. Gray served as the second pastor from 1949-1973. Dr. Gray led the church into the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod (RPCES), in 1964. As the church grew, a new educational building and sanctuary were completed in 1970.

In 1975, Rev. George W. Smith, a former assistant under Dr. Gray, was called as the third pastor. In 1983, the RPCES joined with the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). In 1984, a fire destroyed the christian education building, but stopped short of the sanctuary. New facilities, including a gymnasium, were completed in 1986, Calvary's fiftieth anniversary year.

1996 marked the 60th anniversary year. Rev. Smith retired as Senior Pastor after 21 years of faithful service. Rev. Richard Tyson was installed as our new Senior Pastor in July of 1996.

Calvary called Rev. Gregg MacDougall as Associate Pastor in December of 2000.

Rev. Jay Scharfenberg was called in August 2010 as Assistant Pastor.

God has been faithful to Calvary over the years. Hundreds of people have been brought to Christ. Scores of missionaries and seminary students have worshiped here. Many of her sons and daughters have entered full-time Christian ministry. Many others have taken the love and truth of Christ into their spheres of influence with courage and great fruitfulness. As we enter a new and perilous millennium, we look to the past only to fuel our gratitude, while we look forward with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the past Author and future Perfecter of our faith.