Opening the Doors
to Our Holiest Houses

As rich as the history of religion and its role in the growth of the North Penn area may be, it is matched by the breadth of worship offerings in Lansdale today. Whatever your choice, national origin, ethnicity or dedication, Lansdale and its environs have a way to bring you closer to your God, as well as opportunities to reach out to the entire North Penn community. On this page we take you inside a few of these houses of worship and introduce you to them, their history, their spiritual leaders and their messages for the North Penn area.

Stories and photos by Bruce Schwartz,
Editor, Discover Lansdale Magazine
except as noted

Chapel at St. Mary Manor, 701 Lansdale Ave., Lansdale, (215) 368-0900 (villa.smmrehab.org)
Rev. Zachary Navit

Average attendance. About 75-100

Three things you might not know:

• The chapel on the grounds of the St. Mary rehabilitation and residential center is a hundred-year-old replica of a stunningly ornate 16th-century basilica in Rome – Santi Nereo e Achilleo.
• It was constructed in honor of Cardinal Dougherty, the first Philadelphian to be elevated to the Vatican, to recreate the church that was placed under the Cardinal’s patronage in Rome.
• The chapel is open to all, with daily Mass at 11 am. “On Sundays, we open the front main door of the chapel so people can come right in from outside,” says Father Navit. Also, “everything in the chapel is also shown on closed circuit TV in the facility, so even if someone can’t come to the chapel they can follow along and pray. And then we will bring communion to them.”  
  

In the basilica style. The chapel’s furnishings are of Italian marble, right down to the recreations of the mosaics, and the frescoes and columns are faithful reproductions of the Roman basilica. The style is “modeled on the Roman Meeting Hall,” says Father Navit, “where the leader would be seated in back, the focal point, with his cabinet next to him. So you can see the throne in back, with benches to the side. And the throne is carved with the words that Pope St. Gregory wrote extolling the virtue of these two martyrs.”

Who were Nereus and Achilleus? “The two of them were soldiers in the Roman army who converted, actually with the niece of the Roman emperor who herself converted as well. And they all paid the price. They died as martyrs.”

First Baptist Church, 700 N. Broad St.,  (215) 855-3457 (www.fbcl.com)
Pastor Eric Kraihanzel
 
Size: Membership about 250, regular attendance 125-150. 
 
Structure: Although the church moved to its current location in 1954, it recreated the classic stonework style common in turn-of-the-century Lansdale. “I’m fascinated by the stone work,” says Pastor Kraihanzel. “It looks almost like a castle from the outside. Apparently the stone is from a local quarry, and when they added onto the original sanctuary, they got the same stone from the same quarry.”
 
What makes First Baptist special? “If somebody’s looking for a church to be a part of, we definitely preach the Gospel. We don’t make any bones about it. This is God’s word, we stand by God’s word, and we will live by God’s word. We’re not going to mess around with what the Bible says. But we’re also a friendly church. People will walk in the door and say, ‘These people care about each other. They enjoy being with each other.’”
 
What's your message for the North Penn area?  “In the midst of a world that is so full of dissatisfaction and lost hope, I believe we as a church are sharing that there is a hope in this world, and that is through Jesus Christ. I don’t believe that God does not exist anymore, and I don’t believe that God never existed. I believe that God always existed and I believe he’s here today, he was here yesterday and he’ll be here tomorrow.”

First Generation Church, 501 N. Broad St., (215) 869-5703
Pastor Lee Eungdo
 
Interesting fact: The name First Generation is actually a mis-translation of the Korean words cho dae, and is meant to refer to the earliest churches of Christianity, not to the Korean immigrants whom the church serves.
 
History: First Generation was created in 2001 to meet the spiritual needs of the Korean community. It leased space first in other churches in Yardley and Glenside, before buying the former PNB Bank building as a permanent home in 2010. Renovations continue, by hand, by the congregation members, to this day.  
 
Attendance: About 150.
 
