Our Pastor is Paul Bowles, on the left.
Our Associate Pastor is Scott Lyons, center.
Our
new Youth / Outreach Pastor is Mike
Delp, on the right.
Stillwater Christian
Church
42 Wesley Street,
Stillwater, PA 17878
570 925-2356
Please take a look at our new web site, http://www.stillwaterchristian.org
Nursery, toddler care and junior worship provided during all Sunday services.
Donuts, Coffee and Fellowship enjoyed from 9:00 - 9:30 in the Fellowship Hall.
Our average Worship attendance for 2004 was 355, but there's always room for you! Each service hears the same message, receives communion, and enjoys singing, prayer and meditation. The Worship styles vary, but the church body is one in our love for the Lord and one another.
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Our Pastor is Paul Bowles, on the left. Our Associate Pastor is Scott Lyons, center. Our
new Youth / Outreach Pastor is Mike
Delp, on the right. |
The Church secretary is Franklin Robbins, and the Administrative Assistant is Barbara Edson.
The history of the Stillwater Christian Church is at the bottom of this page.
Directions to Stillwater Christian Church
Stillwater Christian Church is located in the heart of Stillwater, PA. We
are just off the east side of Rte. 487, 12 miles north of I-80 and 3 miles
south of Benton, PA. Wesley Street loops around the town so that either end
will bring you to the church building, located at 42 Wesley Street. Our
Church phone is (570) 925-2356.
History of the Stillwater Christian Church
John Sutton preached a few sermons at the home of Moses McHenry in 1837. Enough interest was generated in forming a church that on October 21, 1843 the small congregation dedicated their new church on a knoll about one half mile southwest of Stillwater, near the cemetery, on land donated by Moses McHenry.
The newly elected elders were Jonathon S. Thomson and John Sutton; the deacons were Elias McHenry Sr. and Isaac Kline, with 29 members comprising the congregation.
In 1877 the growing congregation tore down the original church and erected a larger structure of good size on the same site. This church was quite modern for its time with a hot air furnace, plastered walls and decorative trim.
This second church building continued to be used until 1919, when the congregation decided it would be much more convenient to have the church situated in the Village of Stillwater.
Mr. Orvis D. McHenry and his sister May donated a lot at the current facility site near the creek and the Church on the knoll by the cemetery was torn down. The materials that were salvaged from it were used in the construction of the new church, which is the one still in use today. There were 5 connecting Sunday School rooms with a kitchen and dining room in the basement. New pews and a church bell were purchased.
From the original 29 members, the membership had increased to 118 in 1920. This is what the church looked like in 1940:
Picture courtesy of Dick McHenry
In 1962 a new addition was constructed which added a new sanctuary, 5 additional classrooms, 2 restrooms and a kitchen.
In 1965, the Stillwater Christian Church, in agreement with the Derr’s Christian Church, purchased a house in Stillwater Borough for a Parsonage for the minister. The two churches shared a minister.
At a congregational meeting in 1967, it was decided by vote to withdraw the Stillwater Christian Church from the Brotherhood of Christian Churches and declare themselves an Independent Church.
In 1970, our current facility was remodeled and improvements were made to the parsonage.
A baptistery, dressing rooms and church library were added in October, 1975.
The congregation added a new sanctuary, Minister’s office, bathrooms, a vestibule and cry room on in 1981.
A new education unit was dedicated in 1991. This added 5 more classrooms and a storage room. The nursery was made larger and the fellowship hall was remodeled.
After Pastor Sutton, Stillwater Christian Church has had 25 preachers fill the pulpit for the 165 years since. Stillwater’s current Preacher is Paul J. Bowles. He was hired as minister on April 19, 1998. He and his wife Melody reside at the Parsonage.