Change is inevitable, but it doesn't make it easier when your childhood church is closed.

Caroline Hallman is the last member of St. George Russian Orthodox Church on Church Street in Palmerton. The church was recently sold. Hallman and a priest from Philadelphia will be present for a tour of the church from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. There is no cost for the tour."You can't run a church with one person," Hallman said. With one word, she summed up the closing of her childhood church: "Heartbreaking."The church officially turns over to the new owner on June 1. Hallman said she doesn't know who purchased the church or what will become of it."It's hard to see any of them close," said Jane Borbe, a volunteer at the Heritage Center in Palmerton. "There was a time when these churches were very active. The younger generations have either moved away or have not continued in that church."According to a history of churches in Palmerton prepared for an open house in 2013, the church began as a result of immigrants coming to Palmerton from Europe around 1900. They were seeking work at the New Jersey Zinc Co.By 1914, members of the Russian Orthodox Catholic Mutual Aid Society who lived in Palmerton purchased the church from the Trinity United Evangelical Church of Lehigh Gap for $3,250. It was dedicated on March 5, 1915, by the Rev. Joan Zeltonoga of Slatington.After several years, the congregation was able to purchase land behind the church and build a brick bungalow for a resident priest. The Rev. Abbott Nikom Mihulsky came to the area and served the parish. By 1923, the parish had 23 families.Hallman was baptized at St. George's and now attends church in Northampton. For several years, she and a couple, Peter and Mary Kochmaruk, were the only parishioners. Mary has since died, and Peter, who is now in his 90s, lives with his daughter in California.While visiting the church recently, she sat for a moment where she always sat during church."That's where Mary sat," she said pointing to an empty pew behind here.Peter was usually up front, center, with his back turned to the "congregation" reading the readings from the lectern. The couple was very active in the operation of the church. Peter painted stars on the ceiling, and banners were donated in memory of Mary's parents.Borbe said that during the church open house a few years ago, someone asked Peter why there wasn't an organ. He laughed a little, she said, and replied, "You don't need any organ when you can sing beautifully."He began singing in Russian for the group, Borbe said."His voice was unreal," she said. "It was beautiful to listen to.""Years ago, they had a choir," Hallman said. "Then I was the choir. At first I wasn't pleased with it, then I thought, 'Peter and Mary can't hear well.' " She didn't mind being the choir so much afterward.On Saturday, the Heritage Center will be open also from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for anyone who would like to learn more about the people who settled in Palmerton in the 1900s. The center has a chart showing all of the countries the immigrants came from and the names of all of the churches they established.