Schwenkfelders on Gravel Pike
Palm Schwenkfelder Church sits along Gravel Pike in the small village of Palm, about fifty miles north of Philadelphia in Upper Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The congregation is one of four remaining churches that bear the Schwenkfelder name, all of them clustered within a fifty-mile radius of the city. Members and neighbors alike describe Palm as a friendly, country-style congregation whose simple services, intergenerational life, and emphasis on a personal relationship with God draw people from a wide mix of backgrounds. Although some lifelong members can trace their lineage to the arrival of the Schwenkfelders in Philadelphia in 1734, most who join today come from other denominations and other places, and they are welcomed into a congregation that takes its name, and much of its identity, from a sixteenth-century Reformation figure named Caspar Schwenckfeld.
A Heritage that Begins in Silesia
Caspar Schwenckfeld von Ossig was born in 1489 into a family of Silesian nobility and raised as a Roman Catholic. He was trained as a court diplomat and in 1517 was serving as a court advisor in Silesia when Martin Luther posted the Ninety-Five Theses in Wittenberg. Schwenckfeld was drawn immediately to the Reformation and soon gave himself to the study of Scripture and the writings of the early church. He agreed with much of Luther's teaching, but two matters in particular divided them: the meaning of the Lord's Supper and the role of outward ceremony. After an exchange in which Luther and Schwenckfeld could find no common ground, Schwenckfeld announced in 1526 that he would abstain from communing until Christian interpretations were reconciled. The decision, known as the Stillstand, was not intended to start a new church. Yet followers gathered around him, calling themselves the "Confessors of the Glory of Christ," while others labeled them Schwenkfelders.
Across the next two centuries, the Schwenkfelders held Christian worship in private homes, studied Scripture through Schwenckfeld's writings, and bore fines and imprisonment at the hands of the established churches. By 1719 the Austrian Emperor had opened a Jesuit mission to return them to Catholicism. In 1726, facing religious extinction, the most committed of the Schwenkfelders left their homes. The largest group, numbering 171 souls, landed in Philadelphia on September 22, 1734, aboard the sailing ship St. Andrew. Two days later, on September 24, they held a service of thanksgiving for their deliverance and shared a simple meal of bread, butter, and apple butter, a tradition the Schwenkfelders have continued each year since. The annual observance, called Gedächtnistag, is considered the oldest continuous thanksgiving observance in the country.
The Society of Schwenkfelders and the Building of Palm Church
For almost fifty years after landing, the Schwenkfelders held worship and religious instruction in private homes. In 1762 they instituted a system of religious meetings on a rotating schedule among chosen homes, and in 1782 they organized formally as the "Society of Schwenkfelders." The society was incorporated in 1909 as The Schwenkfelder Church. At its peak, six congregations existed; today four remain, located in Palm, Worcester, East Norriton, and Philadelphia.
Early Schwenkfelders built homesteads from Chestnut Hill, near Philadelphia, into what are now Berks and Lehigh Counties, with most settling in central and Upper Montgomery County, an area they called the "Upper District." In 1790 a combination school and meeting house was erected at Hosensack to replace an earlier log facility. The Schwenkfelders soon replaced that structure with a stone meetinghouse in 1838, which was remodeled in 1893 and stands to this day. A second meeting house was built at Washington Township, Berks County, in 1791; it served as a place of worship and a public school until it was replaced in 1824 and removed entirely in 1911, when a granite monument was placed on the site.
The Palm congregation traces its roots to a merger of three historic meeting houses. In 1910 the present church was built along Gravel Pike. Dr. Elmer E. S. Johnson gave the dedicatory address on September 24, 1911, drawing on stones pried from the surrounding hills and timbers grown in the local countryside. His remarks captured the spirit of the new building and the heritage behind it, proclaiming the great Schwenkfelder principle of preaching Christ as the Saviour of men.
What Schwenkfelders Believe
While Schwenckfeld affirmed the historic creeds of the church, the Apostles' and Nicene, he formulated no creed of his own. He believed that creeds could limit the search for deeper understanding and that the true Christian church consists of all who worship God in spirit and in truth, regardless of denominational label. The congregation at Palm summarizes its beliefs in seven statements.
