Call Number:

35

Repository:

Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church

Extent:

1.67 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1840-2011 (inclusive)

Creator:

United Methodist Church of Narberth (Narberth, Pa.)

Abstract:

Beth-Raffen Methodist Episcopal Church was established in 1884 in what is today known as Narberth, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Originally part of the Merion Square Circuit, Beth-Raffen changed its name to Narberth Methodist Episcopal Church and became a separate station under the Philadelphia Conference in 1897. The United Methodist Church of Narberth was discontinued in 2013. The United Methodist Church of Narberth records, 1840-2011, consist largely of membership and vital records such as baptisms, marriages, deaths, and transfers; and minutes of the Board of Trustees, Official Board, Quarterly Conference, membership meetings, and Building Committee. Also included are a small amount of photographs, anniversary programs, correspondence, historical materials, directories, bulletins, and other documents.

Methodism is a protestant Christian faith based in the teachings of John Wesley (1703-1791), who preached "practical divinity," emphasis on Christian living, and putting faith and love into action. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1784 in Baltimore, Maryland with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as its first bishops and held its first general conference in 1792. In May of 1939, the Methodist Episcopal Church; the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; and the Methodist Protestant Church united to form the Methodist Church (U.S.). In 1946 the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (New constitution) and the Evangelical Church united to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church. In 1968 the Methodist Church (U.S.) and the Evangelical United Brethren Church united, forming the United Methodist Church (U.S.).

In 1881, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Ardmore, PA) had several members who lived in nearby Elm, PA (today known as Narberth, Montgomery County) and who wished to establish a congregation in their own community. Under the auspices that it would be part of the Lutheran Church, land and materials were secured to build a church, but due to a setback, this plan was cancelled in 1882. In 1884, these same residents of Elm decided to try again, but this time they decided to establish their congregation as part of the Methodist Church. The first Board of Trustees was organized in November of that same year, and the church became part of the Merion Square Circuit. The name Beth-Raffen Methodist Episcopal Church was selected in 1885 and its first constitution was adopted in 1886.

After receiving a donation in 1889 from one of the church members, a lot on the corner of Price and Essex Avenues was purchased and construction of a new church building began. When construction was almost complete in 1893, the structure was destroyed by a fire and had to be re-built. The new church building was dedicated in 1895, the same year that Beth-Raffen's charter was approved. In 1897 the congregation changed its name, reflecting the new name of their community, to Narberth Methodist Episcopal Church, and became a separate station (a single congregation, no longer part of the Merion Square Circuit) under the Philadelphia Conference. In 1929, a new church building, designed by Alexander Mackie Adams, was erected and remained in use until the United Methodist Church of Narberth was discontinued in 2013. After the discontinuance, some, if not all, members transferred to St. Luke United Methodist Church in Bryn Mawr, PA.

Bibliography:

White, Dorothy E. "Historical Background." 1951. Document viewed in collection.

This collection, dating from 1840 to 2011, consists largely of membership and vital records such as baptisms, marriages, deaths, and transfers; and minutes of the Board of Trustees, Official Board, Quarterly Conference, membership meetings, and Building Committee. Also included are a small amount of photographs, anniversary programs, correspondence, historical materials, directories, bulletins, and other documents. A folder-level inventory for the collection is available.

A majority of the records in this collection are from Narberth United Methodist Church and its various predecessors (including St. Paul's Lutheran Chapel), but there is also a small amount of materials from Merion Square Methodist Episcopal Church (also known as Lower Merion Methodist Episcopal Church and Gladwyne United Methodist Church in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania).