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Chapter 7
The United Covenanter Church
Subsequently named Broomall Reformed Presbyterian Church
First and Second form into The United Covenanter Church
In 1952, Philadelphia Presbytery granted the petition of First and Second Churches,
forming one congregation of the two. Further, they granted several privileges
(to Third as well): arranging for the supply of their own pulpits, arranging for
the observance of the LordÕs Supper with an available minister moderating, holding
elections for pastor with an available minister moderating. Dr. Wilson, who was at
the time still pastor of Third Church (although technically retired), was designated
to serve as the moderator of the united congregation until such time as a pastor was
called and installed. The United Covenanter Church was organized by the Ad Interim
Commission of Philadelphia Presbytery on June 23rd, 1952. On June 11th, 1952 the
congregation lost one of their ruling elders. James R. McMullan, had emigrated from
County Antrim, Ireland about the turn of the century. He and his wife Annie (McCaughan)
settled in the Philadelphia area and became members of First Church. Having been an
elder on the session of the Dervock Covenanter Church in Ireland, Mr. McMullan was later
installed on the session of First Church (January 7th, 1906). Elder McMullan had served
the congregation of First, but lived only long enough to see them reunited with Second
Church. As for worship arrangements, they alternated for a time between their previous
buildings, which were still owned by the newly united congregation.
The United Covenanter Church calls Paul D. McCracken (1954-1965)
On November 22nd, 1953, United Covenanter Church of Philadelphia called Dr. Paul D.
McCracken to be their pastor. The session consisted of J. A. Carson, James Hartin,
Ralph R. Jackson, and John Peoples. Dr. McCracken accepted the call and was installed
by the Philadelphia Presbytery on March 12th, 1954. Paul Delo McCracken was born to
Robert John and Mary Alphens Daubenspeck McCracken on April 11th, 1898, near Hilliard,
Butler County, Pennsylvania. At the age of twelve, he united by profession of faith
with the Middletown Reformed Presbyterian Church in Hooker, Pennsylvania. Later, he
attended Geneva College, from which institution he graduated with a B.A. in 1922.
From 1923-26 he attended the Reformed Presbyterian Seminary in Pittsburgh (formerly
known as Allegheny Seminary). During his seminary training, Mr. McCracken was licensed
to preach by the Pittsburgh presbytery on May 12th, 1925. On July 7th, 1926 Mr.
McCracken was ordained and installed as pastor of the Slippery Rock congregation (now
Rose Point) in Pennsylvania. He and Miss Myra Alice Edgar were married on June 9th,
1926. Together, they raised four sons and a daughter. Until January of 1937 he served
this congregation, at which time he resigned in order to take the call of the Superior,
Nebraska congregation. Beginning his service at Superior, on March 10th, 1937, he
continued until being called by the Topeka, Kansas congregation. He served in Topeka
from August 11th, 1939 until January 25th, 1954. During Rev. McCrackenÕs time at Topeka,
the Doctor of Divinity degree was conferred on him by Geneva College.
By October of 1954, the property at 17th, below Race (formerly owned by Second Church)
had a buyer lined up. The combined communicant roll was one hundred and five members
when Dr. McCracken began his ministry at United Covenanter Church of Philadelphia.
For a short while, temporary facilities were used, located at 7 & 9 Beverly Avenue, East
Lansdowne, Pennsylvania. A parsonage had also been provided, located at 36 W. Hillcrest
Avenue, Havertown, Pennsylvania. The requirements of the congregation soon made it
necessary to rent facilities at the YMCA located at Garrett Road and Lansdowne Avenue,
Lansdowne, Pennsylvania.
A building site was chosen, off of U. S. Route 3 in the suburb of Broomall, Pennsylvania.
The lot faced Lawrence Road and the surrounding land was at the time, undeveloped. In
order to purchase the lot, First (at Fortieth and Sansom) and Second (still at
Seventeenth, below Race) were sold. Meanwhile, the congregation continued to meet at
the YMCA in Lansdowne. Soon a building committee was formed, consisting of: Thomas Dodds
(chairman), Sarah Archer, Harry Green, Mrs. Thomas Nimick, James Hartin, Edna Steele,
Robert Dodds, Dr. Mary E. Coleman, Thomas Nimick, and Dr. Paul D. McCracken. There was
a great deal of work ahead for these members, and they served with faithfulness and
diligence in completing the task assigned to them.
