First Presbyterian Church of Mahanoy City closes doors after more than 160 years

Mar. 12—MAHANOY CITY — Gary Perna Jr. was overcome with emotion as he addressed worshipers Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church's last-ever service.

"The congregation in this church has played a very important role in the lives of so many," said Perna, the church's clerk of session. "Generations of families have been born, married and buried from here. This building and congregation has stood the test of time and watched history pass by — from wars to peace, celebrations and anniversaries."

A lifetime member of the church, Perna spoke for all his fellow worshipers as he bade an emotional, reverential goodbye to the historic church, referring to its congregation as "family."

After 161 years, the First Presbyterian Church of Mahanoy City has closed its doors due to a reduced congregation that is no longer able to sustain operations.

About 40 people attended a special service on Sunday marking the church's dissolution. Worship leaders included church elders, members of area churches and members of the Lehigh Presbytery, the church's governing body.

The church was built in 1862, one year before the borough was incorporated, making it the oldest religious establishment of any kind in Mahanoy City.

"We are at the final chapter now," said the Rev. Ruth Ann Christopher, pastor of Hope of Christ Presbyterian Church in Summit Hill. "Before we leave here this afternoon, the book will be closed. Unfortunately, we take this action today knowing that the story of Mahanoy City and First Presbyterian can be told in countless towns and congregations across the coal regions."

Christopher, who delivered the sermon, said the borough had a population of about 5,500 people in 1870 and, over the next few decades, grew "at an unprecedented rate" to reach its peak of 16,000 in the 1910s. By that time, the First Presbyterian Church was composed of more than 300 regular worshipers.

"Those early chapters of history really do tell an exciting story," Christopher said. "But then, the population began to decline, and each decade posted fewer and fewer residents."

The decline began to accelerate in the 1940s, she said, due in part to the mechanization of the anthracite coal industry. The rising popularity of strip mining meant that fewer workers were needed in the mining industry and, as a result, many moved elsewhere for work.

Down to 10

The First Presbyterian Church, like many others in the region, saw its numbers continue to diminish over the course of the next half century. During its last few months, the congregation was composed of about 10 active members, according to Perna.

The church has not had a full-time, exclusive pastor since the Rev. Bruce E. Tischler left in the mid-1980s. Since then, the church has relied on a group of supply pastors from the Lehigh Presbytery, the most recent of whom, the Rev. Greg Palmer, retired at the end of 2022.

Palmer and another former pastor, Leon Morgan, attended the church service on Sunday.

The service highlighted a passage from the Book of Revelation describing a vision of "a new heaven and a new earth," which underscored the worshipers' new, uncertain fate after the dissolution of the historic church.

"In a lot of ways, I feel like that's where this congregation is here today," Christopher said. "I can't help but think of all the baptisms, and weddings, and confirmations, and all the stuff of a congregation that happens right here in these walls."

The mood was somber and pensive as the clergy led worshipers through a series of hymns, prayers and communion.

Perna thanked all of the worshipers for attending the service. He extended a special token of gratitude to his grandmother, Lois Morgan, who is the church's longest-serving worshiper at 86.

"She has been the backbone of this congregation for well over 80 years," Perna said. "Through some of the darkest times, she was there to remind us why we were here and why this congregation was formed."

At the end of the service, the Rev. Nicole Vogel, moderator of the Lehigh Presbytery, declared the formal dissolution of the church.

"In the name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, and by the authority of the Lehigh Presbytery, I declare this building vacated by the congregation, and the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Mahanoy City dissolved," she said.

Contact the writer: hlee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6085