St. Andrew’s United Church of Christ on East Walnut Street in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, is known for its 10:15 a.m. Sunday worship, historic sanctuary, pipe organ and choirs, and a ministry that spans food, fellowship, and service. The congregation began as a union church in 1866 and remains centered on worship, Christian education, spiritual growth, and practical care for Pennridge and communities beyond it.
St. Andrew’s identifies itself as “an inclusive community rooted in God’s incredible love.” Its mission connects Scripture with service, seeks healing, understanding, forgiveness, and love, honors the image of God in all people, and commits the church’s gifts to the work of a just world.
A Union Church Born in Bridgetown
St. Andrew’s began in 1866 when residents of Bridgetown received the missionary attention of the Reverend Peter S. Fisher of Tohickon Reformed Church in Weisel and the Reverend Ferdinand Berkemeyer of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Fricks. An informal meeting of men, called by Steven Young at his tavern, now known as “The Perk,” produced agreement to build a “Union Church.”
Property was purchased in 1867 from Jesse D. Hartzell for $300. Foundation stones came from a small quarry on Walnut Street near the Strassburger home, while Samuel Mood supplied gray stone from Ridge Road without charge. The cornerstone, dated June 10, 1867, was laid the next day after heavy rain delayed the planned laying. Lack of money and enthusiasm delayed construction until Young brought workers from Old Zionsville and housed them and their wives at his expense. The building was completed in 1867.
The name honored the Reverend John Andrew Strassburger, who served area churches for 36 years. A tower and bell were installed in 1890, and renovations in 1908 brought new pews, a pulpit, rugs, and steam heating. In 1911 the sanctuary received an Estey pipe organ, partly funded by a $750 gift from Andrew Carnegie. Art glass windows installed during a 1925 renovation remain in place after restoration in 1988.
In 1956, the union dissolved and the Reformed congregation bought out the Lutheran congregation. A Christian education wing followed in 1971. In 1987, Sunday School rooms served kindergarten classes when the Pennridge School District needed space. Property on the west side, donated by Charles and Nancy Keenan after their deaths, was cleared for an expanded parking area and picnic pavilion in 2012.
Sunday at 10:15 on Walnut Street
Sunday worship begins at 10:15 a.m. and is livestreamed on YouTube. At 9:00 a.m. from September through May, Faith Formation for all includes Sunday School for children and youth beginning at age four, while adults may gather for coffee and conversation. Adult Circle Process starts at 8:45 a.m., and Bible Study meets every Tuesday at 10:15 a.m. to examine the upcoming lectionary and connect Scripture with current life.
Worship is supported by pipe organ and piano, with choir and occasional bell music, and includes open Communion. Grape juice is used, and both bread made without gluten and bread containing gluten are kept separate. Adults who do not want to receive Communion may receive a blessing. Visitors do not need to dress up; the church has a mix of clothing styles. St. Andrew’s is at 615 E. Walnut Street, Perkasie, PA 18944, and its phone number is (215) 257-2880.
Faith Formation for Children and Adults
Sunday School explores the Living Word through crafts, activities, and lessons. Circle Process gives adults a structured way to explore Scripture and its relationship to daily life, with each person invited to speak freely and listen to others. Tuesday Bible Study is led by Pastor Barb and lay leaders through topic-specific sessions on Scripture, Christian life, and engaging the present world through faith.
- Sunday faith formation begins at 9:00 a.m. for children and youth beginning at age four.
- Adult Circle Process meets before worship at 8:45 a.m.
- Vacation Bible School runs for one week each summer for children from age four through fifth grade, using games, activities, and an inclusive curriculum centered on the peace and love of Jesus.
- Family gatherings include Trunk or Treat, an Easter egg hunt, and an Easter faire.
An Organ, a Choir, and Careful Sanctuary Care
The church’s musical identity is anchored in the Estey pipe organ installed in 1911. Organist Anna Marie Dieterle contributes organ, piano, handbells, and accompaniment for the choir. The choir rehearses weekly and performs in worship from September through June; the bell choir also rehearses weekly and performs monthly during worship from September through May. Special music, “Music on the Move” performances, concerts by local musicians and musical groups, and recitals by musicians from the congregation broaden the musical program.
An Altar Guild prepares the sanctuary through the liturgical year, keeps candles filled, arranges Communion elements, and removes flowers after worship for members or people experiencing illness or hardship. Members share weekly preparation and cleanup in month-long partnerships. A Property Maintenance team honors the historic building and grounds through regular repairs and twice-yearly cleanup days. The Culinary Team cooks, bakes, and serves public dinners, special church events, memorial luncheons, and the shoofly pies and funny cakes associated with the Perkasie Farmers Market.
