The Palmerton Area Churches held a tour of churches, allowing people to learn about history, architecture and faith. Here is part 2 of the churches on tour. Part 1 was published Jan. 6.

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Towamensing

2915 Fireline Road, Palmerton

St. John’s is the second oldest congregation in Carbon County, organized in 1798. This year the people of St. John’s celebrated their 225th anniversary with Bishop Christopher deForest preaching and the Rev. Carl Shankweiler, associate of the Bishop, presiding.

The original building was a log structure which was replaced by the current building in 1862. The church was heated by two pot-bellied stoves on either side of the sanctuary and lit by oil lamps on chandeliers. The ceiling is an embossed tin. Original services were held in German as well into the 1800s. Two congregations, Lutheran and Reformed shared the building until the 1970s.

Many revisions have taken place through the years. The original organ was hand pumped and the pumper was paid 5 cents for his service. This year, work on the church steeple has brought much beauty and splendor to the church grounds. The church also installed air conditioning units in the church building for use during worship.

Many items of historical note can be found in the Christian Education Building next to the church. Incorporating traditional worship and values with modern application, the congregation of St. John’s shows its love for God, one another, and its greater community. It is the current site of the CACPAC food pantry for the Palmerton Area and hosts various other community organizations.

We also have the unique distinction as a congregation who has had only 11 pastors serving with God’s people in the past 225 years. In an age of continued change in the life of the Church, the congregations of Jerusalem, Trachsville and St. John’s Lutheran, Towamensing, voted in 2021 to form a parish-the St. John’s-Jerusalem Lutheran Parish calling its first shared pastor in this new arrangement in 2022.

Jerusalem United Church of Christ

545 Church Drive Palmerton (Trachsville)

In 1845 the people of Towamensing Township, that were of the Reformed and Lutheran faith, felt the need to establish a church of their own. On June 1, 1848 the cornerstone was laid in place and the building of the first Union Church at Trachsville was begun.

For almost a half of century the building served as a house of worship. In 1891 the congregation decided to tear down the current church building and build a new church.

It was June 14, 1891 when a service of the placing of the cornerstone was conducted by Rev. Frank W. Smith, DD. and Rev. S.B. Stupp. The new and current building was dedicated on May 26, 1892. Jerusalem U.C.C. was at one time a part of a three-church charge along with St. John’s in Effort and Salem in Gilbert. St. John’s was closed at the end of 1964 and Salem and Trachsville continued as the Pleasant Valley Charge until 1979 when each church became an independent entity.

Jerusalem U.C.C. and Jerusalem Lutheran continued to share in worship celebrating together in 1998 their 150th Anniversary. In the year 2001, the dissolution of the Trachsville Union church occurred.

In 2001 Jerusalem United Church of Christ became the sole owner of this beautiful historic church. The congregation started slowly making numerous changes outside in the grove area, replacing many of the aging buildings, adding a storage shed, new covered pavilion, bathroom facilities, and a stunning new stage area. Along with the children’s playground area, we utilize our grove from Spring to late Fall with our weekly outdoor services.

In 2022, the congregation took a giant leap of faith and broke ground on a dream that was postponed many years to add an addition of a new social hall, bathrooms, nursery room, and friendship room.

They completely renovated the sanctuary with new paint, pews, carpeting, refurbished hardwood floors and new sound system. They still reverently retain and admire the sacred stained glass windows.

In October 2023 the church celebrated our 175th Anniversary of worshipping God.

Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church

500 Church Drive

Palmerton, (Trachsville)

Over 150 years ago a wooden building was erected and became the home of the Union Church of Lutheran and Reformed Congregations. Serving members for over 40 years, it eventually suffered from age and inadequacy and was demolished and rebuilt at its present location.

Additions, remodeling, and refurbishing occurred with increasing frequency as both congregations grew and flourished.

That growth led to the decision of a Union Committee consisting of both lay and ordained leadership from both congregations to form an agreement to dissolve the Union Church.

The Lutheran Church Council, with the help of the Synod, began work on a new building.

Despite delays by weather, schedule mix-ups and other unforeseen events, work began, progressed and culminated with the completion of a beautiful and efficient new house of worship.

Within its unfurnished walls, the congregation of Jerusalem Lutheran met in their folding chairs and with great excitement attended our first service on Oct. 5, 2003.

In an age of continued change in the life of the church, the congregation of Jerusalem Trachsville and St. John’s Lutheran, Towamensing voted in 2021 to form a parish-The St. John’s – Jerusalem Lutheran Parish - calling its first shared pastor in this new arrangement in 2022.

Salem United Methodist Church

4145 Forest Inn Road

Aquashicola

The church traces back its history to 1844 when the First Evangelical Church was erected on 3rd St. Palmerton and was known as the Little White Church. The present church was built in 1866 in Millport (Aquashicola). In 1911 the vestibule, electric lights and steeple were installed. In 1968 Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist congregations merged to become the United Methodist Church.

During the recent years a day care program was added to attend to the needs of the two parent working family. This program called Kid’s Club was a before and after school program designed to care for the needs of children 6 and older. Another program attended to children that were infants and toddlers. Both programs showed Christ’s loving care to children.

In the past we ran a stand at the Palmerton Community Festival where our food specialties were sticky buns and apple dumplings. The church also sponsored Easter egg hunts.

Currently the church hosts a Girl Scout and Brownie troop.

Salem over the years has been active in community missions. Today the members have taken an active role in CACPAC and the food pantry. The church has been active in ministry at the Palmerton senior living home. In the past the church has supported a husband and wife missionary team in Kenya.

Salem has also reached out in ministry to the Allentown Rescue Mission, collecting socks and other needed items for area homeless and also supporting the Christmas Shoebox program.

St. John’s United Church of Christ

891 Columbia Ave

Palmerton

St. John’s United Church of Christ has just completed a yearlong celebration of our 225th anniversary.

From the meager beginning in 1798 in a log cabin, to a shared brick and mortar building (1862-1976), to the present structure originally constructed as an independent Sunday school (1977-present), the congregation has grown and flourished.

St. John’s Reformed Chapel was built in 1916 to address the growing need for adult and early childhood Christian education by offering Sunday school classes.

Affectionately became known as “the Chapel,” children and adults of differing denominations attended classes before departing to attend their own church.

When the UCC congregation split from their union charge, it was an easy solution to unite with the Chapel and let it grow into the future by expanding and growing into a church.

Known as the “little church with the big heart,” the congregation extend our outreach beyond our doors through community efforts. We provide meeting space for both Girl Scout Troop 3305 and Alcoholics Anonymous. A free community meal is served on the second Tuesday of the month.

Through CACPAC participation, the church supports the food pantry and their additional functions.

The church is currently in a shared ministry with Christ UCC (Little Moore) in Danielsville with the current pastor serves both church congregations.