Work on the new place of worship began in earnest. In July of 1956, the session noted
GodÕs provision of four steel girders needed for the work to continue. For some reason,
they were unavailable. Yet, in answer to prayer, God provided them in a timely way, ÒÉ
when all possible roads were closed to every effort we or the builder had made.Ó. By
October 3, 1956 the Cornerstone Laying Ceremony took place. Dr. John Coleman gave the
invocation, then followed a responsive reading composed mostly of selections from the
Psalms. (Dr. Mary E. ÒAunt LibÓ Coleman was at the time providing housing for her sister
Eleanor and her three sons, John, William and Allen. EleanorÕs husband, the late Rev.
Robert Dodds Edgar, who was serving as pastor of Third Reformed Presbyterian Church of
New York City, went to his rest at a young age, passing from this life on February 13th,
1953.) One of EleanorÕs sons, William Joseph Edgar, took part in the Cornerstone Laying
Ceremony. He was at the time, a representative of the Juniors group. Little did he know
at the time what God had in store for him! Below is a list of the contents of the box
which young William helped to place behind the cornerstone and seal with mortar on
October 3rd, 1956:
Bible, Psalter, constitution of Reformed Presbyterian Church, Brief
History of the R. P. Church, R. P. Manual of Doctrine, R. P. Catechism,
ÒWho Are the Covenanters?Ó, Covenant of 1871, Covenant of 1954, Terms of
Communion, Covenant of Church Membership, Year Book of 1955, Brief
histories of first, Second, and United Covenanter Churches, List of
Charter members, Prayer offered at laying of Corner-stone.
Dr. McCracken also served on a Synod committee for publicizing the official signing of
the Covenant of 1954. This covenant recognized the previous covenant of 1871 as binding,
but was made in order to clarify some of the errors which had become prominent in the
1950Õs. Membership in secret societies, temperance, the growing influence of liberal
theology (a result of the Òhigher criticismÓ of the Scriptures), and maintaining the
position of dissent with regard to the constituted government of the United States were
items specifically addressed.
Before long, the work on the church edifice was complete and the congregation held the
dedication service for the house of worship on January 13th, 1957. While the parsonage
was being finished, Dr. McCracken and his wife lived in the rear portion of the church
building, the house on W. Hillcrest no longer being occupied by them. This was a time
of blessing for the congregation. Having seen their numbers dwindle, they were now
united in the cause of the furtherance of the kingdom of God. They had the guidance
of a devout leader in Dr. McCracken, who moderated a wise and skillful session. With
the increased prosperity of the late 1950Õs, a building frenzy was progressing in the
surrounding area. Thus the congregation had renewed vigor from the Lord, hoping to see
much fruit from evangelism. And it proved to be a timely reinvigoration, for the nation
was about to enter another tumultuous period. Under the leadership of Dr. McCracken,
United Covenanter Church of Broomall would enter into the Sixties Ð a time when every
established moral guidepost was to be thrown down in a moral/sexual revolution which
followed and grew out of the upheaval of the racial strife of the Civil Rights movement.
Covenanters clearly supported the Civil Rights movement in as much as it was to remove
the glaring sin of hatred towards blacks. But they held firmly to Biblical principles
of family and social order.
Pastor McCracken and his wife Myra had the distinct pleasure of seeing their daughter
Mary Grace married at Broomall. This was a special event for the whole congregation as
well, for it was to be the first wedding in the new church building. Wayne R. Spear and
Mary Grace McCracken were wed on May 27th, 1958. Dr. McCracken performed the wedding
himself. The best man was Wendell Spears, an elder of the Walden, New York congregation.
MaryÕs bridal party was made up of her college roommate Ginny Wilson as maid of honor,
Lois Ramsey, Sue (Robb) Wilkie, and Rosemary (Tebay) Smith. The McCracken brothers, Don,
Paul, Bob, and Ray sang as a quartet. It was a joyous event Ð further evidence of the
continuation of GodÕs blessings on the Covenanters at the United Church.
