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Dr. R. L. Winters, Superintendent of Home Missions of the Ministerium
of Pennsylvania, United Lutheran Church in America, asked the
Reverend Byron R. Stauffer to canvas the developing Hamilton Park
section of west Allentown in the winter of 1952 with the intention
of starting a mission church in the area. The Ministerium helped
secure a residence for the pastor at 216 S. Leh Street and he
went door to door inviting families to attend the first service
on Sunday, July 13, 1952. The service was held in the basement
of the Leh Street home with seventy worshipers in attendance and
Mrs. Herman Nace, Jr., pianist.
The first Sunday Church School was held on
August 3, 1952, with twenty-nine people present. The Leh Street
residence was also used for the Sunday Church School utilizing
all the rooms of the home (including the bathroom) as classrooms.
As the Sunday Church School grew, the basements of several charter
members were also used for classrooms.
The church was originally known as The Lutheran
Church at Hamilton Park (prior to being officially chartered as
a congregation). The name of St. Paul’s was considered,
but was rejected because of the proximity of other congregations
with that name. Since St. Paul’s traveling companion was
St. Timothy, and because that name was not used as much (the nearest
other St. Timothy congregation being in Philadelphia), it was
adopted as the official name for the congregation.
St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church was
officially organized and constituted on Sunday, January 11, 1953,
by Dr. Winters. On February 9, 1953, under the laws of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, the congregation was incorporated and granted
its charter with one hundred and two chartered members.
The congregation moved to a larger building
at 21st Street and Hamilton Blvd. (now the Phoebe Floral Shop),
on October 1, 1955. The building (an unfinished restaurant) was
purchased for $30,000. Congregation members finished the inside
themselves (except for electrical and plumbing) for $8,000 under
the supervision of Robert Mann.
Plans were then made to erect a permanent church
building at the present site of 140 South Ott Street on property
purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Paul Stoneback, the sister of member
Mary Smith, for $800. The Lutheran Church in America rejected
the original building design, which specified a rectangular building.
A new design with a floor plan of a pentagon was submitted and
accepted. Construction began soon after and the building was dedicated
and occupied by the fall of 1962.
The congregation continued to grow and more
space was needed. A new wing with an office, lounge and classroom
space was constructed. The wing was dedicated on June 11, 1978.
The church has been shared by other denominations
over the years. The building was the home for many years of the
Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation Am Haskalah. They shared
the use of our Fellowship Hall with us for over 10 years before
being offered space at a local Jewish Community Center. Our congregation
had joint programs with Am Haskalah several times a year during
the time they worshiped in our building.
The Korean Church of the Lehigh Valley (Presbyterian)
conducted their worship services on Sunday afternoons for several
years while their own building was being built. The Lutheran Academy
of Allentown currently uses our lower floor during the summer
for its 8-week Summer Enrichment Program.
St. Timothy Lutheran formed a covenant relationship
in 1983 with three other churches: First Presbyterian Church of
Allentown, First Church of the Mediator (Episcopal) and St. Thomas
More Roman Catholic Church. The four congregations worked together
on many things. There were retreats attended by all four congregations
and clergy; lector and pulpit exchanges; a communion elements
exchange; the group worked at Daybreak providing one meal a month
for the poor of the area and worked in the food bank. The covenant
group was also involved with the Council of Churches at Alliance
Hall as well as many other projects. The Covenant Brass Ensemble
was formed from musicians from all four congregations. They continue
to play at services for the four churches at special occasions
and for holidays.
Seven pastors have served St. Timothy Lutheran
in its fifty-plus years’ history. They include:
The Rev. Bryon R. Stauffer (1952–1956)
The Rev. Elwood J. Culp (1957–1964)
The Rev. Richard D. Schlegel (1965–1974)
The Rev. Robert K. Bohm (1975¬–1984)
The Rev. David R. Strobel (1985–1994)
The Rev. Dr. Jay Cooper Rochelle (1994–2001)
The Rev. David P. Kidd (2002–present)
St. Timothy has served as an internship church
for seminary students. Those serving at St. Timothy included:
Rev. David Evans
Rev. Harry Heffelfinger
Rev. Eileen Smith
Rev. Deborah Wagner
Rev. Phyllis Wolford
Several members of our congregation have attended
seminary and are now serving as pastors. They include:
Rev. Christian Eichorn
Rev. John Goldsworthy
Rev. Brian Holben
Rev. Eileen Smith
Rev. Michelle Smith
Rev. Rick Summey
The congregation at St. Timothy Lutheran has
always been driven and guided by the spirit of God through its
members, not the clergy. Our church family has grown and thrived
on its community with each other. We are committed to providing
service outreach to the community. As the community changes, so
do the face of the congregation and the focus of our outreach.
Our current focus is on nurturing young couples
and families and their spiritual growth. Programs such as our
Triduum, which includes our Peach Festival, FunFest and Sunday
Outdoor worship/church picnic, are the initial steps designed
to call attention to this ministry. A number of new ideas have
been developed and are in the process of being implemented.
We also continue to develop new programs that
will meet other needs of our neighbors and members.
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