Food, Fellowship, and Care Across Pennridge
The Mission Resource Team meets monthly to develop ways to respond to local and wider needs. It organizes food drives, mission trips, disaster relief supplies, Thanksgiving baskets, fundraisers, and volunteer service. Fundraisers include hoagie sales, Nights at the Perk, dinners, and bingo. St. Andrew’s supports Pennridge FISH through food drives, collections for backpacks and school supplies, financial gifts, and volunteers; FISH assists neighbors experiencing economic hardship with food, clothing, school supplies, and other resources.
- RamPacks: volunteers pack meal bags that provide food to children in the Pennridge School District on weekends and school holidays, alongside financial and food support.
- CROP Walk: St. Andrew’s joins the annual Pennridge CROP Hunger Walk to raise funds and awareness for food security.
- Thanksgiving baskets: donated dinner ingredients are assembled into baskets for local households facing food insecurity or other challenges, then delivered by members.
- Community dinners: meals offered throughout the year are open to everyone, with donations accepted as people are able.
- Prayer shawls and a little library: knitters make shawls for people experiencing illness, loss, struggle, or a need for prayer, while a small free library along the front sidewalk invites people to take a book, leave a book, and share reading.
St. Andrew’s gives clothing donations and financial support to Old First’s programs for people experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia, serves meals on Sunday evenings or Saturday breakfast, participates in Urban Cupboard work camps, and collects clean socks. Aluminum tabs support Ronald McDonald House, while white gift programs and financial gifts support Phoebe Ministries and Bethany Children’s Home.
From Biloxi to Liberia and Philadelphia
- Back Bay Mission: mission teams travel every other summer to Biloxi, Mississippi, to assist with a food pantry, home repair and building projects, and meal and social service days.
- Mt. Nebo and New Orleans: after Hurricane Katrina, St. Andrew’s formed a partnership with Mt. Nebo Baptist Church in the Lower Ninth Ward, assisting with recovery and rebuilding, including a community garden, and sustaining the relationship through prayer and fellowship.
- Children and education: the church sponsors children in Liberia through God’s Precious Children, supports Pearl S. Buck International’s child sponsorship, and fills Operation Christmas Child boxes each year.
- Disaster response: Church World Service kits include hygiene and cleanup supplies, blankets, and menstrual hygiene kits; St. Andrew’s assembles cleanup buckets throughout the year.
- Gun violence witness: with Perkasie Mennonite Church, St. Andrew’s hosts the Memorial to the Lost and supports Heeding God’s Call. Each November, the Witting Tree hangs 22 sets of dog tags to bear witness to suicide among veterans and service members, followed by a service.
Rooted in God’s Love, Open to Every Person
St. Andrew’s is an Open and Affirming UCC church. It welcomes people across sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, ethnic background, immigration or refugee status, socioeconomic status, age, physical or mental ability, addiction or recovery challenges, family structure, relationship status, political affiliation, faith background, and doubt. People who have felt excluded in the past are expressly welcomed, and everyone is invited to participate fully in worship, sacraments, fellowship, lay and ordained ministry, leadership, and mission.
The church acknowledges its silence around exclusion, repents, and commits itself to love, justice, and compassion as Jesus taught. St. Andrew’s names Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior of all people, as its sole Head. It looks to Scripture and the Holy Spirit, claims the faith of the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic insights of the Protestant Reformers, and recognizes Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, as its two sacraments.
Pastoral Care, Membership, and Leadership
Reverend Barbara Pence is pastor and holds a Master of Divinity from Lancaster Theological Seminary. The church’s consistory includes elders Tara Howell, Ron Grace, Doris Lindmeier, and Karen Peterson, and deacons Tara Howell, Amanda Duffy, Cindy Grace, Lance Ide, Erin Rush, Evie Starkey, Angela Stofflet, and Herb Volk. Anna Marie Dieterle serves as organist.
Baptism with water and the Holy Spirit takes place in Sunday worship amid the congregation. The church prefers that candidates already be members or become members, attend worship, and participate regularly. People seeking membership are encouraged to attend for at least three months so that they and the congregation can get to know one another. After speaking with the pastor and attending a new member class, they choose a joining date, transfer membership, affirm baptism, or receive baptism if needed. Joining occurs in a brief service within Sunday morning worship.
At St. Andrew’s, the stone walls and art glass carry the history of a church formed by neighbors, while classrooms, shared tables, mission partnerships, and open Communion carry its present work. The Perkasie congregation remains centered on worship, formation, service, and a welcome extended to every person.