As for the Philadelphia Presbytery, it was by now a misnomer. Having been reduced to
the United Covenanter Church, Third, and Orlando, Synod reshuffled the organization of
presbyteries in 1959-60. Orlando was placed under the oversight of the Ohio Presbytery.
United and Third joined the New York Presbytery.
Resignation and later years of Dr. McCracken
The session of United Covenanter Church was added to on Feb 21st, 1961 with the
ordination of two elders, George W. Jackson and Millard L. Howell. Having been out of
the city now, and united for several years, the session opted to change the name of the
congregation to Reformed Presbyterian Church Ð United Covenanter. Eventually, the name
would be changed to its present form: Broomall Reformed Presbyterian Church. In 1962,
Dr. McCracken also served as the moderator of Synod. For a number of years, he had been
serving on the Board of Foreign Missions, the Seminary Board, the Corporators of Geneva
College and several committees of Synod.
Effective March 21st, 1965, Dr. McCracken resigned as pastor of Broomall in order to
accept a call from the Santa Ana, California congregation. One of the last things he
did for the congregation was to preside at the ordination of elder-elect Jack Ramsey
(now of the Syracuse RP Congregation) on February 28th, 1965. He had faithfully served
the congregation for eleven years. At the time of his resignation, the congregation at
Broomall had seventy-four communicant members. From the 1960Õs to the early 1980Õs there
was a low birth rate among the congregation as is evinced in the few baptisms during
those years. Those who were members of the congregation were committed to serving God
and rejoiced in His blessings. (By now, the distinctive principle which most marked the
Covenanters among evangelicals was their view on worship Ð the use of only the inspired
Psalms, sung a capella.) Among the congregations in the local area and Philadelphia
environs, the Broomall congregation continued to hold a reputation (established by First
and Second) as a congregation where the Gospel was faithfully preached and where God was
worshipped according to His will. Dr. McCracken is well remembered by many members of
the congregation to this day. He serve the Santa Ana congregation until 1970 when he
retired Ð bringing to a close forty-four years of service to the Reformed Presbyterian
Church. God granted him rest from his labors on September 5th, 1989 when he died at the
home in Pittsburgh. Dr. McCracken had dwelt there with his wife since 1983.
Elder John Peoples, having retired as clerk of session, still continued to serve as a
ruling elder until he was taken ill and removed to the home in Pittsburgh. After a long
life of service to the kingdom of God, sixty-three years as a ruling elder at Second
(then United, then Broomall), Dr. Peoples died, entering into the rolls of the Church
Triumphant on December 24th, 1965.
During the time between Dr. McCrackenÕs resignation in March of 1965 and the call of
Rev. Harold B. Harrington, the congregation was served faithfully by the session,
moderated by Rev. George W. Price who was then serving as pastor of Third Church of
Philadelphia. Several elections were held before the congregation was successful in
having a candidate accept the call to be their pastor.
Harold B. Harrington was born to Hugh T. and Olive Blanche (Morrow) Harrington on July
12th, 1927 in Hetherton, Michigan. After his schooling in the Michigan schools,
Mr. Harrington served in the United States Army during World War II. Afterwards, he
attended Geneva College, graduating in 1949 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In
1952, Mr. Harrington graduated from the R. P. Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
During his studies at the seminary, Mr. Harrington was licensed to preach by the Ohio
Presbytery in 1951. Subsequently, he spent some time (1952-53) at New College,
University of Edinburgh, Scotland in graduate studies. On September 10th, 1954 Mr.
Harrington was ordained and installed as pastor of the New Castle, Pennsylvania
congregation. Ena Fay Cover and Rev. Harrington were married on March 16th, 1962.
Having served the New Castle congregation for seven years, he resigned and took up work
in Arizona with the Security Commission from 1961-1964.
Rev. Harrington then served as pastor of the Lake Reno, Minnesota congregation from July
15th, 1964 until October 31, 1967. He then returned to New Castle and served as stated
supply from October of 1967 to June of 1968. In March of 1968 a call was made to Rev.
Harrington. Accepting, he was installed as pastor of the Broomall congregation June
19th, 1968. As noted before, these were troublous times for the nation. The Civil
Rights movement continued and the war in Vietnam was sapping the resolve of the country.