First, God is Spirit, so spiritual fellowship with God is primary and ceremony is secondary. Second, the Spirit is above the letter, and the congregation seeks the meaning of Scripture and prayer, not only the method. Third, Christ is the Way, and members seek a personal relationship with Christ through the spiritual interpretation of the Bible. Fourth, Christian liberty means that mind and conscience must be free and unfettered by human creeds, and each individual's Christian perspective is of value. Fifth, Christian works of love flow from a faith that is not saved by works; the congregation is called to be concerned about human need. Sixth, the Christian church is understood as a community of all who worship God in spirit and in truth, transcending doctrine. And seventh, church and state must remain separate, with government having no right to dictate religious conviction.
The Building, the Meeting Houses, and the Cemeteries
The church that stands today was built in 1910 and features a Sanctuary with the simple country warmth of its Schwenkfelder forebears. A two-story Sunday School wing was added in 1964 with multiple classrooms. Below the Sanctuary and accessible by stairs or a stair glide, a Fellowship Hall seats up to 160 and is paired with a full kitchen. The building is available to rent for appropriate functions such as weddings, bridal showers, family reunions, funerals, and recitals.
Two entrances serve worshipers. The side entrance opens directly into the narthex and lobby, while the back entrance, the designated handicapped entrance, leads down a long hallway into the narthex. Steps in the narthex and on either side of the Sanctuary climb to a balcony for those who prefer to sit above. Large-print bulletins are available alongside the regular print version.
The congregation continues to own and care for two historic meeting houses. The Hosensack Meetinghouse, with its stone walls built in 1838 and remodeled in 1893, is the setting for an annual summer outdoor worship service. The Kraussdale Meetinghouse hosts its own summer service and is the site of a Schwenkfelder cemetery. The site of the former Washington Meetinghouse, where the meetinghouse itself was removed in 1911, is preserved as the Washington Schwenkfelder Cemetery.
Palm Schwenkfelder Church also owns four cemeteries in total, the largest and newest of which lies adjacent to the church building. Plots in the church cemetery may be purchased through the church office. Cemeteries are also maintained at the Hosensack and Kraussdale Meetinghouse sites and at the Washington Cemetery site.
Sunday Morning Worship
Worship is held every Sunday at 10:15 a.m., both in person and through livestream on YouTube and Facebook. The service is at the heart of the congregation's common life and is described by the church as an encounter with the presence of God, an offering of gratitude for faith in Jesus Christ, and the praise of a God who has claimed the worshipers as beloved children. Services are centered in Christ, inspired by Scripture, filled with music, and intended to draw everyone present deeper into faith.
The bulletin carries the order of service. An asterisk marks a direction to stand, if able, and bold type marks congregational responses. Ushers hand out bulletins or worshipers can pick one up from a small table to the right as they enter the Sanctuary. Music is integral to the service, with the Senior Choir singing regularly, the Praise Team providing contemporary praise songs on a monthly rotation, and occasional anthems from the Senior Handbell Choir. Music Sundays and special cantatas round out the year.
A Children's sermon is offered every Sunday, after which children under the age of ten may go to Children's Church. A nursery is also available throughout the service for parents who want it. The order of worship regularly includes a time of offering; gifts may also be placed in the mail slot on the church office door or given online.
The congregation encourages visitors to come casual or formal, and to bring themselves as they are. Connections Cafe, a fellowship time with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or cider and homemade baked goods, opens at 9:00 a.m. every Sunday in the Fellowship Hall, and all are invited to drop in before worship.
Sunday School, Youth, and Family Ministry
Christian education is a long-standing commitment of the Schwenkfelders, who built the first log school in the Upper District near Hereford in 1765. Today the church offers Sunday School classes for children from age two through twelfth grade, meeting from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings throughout the school year. The first Sunday of each month is a combined class for all ages, built around the opening devotion theme with interactive games.
The Sunday School year opens with a themed Rally Day and a covered-dish breakfast, and closes with a program of certificates and a church picnic after worship. Special moments along the way include a teacher egg hunt and other intergenerational events. Heather R. Harris, the Director of Christian Education, oversees the program alongside her role as Preschool Director.
Family ministry at Palm reaches beyond Sunday morning. Monthly activities are planned throughout the year for children, youth, their families, the church family, and friends and neighbors. Past gatherings have included hayrides, ice skating, bowling, game and movie nights, mini-golf, and outings to minor league ice hockey and baseball games. Vacation Bible School is held each summer, typically in late June, and is open to children from Pre-K through sixth grade, free for everyone who attends. In recent years Palm has joined other Upper Perkiomen Valley churches for shared VBS programming, with families from across several congregations joining in.
