CHURCH HISTORY
CHURCH HISTORY
Mount Eaton Church was started by missionaries from Philadelphia, as a Sunday School. It was located somewhere near the old Remmel one-room school. Sometime later, a group of residents, feeling the strong need for spiritual education of their children, formed a committee to select a site for the present day church building. The cornerstone was laid on May 31, 1884 with the building being occupied in 1885. That first service was a celebration of communion.
In 1889, the constitution and by-laws of Mount Eaton Union Church were written and adopted. This union consisted of Lutheran and Reformed congregations which held services on alternate Sundays for much of the church’s history. Each pastor of these congregations had four churches, having two services each Sunday. The Lutheran charges were Zion in Brodheadsville, Hamilton Church, Mount Eaton and Bartonsville. The Reformed congregations were Zion, Hamilton, Mount Eaton and Kunkletown. The pastors were responsible for speaking, counseling, instructing the children in catechism, and preparing them for church membership. The church and pastor were under the Synod, the governing body of the church, and it was their task to provide for the spiritual needs of the church body.
The church bell, purchased from Montgomery Ward in 1902, weighs 800 pounds. The basement of the sanctuary was excavated in 1926. It was a difficult task, as the ground was dug loose with a pick and shovel and hauled out by horse and wagon. The women of the church started a service organization in 1934. They called themselves The Pollyannas, and they are still serving today as the Ladies Fellowship. There was a pipe organ installed in 1944, complete with an addition to house it. There were many renovations to the church over the years. Originally there were two aisles and a pot belly stove. The steeple was once where the main doors are now. Stained glass, oak pews, woodwork, hardwood flooring and carpet transformed the simple building.
The 1970’s saw much change for the church on the hill. In January of 1971, the Union Church had to vote on a direction for the church. The Lutheran synod wanted to dissolve Mount Eaton Church; some Lutheran members voted to merge with the United Church of Christ while others joined nearby Lutheran Churches. By December of 1971, there was a consolidation service with Mount Eaton becoming part of the United Church of Christ. With much prayer, Mount Eaton Church became independent of any denomination in 1976. The church needed more room, and the construction of Beacon Hall was started in 1981. It was completed in the fall of 1982, having been constructed with volunteer labor, and dedicated to the Lord on October 1, 1982. Additional land was purchased to provide room for future growth. Three additional rooms were added to Beacon Hall in 1991, for Sunday classes and youth activities. Plans to create additional space led to the construction of Faith Hall and additional parking space.
Mount Eaton has grown in number but continues to be a family of believers, united to share Christ with the community and, through missions, to touch the world.