Mass anti-war demonstrations and sit-ins were becoming common, often resulting in
violence. It seemed as though the nation was self-destructing before our very eyes.
Sexual immorality became the ultimate weapon in the arsenal of the anti-establishment
ÒhippieÓ revolution.
Passing of James A. Carson/ordination of church officers
In January of 1970 the Lord called another of his servants home. James Aldrich Carson
who had served the congregation of Second Church and then United Church for thirty-six
years died. He had served the nation in World War I, participating in the Meuse-Argonne
Offensive, and later at Verdun. The Pennsylvania Railroad benefited from his services in
their legal department for forty-seven years. On the Session of Broomall, he replaced
Dr. Peoples as clerk, serving for ten of his thirty-six years in that capacity. Elder
Carson was survived by his wife, two sons and eight grand-children. Later, in April
1971, the congregation elected three deacons: Thomas Dodds, Mary E. Coleman, and Eleanor
Edgar. Also elected at the same time to the office of ruling elder was Marshall W.
Smith, (having returned with his family from San Diego, CA). Several months later, the
Archer sisters, Deborah and Sara, after many long years of faithful service in the
congregation, retired. They transferred their membership to a congregation in Northern
Ireland. Before doing so, Deborah and Sarah generously provided a gift to the Broomall
congregation, which enabled the remaining debt on the church property to be paid. In so
doing, God, by leading the Archer sisters to be so generous, has blessed the Broomall
congregation with a continuing spirit of generosity for the furtherance of His kingdom.
George Jackson became an in-active member of session due to the movement of Celotex (the
company that George worked forty years for) to Illinois. Alice Mae Scalley and Viola
Ramsey were ordained and installed as deacons on October 3rd, 1971. (The Ramseys later
transferred their membership to the Syracuse, NY RPC in February of 1974.) This was a
busy year for the congregation with lots of coming and going. A pattern seemed to emerge
of four to five year plateaus in membership levels, followed by a decrease. This pattern
continued until the late 1980Õs when the movement was an increase in membership.
Rev. Harrington provided able leadership for the flock under his care throughout the
trials of the sixties. There was an ongoing effort to minister in a special way to the
young members of the congregation Ð knowing what temptations they faced. A work was
begun in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania in Fall of 1974, led by William Cornell. (This work
followed on the heels of a previous effort in Easton, Pennsylvania, both of which
continued for a short time, but were discontinued.) Rev. Cornell later accepted a call
to the Cambridge, Massachusetts R. P. Church in 1979. He gave up that charge in order to
care for his ailing mother and then his sister, as she recovered from a serious car
accident. At that time, he resumed his role on the Session of Broomall RPC at that time.
Rev. Cornell continued on the Session of Broomall, preaching widely in the Reformed
Presbyterian Church, and other Reformed congregations in Bethesda, Maryland area until
the time of his sudden death while at work (United Electric) on June 7th, 1997 Later,
Rev. Harrington helped to found the Delaware County Reformed Institute in 1975 in order
to provide further Bible education opportunities for members of local congregations.
This was done in co-operation with other Reformed congregations in the area. Also by
1975, the young lad who had assisted in the cornerstone laying ceremony in 1956, had
matured in the Christian faith. William J. Edgar was ordained as a ruling elder on June
15th, 1975. During these years of able leadership, Rev. Harrington and his wife Ena,
together with their children and the congregation would face an especially difficult
trial Ð a time of great sadness.
GodÕs trial by fire Ð August 1975
August of 1975 was a month which brought both joy and great sorrow to the Harrington
family, as well as the Broomall congregation. On August 8th, Ena gave birth to their
fourth daughter, Jessica. Rev. Harrington and Ena were the parents of Zoe, Ann, Gretchen
and now Jessica. A few days later, Ena and Jessica arrived home from the hospital. On
August 15th, 1975 Gretchen left to walk up the hill (Lawrence Road) to the Christian
Reformed Church for Vacation Bible School, as she had done before. When she did not
return home as expected, a phone call to Rev. David G. Zanstra of the Christian Reformed
Church indicated that Gretchen had not been to the class that day. The police were
notified. There was a tremendous outpouring of concern among the local church and
residential community. Two hundred volunteers began to scour the area looking for eight-
year-old Gretchen. Eventually, GretchenÕs body was found in Ridley Creek State Park.
