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The
First Presbyterian Church of Easton traces its roots back
to 1811 when 43 citizens petitioned the Presbytery of New
Brunswick, NJ for the establishment of a Presbyterian
Church in the Borough of Easton. The Presbytery complied
with this request, and in November 1811 a supply pastor
was ordained for the new church.
For several years
services of the new church were held in the Northampton
County Court House, then located in Center Square. It was
not until 1819 that it had its own home when its Sanctuary
at Second and Bushkill Streets (about at the present
entrance to the Route 22 Bridge) was dedicated. There were
many mergers, splits and name changes including those of
the Second Presbyterian Church, The First Reformed
Protestant Dutch Church and the Brainerd Presbyterian
Church (named after David Brainerd, the 18th century
Presbyterian missionary to the Indians of Northeastern
Pennsylvania) until the present-day First Presbyterian
Church was formed in 1941.
Our present sanctuary
was constructed in 1873 by the Brainerd Church. Our Church
House, adjoining the Sanctuary and containing the church
offices and education and meeting rooms was constructed in
1896.
The First Presbyterian Church is the "mother"
church from which all other Presbyterian Churches in
Easton and Phillipsburg are descended, either directly or
indirectly.
Our church and its predecessors have
had 30 pastors since 1811, including two who became
presidents of Lafayette College. We are governed by a 12
person lay board called the Session. The church is a
member of the Lehigh Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church
(USA) which is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
The
First Presbyterian Church of Easton welcomes you!
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