Berwyn United Methodist Episcopal Church, Church Ave., December 30, 1888
Description: On March 19, 1885, the Salem Methodist Episcopal church on Yellow Springs Road in Tredyffrin (the remains of which stand just south of the Turnpike) founded a new branch congregation in Berwyn. The Methodists initially met in what was called the Berwyn Hall or Town Hall, just north of the Presbyterian Church on Church Avenue. At a congregational meeting in December 1886, it was decided to build a stone church, and its cornerstone was laid in September 1887. The dedication of the new church was held December 30, 1888, the date it is believed Julius Sachse took this image. It’s an attractive building, with a stone facade referred to as “native stone” or “boulders” that were found locally. The house which separates the old hall and the new church was occupied by a man who was a real estate conveyancer. He is thought to have surveyed and laid out the building lots for the Devon development when it was started as a town or summer getaway for Philadelphians at about this same period of time. Much later, when the Methodists moved out of this building to their new Berwyn campus on south Waterloo Avenue, the Presbyterian Church bought the old building in 1961 and conducted Sunday School there. But the Presbyterians tried, and failed, to get the then-current owner of that house-in-the-middle to sell it to the Presbyterians. The homeowner attended St. Monica’s Catholic Church, stated that he was happy to be there in the middle, and wasn’t moving for anybody. The house still remains today as a private residence. The Presbyterians sold the old church to the Footlighters Theater from which they conduct their activities. At that time, fearing that the steeple might collapse, the Footlighters had it taken down. This image was taken looking west on what is, in 2014, 62 Church Avenue. - Herb Fry and Roger Thorne
