First Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte

Forgiven by the grace of God, saved by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and inspired by the Holy Spirit, the First Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte strives to meet the needs of God's people, within the greater mission which is to serve God. He was pastor of both Bellefonte and the Lick Run Church. They were united congregations at that time and had been meeting for worship prior to their

official organization. Wilson served the churches until 1809 and was replaced by Rev. James Linn who served as Pastor for fifty eight years. He died February 23, 1868. From the organization of the Bellefonte church the congregation met until 1819 in the Courthouse. A square stone edifice was then erected on the current site. In 1839 that sanctuary was taken down and a Greek revival design sanctuary with Doric columns replaced it. Also in 1839 the Lick Run Church and Bellefonte dissolved their union. In 1868, during the pastorate of Rev.Yeomans an attempt was made to enlarge the building. When a wall was removed it was found that it was not structurally sound enough for the addition. The entire structure was torn down and replaced by the current sanctuary. After 1876 under the pastorate of Rev. William Laurie, the Chapel was constructed, and an organ for the sanctuary was provided with funds raised mostly by the women of the congregation. The first session of the Bellefonte Presbyterian Church was Col. James Dunlop and James Harris, founders of Bellefonte, along with Robert Boggs and James Foster. The membership was 50 congregants. Subsequent members of session were Andrew Gregg Curtain and James Beaver who became Governor’s of Pennsylvania. The congregation of 1895 numbered 400. A bolt of lightning struck the steeples of the Sanctuary in 1913 and it fell onto a nearby home. Anna Keichline, the first registered female architect in Pennsylvania and a Bellefonte resident, designed the current towers. On January 5, 1964 the addition that joined the Sanctuary and Chapel was dedicated as the new Christian education building. In September of 1972 a fire damaged a large portion of the Sanctuary. It was refurbished and new stain glass windows added. Original stain glass is still present over the entrance doors to the Sanctuary. Oral tradition says that the original stained glass was imported from France. The Bellefonte First Presbyterian Church has been served by 24 installed pastors since 1800. The Bellefonte First Presbyterian Church has served the Huntingdon Presbytery and the Bellefonte community for over two hundred years. With God’s grace it will serve another 200 years. Prepared by Candace Dannaker

Sources: The Historical Memorial of the Huntingdon Presbytery 1795-1895, the Linnear, Bellefonte Museum, 2001. List of installed Pastors for Bellefonte First Presbyterian Church, Huntingdon Presbytery