Bellefonte church with 221-year history will hold its last service on Christmas Eve

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip, WBBM in Chicago, of all sources

Bellefonte church with 221-year history will hold its last service on Christmas Eve

BY BRET PALLOTTO UPDATED DECEMBER 24, 2021 10:04 AM

A Bellefonte church that’s nearly as old as the borough is set to close at the end of the year, leaving behind a house of worship that’s welcomed generations of families over the course of more than two centuries.

The First Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, 203 N. Spring St., is expected to close after 221 years because of dwindling membership and attendance. The church’s last service is scheduled for about 7 p.m. Christmas Eve. All are invited to attend.

“There’s just such a love among this congregation. We’ve all known each other so long and we know each other’s foibles,” church elder Candace Dannaker said. “I’ll miss our personality, our laughter and our joy in just being together. And, of course, the faith aspect of sharing that with other like-minded people.”

The church that was organized at a time when there were only 16 states had no shortage of movers and shakers throughout the years. It was established by the same men who founded Bellefonte, while other members included two former Pennsylvania governors.

But the church was not immune from the issues that have plagued houses of worship throughout the United States. Churches of all sizes have taken hits in attendance.

Dannaker estimated the church had about 40 members before the pandemic, a number that is down to about 25. Only about a dozen attend services in person. The church did not have in-person worship from March 2020 until Easter Sunday.



The sanctuary of Bellefonte’s First Presbyterian Church on Spring Street will host its last service on Christmas Eve. Abby Drey [e-mail]

Attendance is down even more sharply from when Dannaker joined 34 years ago. She estimated there were about 200 people in attendance then.

{snip}