Another interesting find from the archives: a photograph from Zion's Reformed Church, Reading, PA show an example of a Tom Thumb wedding. In 1863, Charles Stratton, or General Tom Thumb, a PT Barnum performer with dwarfism, married Lavinia Warren, in a "fairy wedding" which captured the attention of a war-weary country. For decades after, churches and community groups would hold their own Tom Thumb weddings as fundraisers. These lavish affairs were weddings in miniature with amusing and sometimes inappropriate vows meant for pure entertainment.
Talk about a great picture to pull out to embarrass the kids!
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This year the Keller Reformed Church and Cemetery Association celebrates the 175th Anniversary of the Old Keller Reformed Church of the Canoe Valley, PA, whose history dates back to 1798. Though the congregation was dissolved in 1926 its history has been kept alive decades later. We are honored to house copies of important documents from their history and encourage you to visit their homecoming service on August 1, 2021.
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Summer school isn't always bad. In 1921 the consistory of St. Peter's Reformed Church in Lancaster, PA agreed to cover 50% of the expenses to run an experimental "Vacation Bible School" from July 2-July 23. The Lancaster Theological Seminary donated space for children from many denominations and congregations from across the city, where they played, sang, and learned how to be "good citizens" in a vaguely Montessori way.
In 1925 the St. Peter's Tidings, the monthly newsletter, deemed the experiment a success. "The School manifested the true spirit of our Master--we have ministered unto others." For many years the school recreated the Golden Rule City where the citizen/students voted on the rules, their elected officials, and divided themselves into groups: Workers in the Golden Rule City, Professionals, Businessmen, and Decorators. VBS not only benefitted the students but also gave many young women the opportunity to gain paid, teaching experience.
Vacation Bible Schools continue to this day. Our archives houses many documents such as teacher's diaries and lesson plans from the early days of this experiment.
Do you have Vacation Bible School memories? Use the comments below to share.
If you would like to learn more about Vacation Bible School or other interesting stories about E&R Church history contact us at erhistoricalsociety.org/home/contact/
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Summer is here and you are most likely protected from the summer heat by the modern convenience of air conditioning. It is found in our homes, our businesses, and most modern churches. This was not always the case.
Congregations, especially those located in crowded, urban areas, had to adjust for the summer heat. Many changed their worship schedules, starting earlier in the morning in order to dismiss before the noon heat took hold. Many also altered their meeting schedules. It is common to find gaps from June to September in their newsletters and consistory meeting minutes. Still others found a more unique way to beat the heat. Church camps.
St. John’s Reformed of Reading, PA was a city church that, like many churches in Reading, used the Poconos as a refuge from the city during the height of summer. These pictures were taken in 1944 at St. John’s in the Poconos. The consistory even held their monthly meeting at the camp.
Do you remember going to “church camp”? Share your memories in the comments.
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