Music at the Heart of Palm
Music is woven into nearly every part of life at Palm Schwenkfelder Church. The music program features vocal and instrumental choirs, individual soloists, and ensembles for every age and experience level. Rehearsals and performances run from September through May.
The Senior Choir is an adult choir that participates weekly in Sunday worship. Directed by Gail Ferry, who has sung in the Senior Choir since 1975 and previously directed the Junior and Cherub Choirs for twenty years, the choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. The Chancel Choir Director is a lifelong member of Palm and a retired middle school teacher who holds degrees from Kutztown University.
The Palm Choir rehearses immediately after worship on Sunday mornings and welcomes singers from junior high age through adulthood. The Praise Team, led by David Luz and Peg Jacob, provides contemporary praise and worship music on a monthly rotation, with monthly rehearsals during the Sunday School hour. The Senior Handbell Choir, also directed by David Luz, rehearses Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and presents anthems monthly at worship and occasionally at special services; new ringers are welcome and taught. The Junior Handbell Choir, for students in second through twelfth grades, is directed by Beth Croll and rehearses Wednesdays from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. The Palm Brass Group, led by Edward K. Bieler, who served as Director of Music from 2011 until his passing in 2022, offers occasional participation for brass players. Bieler was a lifelong member of the church who had directed the Senior Choir since 1971 and was active in the ecumenical United Schwenkfelder Choir and the Red Hill Band.
Missions and Outreach
The Palm Mission Board seeks to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ by serving God's people in tangible ways and by educating the congregation about the needs of those in the community and the world. Members support a steady roster of local, regional, and international ministries.
Open Link, an Upper Perkiomen Valley food assistance program, receives regular donations of non-perishable food items collected by the congregation. The Chester County Migrant Ministry receives collected blankets and personal care items. The Palm Schwenkfelder Relay Team walks and raises funds for the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life. The First Monday Meal in March, a free community meal hosted at Pennsburg UCC, is supported by Palm volunteers.
The congregation gives through the wider church as well. Through Our Church's Wider Mission of the United Church of Christ, Palm supports the ongoing ministries of the denomination and contributes to special UCC offerings: One Great Hour of Sharing for disaster relief and development, Neighbors in Need for justice and witness ministries, Strengthen the Church for new church starts, and the Christmas Fund for retired clergy and church employees. Common Global Ministries of the UCC is the partner through which Palm maintains missionary relationships around the world. The Ukraine crisis is met with monetary donations directed to the Ukrainian National Women's League of America.
When members and friends have undertaken mission trips, the congregation has come alongside to support them, and the church looks forward to continuing this ministry in the future.
The Ladies Aid Society and the Men of Palm
The Ladies Aid Society welcomes all women and friends of the church, and members do not need to belong to Palm to join a meeting or event. The group meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 1:00 p.m.; in summer months the meeting shifts to the first Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. to include friends who are unavailable during the daytime. Meetings are a time of fellowship, checking in on homebound members with visits, cards, and calls, and coordinating fundraisers that support a variety of church and community ministries. The Ladies Aid also gathers for quilting and knotting.
The Men of Palm, working with the additional help of women, youth, and friends of the church, sponsor an annual Chicken Barbecue Dinner fundraiser and welcome anyone interested in joining their work.
Scouting and Family Life
Palm Schwenkfelder Church is the charter organization for Scout Troop 79, which currently meets on Tuesday evenings at the church and hosts both girls' and boys' troops. Scouts are part of the rhythm of the church year, and Scout Sundays in February are a regular worship tradition.
The Preschool at Palm Church
Founded in 1965 as Palm Country Day School by Palm Schwenkfelder Church, the Preschool at Palm Church serves a community need for a small, wholesome preschool enriched in values and the joy of learning. The school year runs from early September to mid-May. Heather R. Harris directs the program, which she leads alongside Brittany Peters as assistant teacher, Danielle Zifra Toddler as lead teacher for the Two-Day and Three-Day programs, and Amanda Kaninberg as assistant teacher.
