Evangelical United Methodist Church in Pottsville closes its doors

Jul. 23—POTTSVILLE — A landmark church with roots dating back to the 19th century recently held its final service, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church confirmed Friday.

"Evangelical United Methodist Church is closed and has not merged with any other churches," John Coleman, conference director of communications, said in a news release. "Bishop John Schol and his cabinet voted approval of Evangelical UMC's closure on June 14."

Evangelical UMC held its last service on July 10, Coleman said.

The Rev. John Wallace is pastor of the church, which is at 305 S. Centre St. He is also pastor of First United Methodist Church at 330 W. Market St. on Garfield Square.

Wallace could not be reached for comment. In its statement, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference did not give a reason for the church's closure.

While the churches have not merged, First United Methodist recently welcomed former members of Evangelical United Methodist to its congregation, the church website says.

The Rev. Julian J. Milewski, the conference's North District chairman, was at the church Friday.

Milewski, who oversees church property in the region, said the church building and some of its contents are for sale.

Items of religious significance, he said, must go to other United Methodist churches.

A delegation from Wade United Methodist Church in Saint Clair repurposed vestments, a portable pulpit and a brass candle snuffer on Friday.

First Evangelical Church, a red brick structure etched into the mountainside above South Centre Street, was built in 1896, according to a cornerstone.

It apparently became Evangelical United Methodist around 1968, when two branches of Methodism merged.

Touring the spacious second-floor sanctuary, Milewski explained the curved pews were designed so worshippers could focus on the altar from anywhere in the room.

Large stained glass windows overlook the sanctuary from the Centre Street side. One section is dedicated to the memory of Katherine S. Medlar. A painting of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane rests above the altar.

Though it's not dated, Mrs. H. Sterner's Bible Class donated an exquisite baptismal font "In Loving Memory" of L.H. Super.

After World War II, the First Evangelical Church congregation dedicated a large marble plaque in a hallway outside the sanctuary to members who served in the war.

The names of Harold R. Cartwright, Bruce W. Evans and Albert E. Thomas, apparent casualties, are designated with stars.

Milewski, pastor of Aurand United Methodist Church in Ringtown, marveled at the engineering involved in building the church into the rugged mountainside.

"This building," he said, "was solidly built."

Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007