Already the Harrington family had suffered a great deal in the realization that Gretchen
was missing, hoping that she would turn up. Then it became apparent that she had been
abducted. Now came the added grief of knowing their daughter had been killed. God, whom
they faithfully served, sustained them throughout this ordeal and bore them up in ways
many can not fathom. Words can never convey what the Harringtons endured. They have
indeed endured, a token of GodÕs graciousness in the midst of great sorrow. Even
through this grief, Rev. Harrington has continued to serve the Lord in the preaching of
his word. He and his family remained active at Broomall until May of 1980. (They return
periodically when Rev. Harrington fills the pulpit during the pastorÕs absence.)
Rev. Harrington resigns Broomall charge
After twelve years of leading the flock at Broomall, as ChristÕs undershepherd, Rev.
Harrington resigned and took up work in New Albany as their interim pastor (1981-82).
For a short while, Rev. Harrington was aided by Richard Ganz who was ordained and
installed as an associate pastor by New York Presbytery on November 10th, 1978. (Rev.
Ganz was completing theological training at Westminster Seminary, Philadelphia.) At the
time of Rev. HarringtonÕs resignation, the Broomall congregation had a communicant roll
of fifty-two members (total members Ð sixty-six). He also served as professor of
Theology and Dean at the Ottawa Theological Hall (Ontario, Canada) at that time.
Returning to Pennsylvania in 1983, Rev. Harrington served the Rose Point Congregation
from February 1983 until 1993. During these many years, he served on several Synod
committees and moderated both the New York (1969, 1975) and Pittsburgh (1986)
Presbyteries. Supposedly, Rev. Harrington retired after pastoring at Rose Point. Yet,
he remains a sought after preacher, who must be booked well in advance. He and Ena
reside in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Rev. Harrington also serves on the session of the
Endwell, NY congregation.
Broomall calls one of her own Ð William J. Edgar (1981 - )
William Joseph Edgar was born to Rev. Robert Dodds Edgar (pastor of New York City RPC)
and Eleanor Willson Coleman on June 14th, 1946. After the death of Rev. Robert D. Edgar
in 1953, the family moved to the Philadelphia suburbs to reside with EleanorÕs sister,
Dr. Mary E. Coleman. William completed his studies and competed in sports activities at
schools in Drexel Hill and Upper Darby, demonstrating his skills as a scholar at a young
age. In 1968 he graduated from Swathmore College, in Pennsylvania. While there, he was
active in his Christian witness (together with other Christians on campus). God blessed
this witness. One of the fruits born of it was the conversion of a certain young woman
named Gretchen DeLameter, also a student at Swathmore College. Then Mr. Edgar took up
his studies at the Reformed Presbyterian Seminary in Pittsburgh, serving as an assistant
to Samuel Boyle in the Christian Government Movement at the same time. In 1969, he was
certified to the Foreign Mission Board for service in Nicosia, Cypress. Before leaving,
he had a very important detail to attend to. That young woman from Swathmore, who had
been given the gift of faith in Christ, Gretchen DeLameter Ð she and Bill were married on
June 14th, 1969 (to the chagrin of the Foreign Mission Board). Together, Bill and
Gretchen served in Cypress from July 1970 until September 1974. During this time, Bill
and Don Piper (also serving in Cypress with his new wife Bonnie) pioneered a departure
from established routine (not all rebelliousness was intended for evil) in having Bible
studies and preaching conducted in Greek, rather than English.
