Chapter 8
Serving the King of Kings:  The Next Century
The Broomall congregation has begun its third century of service to our Lord and Savior.  
What lies ahead is unknown to us.  But it is certain.  For we are in the hands of the 
Almighty God, whose Son, our Lord and Savior reigns as the King of nations.  Broomall has 
been through some difficult years.  There are some who would conclude that Broomall is 
actually a new work, simply the vestige of First Reformed Presbyterian and later First 
and Second Churches.  Yet, the congregation has remained organized in an unbroken state 
since 1798.  It has simply moved out of the city of Philadelphia and into the suburb of 
Broomall, Pennsylvania.  It has been through a lot.  In a recent conversation with Rev. 
Harrington, he noted that writing this paper has given me a great opportunity to gain 
great knowledge of the denomination as a whole Ð for many important events occurred at 
First Church.  

Another observation is that had we known now, what we do today, the Dissent Schism of 1833 
may not have occurred.  For in essence, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America 
has adopted the position of Dr. Samuel B. Wylie with regard to our relations to civil 
government.  There are some who see this a mistake.  On the whole, it is wise and has 
enabled the Church to convince visitors, by the grace of God, of the truth of the gospel 
of Jesus Christ.  When a new yearÕs yield from the harvest field is in, perhaps then, we 
would consider a renewed covenant.  For now, in our nation, there is such a blight of Bible 
knowledge and commensurate unawareness of sinfulness, that to insist on covenantal obligations, 
in the manner of past years, would in a way be like expecting an infant to digest dinner in 
France on Christmas Day.  

Broomall reflects a trend in the Reformed Presbyterian Church as a whole Ð a gradual increase 
in attendance and membership.  It is import to remember that in this overview of the history of 
the Broomall congregation, an important item has not been looked at in detail.  To do so would 
require a tremendous amount of further work and research.  That item is the congregants.  Each 
person is a vital member of the body of Christ.  Each member has a specific task to perform for 
the glory of God, prepared for him or her from before the foundations of the world.  So, let us 
embark with boldness for the cause of Christ on the journey into this Third Century of the 
history of the Broomall Reformed Presbyterian Church.  Let us remember that we are ÒÉfishing in 
stocked streamsÓ, to quote one of my former professors at Reformed Episcopal Seminary in 
Philadelphia.  God knows where we need to go fishing Ð we need to look to Him for guidance and 
remember Ð to catch fish, fisherman go where the fish are.  

Thus, as we are following ChristÕs command, as His undershepherdÕs to be fishers of men, let us 
cast the net in some unlikely places (Luke 5: 3-10).  Perhaps it is time to consider the city of 
Philadelphia.  The cities of the nation are in great need of the gospel of Christ and Reformed 
theology.  In a very real way, we can say, ÒBut we have already been thereÉÓ; that is what the 
disciples told Jesus before their miraculous catch.  This may be something to consider for the 
coming years Ð the return of a Reformed Presbyterian witness in the cities which so direly need 
it.