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History...
St Paul's Stain Glass Window, also known as the Chancel Window... Chancel Window
Commentary
The chancel window is a significant work twelve
feet by nine feet designed by Charles Z. Lawrence of Willet Studios, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia.
It was purchased at a cost of $7,750. It has been created in one inch
glass dalles cast into a rich brown matrix of epoxy resin.
The center panel depicts the Trinity symbolically
using the creative Hand of God the Father, the Lamb representing God the
Son, and the descending Dove of God the Holy Spirit. These symbols are
bathed in warm golds, oranges, and rubies symbolic of God's love and
eminence, radiating into the two side panels of the window.
On the left is the figure of Saul of Tarsus being
blinded on the road to Damascus. He is shown prostrate, his hand
sheilding his eyes from the Light of God.
On the right is the converted Saul, now Paul,
embarking on one of his missionary journeys with Barnabas. The colors of
the side lancets are in the green and olive for earth and growth and
blue for the universe.
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St Paul's Buildings...
THE ORIGINAL CHURCH
In 1838 the Lutheran and the German
Reformed built the first church together in Lionville at
the sight of the current United Church of Christ. We
have no photograph of this building, but two renderings
of the building were painted in 1978 from descriptions
stated in minutes taken of planning meetings held in
1838. One of these paintings is in our narthex and one
is at the United Church of Christ. They are exchanged
periodically.
[The original specifications were
that it was to be built of stone, it was to be one story
in height, the floor being an inclined plane, dipping 18
inches from the doors to the pulpit. Two aisles were to
run the full length of the building, dividing the pews
into three rows. There were to be "three large windows
of a side, each to have lights of twelve by sixteen
inches, three windows in front of the building, that is
one on each side of the door and one in back of the
pulpit, and two gable windows, one at each end."]
At a meeting held on March 13, 1838
[the original resolution concerning the dimensions of
the proposed church were repealed and] it was resolved
that the church that was to be built would be thirty
eight feet by forty five feet in dimension with two
aisles and two doors in front without windows and two
windows in the back end of the stone structure. Mr. John
Hartman made the lowest bid which was $1,483.00 and it
was resolved to give the job of building the church to
him with the stipulations that he was to find all the
materials excepting the date stone, door sills and the
delivery of water for the masons. The laying of the
cornerstone took place on June 5, 1838 in the vicinity
of the White School for the use of the Reformed and
Lutheran people. The church was reared and finished
without anything of a serious nature having taken place
to "excite sorrow or regret". On the 6th and 7th days of
November, 1838 it was solemnly dedicated to the service
of God with the two congregations worshipping in it on
alternate Sundays until 1852 when the Reformed purchased
the interests of the Lutherans for $700.00.
St. Paul's Charter of Incorporation
was granted by the Court of Common Pleas of Chester
County in February of 1844, (as was noted in a newspaper
article dated February 5, 1844). This building having
served its purpose and in much need of repair was
replaced by the Reformed congregation with a new
structure. The Reverend William Rentz participated in
the closing exercises of the church during the last
meeting ever held there on March 30, 1884. Workmen
started tearing down the original church building the
following day.
THE SECOND CHURCH
On May 24, 1852 ground was bought
from Mordica and Lydia Lee for $300.00 for the purpose
of building a church on the new site. This building was
our previous and is located next door, where "the
Nurtury" is now located. Our congregation was named "St.
Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lionville". There
were 42 members at the time. The commodious two story
stone building was completed and dedicated on January 1,
1853. It was erected at a cost of $4,000.00. The
congregation purchased the house next to the church for
a parsonage in 1860.
In the year 1877 the stoves in the
church were replaced by heaters when the church edifice
was remodeled. Also that year an incident occurred in
September when the chandelier nearest the pulpit fell,
breaking the lamps, globes, chimneys and scattering the
oil all about; fortunately it did not ignite.
A dedication occurred on January 2,
1881 after renovation was made to the sanctuary. New
furniture was furnished with new cushions for the new
seats and a new pulpit and pulpit furniture. The old
seats were removed and the old windows were altered and
replaced with stained glass ones, three of which were
memorial windows. There was also new chandeliers and
chancel railing installed. The building was studded,
lathed, painted and plastered all for a cost of
$2,300.00. Frescoes were painted on the ceiling for a
cost of $1 ,500.00. Later in the same year it was
determined that a new slate roof was necessary. The cost
of the new roof was $200.00 and before it could be done
in November while the roof was removed during
construction a torrential down pour of rain badly
damaged the ceiling and cushions in the pews.
Next came the remodeling of the
Sunday School room. The partitions between the main room
and three class rooms were torn down and glass
partitions were put in their place. These partitions
could be raised and the whole made into one room. Chairs
replaced the old style benches. The contract for
improvements that did not include the chairs was
$700.00. The completed room was dedicated in December of
1887.
Through the death of the Misses
Acker the church came into possession of a parsonage
that was located diagonally across the street from the
church in the year 1896.
A celebration occurred at the
dedication of the memorial windows placed in memory of
Moses Hartman and his wife Catharine on May 30, 1897.
The new century saw the people of
St. Paul's enlarging the chancel, rearranging the
furniture and adding an altar for a total cost of
$550.00. The interior was also repainted and decorated
for $350.00 in October of 1909. The oil lamps were
replaced with electric lights in the church building and
the parsonage in the year 1921.
On March 10, 1929 the church was
rededicated after repairs such as upholstery of the
pulpit furniture was done, new carpet was laid, new
draperies hung and the like for a cost of $3,099.43.
The Third & Current
Building...
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