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1728
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Colony of Scotch-Irish living near Bath form first religious group with pastor in Lehigh Valley area.
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1731
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Colony forms congregation; the Rev. Eleazer Wales is its first pastor and Thomas Craig is its ruling elder.
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1735
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Chief Justice William Allen, founder of Allentown, grants title of colony land to settlers.
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1820
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English Sunday school begins, first English services in Allentown, led by Presbyterians from the settlement.
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1830
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First church built, east side of Fifth Street, south of the jail on land given by Anne Penn Greenleaf, granddaughter of William Allen. Rev. Alexander Heberton and eight others chartered as The First Presbyterian Church of Northampton Town.
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1838
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New building constructed at today’s Art Museum site, 31 N. Fifth St.
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1844-45
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Bank failure in town is possible cause of move of services to Odd Fellows Hall for a time.
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1855
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Church and Sunday school expanded.
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1856
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Building façade remodeled; chartered corporately as First Presbyterian Church of Allentown.
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1865
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Allentown’s first private school begins, meets first in Sunday school room, then moves to permanent schoolhouse built next to church.
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1902
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Replaced existing church with ‘beautiful classic church of Grecian architecture.’
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1905
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Men’s Bible class begins led by Judge Frank Trexler, brother of General Harry F. Trexler. The class would continue under his leadership for more than 40 years. The Trexler Bible class is still part of adult education classes.
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1909
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Mission church established at Ninth and Tilghman streets; chartered Westminster Presbyterian Church in 1914.
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1919
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Dr. William E. Brooks, pastor, during World War I, organizes religious services at Allentown’s Camp Crane (at the Allentown Fairgrounds); appointed acting chaplain. Elected national chaplain of U.S. Army Ambulance Association. Drafted inscription on the commemorative monument in Allentown’s Center Square.
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1943
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Board of Deacons established to oversee civic assistance programs and outreach.
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1956
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Rev. Margaret E. Towner, while serving the Allentown congregation as minister of education, is first woman to be ordained into the ministry of the Presbyterian Church of the United States.
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1957
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Women begin serving as Session members.
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1957-58
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New church built on 8 acres at Cedar Crest and Tilghman; building and additions completed in 1975, 1982, 1989, 2001 and 2004.
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1962
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Women begin serving as Deacons.
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1967
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Interfaith Community Thanksgiving service begins, initiated by Rev. John Stoner.
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1968-71
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Merger of First Presbyterian and Westminster Presbyterian churches.
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1971
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Women begin serving as Trustees.
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1980s
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Formal covenant relationship developed with St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church; St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church and Episcopal Church of the Mediator.
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1985
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Youth Club program begins.
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1991
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Covenant relationship established with Cupar Old Parish Church, Cupar, Scotland.
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1993
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Covenant relationship established with congregation in Amar, Syria.
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1993
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First Habitat for Humanity house built, first in community built by a single church. First Presbyterian recently completed a second house.
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1994
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Arabic language services begin, led by Moufid Khoury, commissioned lay pastor.
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2004
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Memorial Garden constructed incorporating the outdoor chapel.
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