Upon their return to the Philadelphia area, he and Gretchen with their son Yanni (John)
invaded the domicile of a very gracious Dr. Mary E. Coleman until such time as they
secured housing of their own. He took up and completed his Ph.D. studies at the
University of Pennsylvania. At this time Mr. Edgar was also ordained and installed as a
ruling elder in the Broomall congregation on June 15th, 1975. In the course of
completing his studies, Bill was awarded a Fulbright grant for dissertation research in
Greece in 1978-79 and completed his studies in 1980 with a Ph.D. in history. The New
York Presbytery licensed Dr. Edgar to preach on August 9th, 1980. Working with Mr. Dave
Coon, Dr. Edgar they were instrumental in the reorganization of the Whitelake, NY
congregation, which Rev. Coon still serves as pastor. Also in that year, Mr. Edgar began
teaching mathematics at East Senior High School in West Chester, Pennsylvania, which
position he still holds. On February 28th, 1981, the New York Presbytery ordained and
installed Dr. William J. Edgar and Joseph Charles Paul as associate pastors of the
Broomall congregation. Rev. Edgar, Ph.D., took up full pastorate duties once Joe Paul
departed the Broomall congregation for service to the Lord in Kansas. (Joe Paul
eventually became a chaplain in the United States Navy, and continues to serve as such,
but now in the PCA.) Added to his duties at Broomall, was the opportunity to teach at
the Center for Urban Theological Studies, a joint venture among Reformed denominations to
train urban ministers in Reformed theology. Dr. Edgar taught there for a number of
years.
In the mid 1980Õs the New York Presbytery was realigned with the St. Lawrence Presbytery,
creating the Atlantic Presbyter. The Broomall congregation was placed under the care of
the Atlantic Presbytery in 1986-87, when this change occurred. Also in 1986, the
communicant roll dipped to its lowest level (thirty-nine) since the very early days of
the late 18th century when the congregation was first organized. Shortly afterwards, the
membership began to reverse the decline and gain new members. 1988 was a year that saw
the sharpest increase in total membership, rising from fifty-five from the previous year
to seventy-five. This increase brought the communicant roll to fifty-two. Obviously,
the Lord was blessing the families of the congregation, both new and old members with the
gift of children Ð lots of children.
Broomall begins the Lancaster work
Tom Houston, a recent graduate from the RP Seminary in Pittsburgh, was ordained and
installed by the Atlantic Presbytery. He was to serve as the assistant pastor of
Broomall for ministry in the new work which had begun in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
beginning on November 17th, 1991. Rev. Houston and his wife Jeanne (Visnovsky), married
since May 22nd, 1982, moved to the Lancaster area to shepherd the young flock gathered at
the YMCA in Lancaster. The congregation showed great promise as it began to attract new
members. After a few years, Rev. Houston resigned the charge of the congregation in late
1994, but he and his family remained there as members. Rev. Mark England was installed
on November 16th, 1996. Rev. William Cornell, Dr. William Edgar, Brian Schwertley and
Michael Lydon (Students of Theology) and others supplied the pulpit until the time of
Rev. EnglandÕs installation. The congregation was small, but it was made up of members
who seemed committed to the work. Unfortunately, one family withdrew over doctrinal and
disciplinary issues. Other members were also drawn away, to follow this family. It was
a blow from which the congregation did not recover. As of this date, the congregation
has been disorganized. One family, the Snyder family, firmly committed to the gospel of
Jesus Christ and to Reformed theology, has transferred their membership to the Broomall
congregation Ð travelling from Ephrata each LordÕs Day.
The continuing service of Dr. Edgar
The Broomall congregation was and continues to be ably served by Dr. William J. Edgar.
He has placed a very strong emphasis on family devotions and is eager to see the young
baptized members profess their faith in Christ. He has recognized this as a great
weakness of the Reformed Presbyterian Church throughout her history and hopes to do his
part to correct it. The congregation receives faithful and clear discipleship from the
pulpit preaching of Dr. Edgar. Many of his other duties remain somewhat invisible to
members of the congregation: counseling Ð in person or on the phone, serving on the
Seminary Board as President of the Board, serving on Synod committees Ð as well as
Presbytery committees, writing, praying, etc. These are in addition to his duties as a
husband, father, son, brother, school teacher and neighbor. He was elected Moderator of
Synod in June of 1998.
The Edgars have been blessed with five children. The two oldest are now married. John
Edgar married Evniki Sterrett on August 9th, 1997. A few months later, Elisabeth
(Betsy) was married to Duran Perkins (of the Seattle RPC) on December 20th, 1997. Alex,
Adam and Daniel will just have to wait a while yet.
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