Three programs are offered. The Two-Day Toddler program is for children age two and older and meets Mondays and Friday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The Three-Day Preschool program serves children ages three and four and meets Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. The Four-Day Pre-K program is for four- and five-year-olds heading into kindergarten the following year, meeting Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. The Pre-K uses the phonics program of the Upper Perkiomen School District for a seamless transition into kindergarten. Lunch Bunch, an enrichment option for currently enrolled Three-Day and Pre-K students, is held on all four Tuesdays of each month from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. and gives children practice in lunch-time skills, story time, crafts, and social play.
The preschool emphasizes the balance between kindergarten-readiness skills and the social, emotional, and physical growth that comes through play. Field trips, music, and art are woven into the curriculum, and the staff strives to make each classroom a caring, faith-based place where children can learn, grow, and be loved.
Church Leadership and Governance
Palm Schwenkfelder Church is prayerfully guided by five boards, each elected annually by the congregation. The Board of Trustees has charge and control of all business and financial matters and of all church property. The Board of Deacons, also called the Diaconate, watches over the life and doctrines of the congregation. The Board of Christian Education directs Christian education throughout the church, including Church School, youth, and other educational activities. The Board of Music Ministries directs the ministry of music throughout the church and its activities. The Board of Missions educates and encourages the congregation toward missions and mission projects. Standing and ad hoc committees, including the Pastoral Relations Committee, support these boards in their work.
All members of the church are voting members, and the boards are elected each year by the congregation itself. Membership is open to anyone who wishes to consider joining, and the pastor welcomes conversations about membership and visiting.
The Pastor and Staff
The Rev. Nicholas L. Pence, Jr. began ministry with Palm Schwenkfelder Church in August 2007. Ordained in 1999 in the United Church of Christ, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Divinity from Lancaster Theological Seminary. He is married to the Rev. Barbara Pence, and together they have three children, Kate, Nicholas, and Andrew. Pastor Nick traces his roots to North Carolina, and his southern warmth is part of the welcoming spirit members often mention.
Leslie J. Reyburn-Shisler serves as Church Office Administrator. A long-time member of Central Schwenkfelder Church until moving to East Greenville in 2020, she served as church administrator there for eighteen years and holds a degree in Home Economics Education with a minor in Business from Messiah College. Heather R. Harris serves as Director of Christian Education and Preschool Director. A long-time member of Central Schwenkfelder Church in Worcester and a board member of the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center, she holds a Master's in Education. Gail Ferry serves as Chancel Choir Director.
Connections Across the Schwenkfelder Church and the Wider UCC
Palm Schwenkfelder Church is part of the Schwenkfelder Church denomination and is, along with its three sister congregations, a small body with deep roots. Because the Schwenkfelder denomination is so small, a committee formed in 1961 explored whether to affiliate with a larger body. After considering the United Church of Christ, Mennonite, Church of the Brethren, and American Baptist denominations, the committee reported in 1963 that UCC affiliation was the best option for the future, leaving the choice to each congregation. Palm voted in favor and is an Associate Member of the United Church of Christ, with congregational standing in the Ursinus Association of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference.
Palm is also connected to the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center in Pennsburg, which collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets material related to the Schwenkfelders and the people of southeastern Pennsylvania and the Perkiomen Valley. Locally, the church is a member of the Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce. Sister congregations include Central Schwenkfelder Church in Lansdale, Olivet-Schwenkfelder United Church of Christ in Norristown, and Schwenkfelder Missionary Church in Philadelphia, which hosts a strong mission outreach including a weekly soup kitchen.
Visiting, Giving, and Staying Connected
The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The church phone is 215-679-5321 and the fax is 215-679-2650. The mailing address is P.O. Box 66, Palm, PA 18070. Worship services, bulletins, and the bimonthly newsletter Palm Leaves are posted regularly, and the livestream of Sunday worship is available on YouTube and Facebook. Online giving is available through the church's giving page, where PayPal, debit, and credit are accepted, and gifts may also be mailed to the church office with designations noted on the memo line.
For those who wish to dig deeper into the Schwenkfelder story, the church maintains a small library of its own and shares resources from the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center. A series titled RE-Discovering Schwenckfeld, written by Pastor Nick, walks through Schwenckfeld's writings and the history of his followers. The annual Gedächtnistag observance on the Sunday nearest September 24 brings the wider Schwenkfelder family together for intergenerational Sunday School, an afternoon service in the Strasburg Auditorium at Meadowood Senior Living Center behind Central Schwenkfelder Church, and the traditional bread and apple butter meal that has marked the occasion for nearly three hundred years.