Location: Abington, Pa.

Presbytery: Atlantic

Organization: Founded in 1851 as the Third Church of the Covenanters of Philadelphia

Membership: 34 communicant; 19 baptized

Pastor:John D. Edgar, installed Fall 2009

Website: www.elkinsparkchurch.com

There are two Reformed Presbyterian congregations in the Phila­delphia area: Elkins Park and Broomall. The Reformed Presbyter­ian Church of Elkins Park was first organized in Jan. 1851 in North Philadelphia. It has moved twice—once within the city, and once out of the city into the densely populated northern suburbs, with easy access to the city by public transportation. It is located in Abington Township, the source of the Supreme Court case that resulted in the banning of school-sponsored Bible reading in American public schools. Westminster Theological Seminary is four miles away.

The church takes an active role in White Lake Camp in New York, with deacon Bob Allmond serving as camp director and with most of the congregation’s children going to camp and often bringing their friends. Junior and senior high students meet at the church building each week to further their learning of the catechism. We have a weekly prayer meeting, and have had a weekly men’s meeting. The congregation has reached out to its neighbors through food drives, blood drives, and evening events put on by the congregation, often with the aid of a mission team. Pastor Edgar also serves the neighborhood as a co-chair of the neighborhood civic association, and has begun to offer Christianity Explained lectures and discussions on Sunday mornings. Recently we began to seek out local service projects as well.

The church has welcomed and nurtured a number of college and graduate students with Friday-night Bible study and games at the home of Michael and Anna (Nickerson) Jessop. Involved students have attended schools such as the University of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Tyler School of Art, Westminster Theological Seminary, and the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. Its own members have matriculated at schools as far away as the London School of Economics.

Pastor Edgar takes an active role in the denomination, currently serving as president of the Home Mission Board and vice president of the White Lake Camp Corporation. He is currently preaching through Philippians in the morning and Genesis in the evening.

Little-Known Facts:

Our oldest member, Clara McClay, 85, has been with the congregation almost exactly half of its 159 years, and has known seven of the congregation’s twelve pastors. Our youngest member, Nathaniel Jessop, is 5 months old.

Prayer Requests

• That the congregation’s children would grow in faith and love for Christ and His church.

• That all of the members would share the gospel with boldness and love.

• That our evangelistic efforts would bear much fruit.