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A Brief History of Faith Evangelical Lutheran
Church |
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The need for a new Lutheran congregation in Montgomery Township was discussed by
synod officials as early as 1957 when the congregation
council of St. Peter Lutheran Church, North
Wales, asked the synod to study the possibilities. Due to lack of funds, a
mission developer was not called to serve in the area until February 1964.
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The Reverend Charles R. Steinhauer began his duties April 1, 1964. In June 1964
an "interest" meeting was held at the Lansdale YMCA. The
future congregation's first Planning
Committee met June 4 that year and its first task was finding and
securing a worship location. |
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The first worship service was held August 2, 1964 in the basement of a
sample house at the corner of Line Street and Bridle Path Road in the Fairwood
Farms development. Sunday School and Choir were organized in September of
that year and the average worship attendance during the first six months was 41. |
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The eight-month-old mission organized on Palm Sunday, April 11,
1965
with 60 charter members and 35 children. Steinhauer was officially called as
pastor in June, and in August the present site at Cowpath Road and Morgan Street
was purchased. Congregational members made alterations to the house located on
the property and the congregation "moved in" in
October 1965. |
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In 1967 plans were formulated for a
building program and ground was broken in February 1968. By 1970 baptized
membership was 203. The
Reverend
Donald C. Hagey was installed March 5, 1972 and the congregation began using the
new Lutheran Book of Worship in 1979. By January 1980 the congregation was 250
members. |
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The Reverend Charles F. Knappenberger was installed as pastor May
6,
1984. In 1988 the house in which the Sunday school and offices were located was
razed and the addition of a new Center for Christian Education was dedicated
June 9, 1989. |
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The Reverend Joyce E. Nelson was
installed as pastor June 30, 1991 and continues to serve the congregation which
has grown to 315 members, with two worship services each Sunday. Three
additional classrooms were added in 2001. |
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Faith celebrated its
40th anniversary in 2005. |
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Average worship attendance is 120.
Faith celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2005. |