What makes First Generation special? “My church is very strongly connected to the community. We’re not that big, but we’re very connected to the people who live in this area,” says Pastor Lee. He points to a Korean Women’s Center organized to help victims of domestic violence, and a Philadelphia Korean senior choir that practices weekly. “My ministry is rooted in the community.”
 
Message to the NP area: “I think it’s very good for the communities to mingle together. If we know each other more, we can help each other more. I feel that sometimes we have some kind of border between us, but if we break that border and work together, we can share and develop.”

Grace Mennonite Church, 630 York Ave., (215) 855-7718 (www.gracemennonite.org)
Associate Pastor Jay Gordon
 
History: Established in the late 1920s-early ’30s as an outreach from the city. “They wanted to start a mission church out in the hinterlands of Philadelphia,” says Pastor Gordon. The first location on Mt. Vernon Street just off Broad, is now occupied by a Korean congregation; the current building was dedicated in 1954.
 
Size: About 200 members, 150 regular attendees.
 
You might not realize: The Mennonites are not the Amish. “We don’t drive horse and buggies, and we don’t have black bumpers on our cars. Some of those cultural things are just not accurate for the time we live in.” He does allow, that some congregants “still speak Pennsylvania Dutch. We have quite a few members who still hold on to Pennsylvania Dutch -- it’s kind of cool.”
 
The way of peace: Most Mennonite churches embrace the teachings of simple piety and peace ascribed to 16th century Dutch reformer Menno Simons. That includes a tradition of conscientious objection. “The Mennonite church is well known for its positions of peace and non-resistance,” says Pastor Gordon. “That has been a big part of the Mennonite faith for a long time."
 
What makes Grace Mennonite special? A strong tradition of missionary outreach, says Pastor Gordon. The church supports members on missions to Haiti, Azerbaijan, Africa and elsewhere. “If someone comes up tomorrow and says, ‘I have a real burden in my heart to go here and do this,’ we’re going to support them.” And on a local level, the congregation bands together for a youth Upward Flag Football league for grades K-8. This year there were 36 teams, involving more than 300 young people. “Virtually all the volunteers needed to run that league, with the exception of coaches – we couldn’t supply all the coaches – come from the church.” That’s a particular point of pride. “The essence of our mission statement is that we try to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world every day. I love that our church lives up to that.”

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 407 N. Broad St., (215) 855-4431 (lansdaletrinity.org)
Pastor William Rex
 
128 years and counting: Built in 1890, it’s the oldest remaining church in continuous use in Lansdale; the congregation dates from 1880.
 
Come get lunch: On many Fridays during the year, members are on the corner of 4th and Broad, handing out bag lunches to passersby.
 
Size: Average attendance 30-50 on a Sunday, but Pastor Rex, who arrived at the church in June, is looking to grow. “This church has had a lot of ups and downs over the years, and we’re in the process of rebuilding. I see the potential,” he says. “My hope is, over the next couple years, we can delve into the mixture that makes up Lansdale, to try to establish who is best targeted for future growth.”
 
What makes Holy Trinity special? “It’s the desire to reach into the lives of people. Members of the congregation would describe it as a big family, but I would describe it beyond the construct of family, and into community. They’re not only close knit in the way they welcome people into the congregation, but they are also interested in working as a congregation to reach out to the people around us.”
 
Message for the NP area: “We’re all facing dynamic changes in the culture. What was static and normal is being changed, sometimes in perceptible ways, and other times in aggressive and out of control ways. What the church offers, in spite of its flaws and mistakes and despite all its controversy, is a static reality that has been able to override and overcome all the struggles of centuries. In spite of all the chaos and the uncertainty all around us, the church still holds a core understanding of life and relationship and community.”

Lansdale United Methodist Church, 300 N. Broad St., (215) 855-8364 (www.lansdaleumc.org)
Rev. Dr. Chris Kurien
 
Born with Lansdale: The church was founded in 1872, the year of the Borough’s incorporation at 3rd and Walnut Sts., which still stands but is slated to be demolished for an  apartment complex.
 
Size: Membership about 600, average 120 attending
 
Illuminating: Intricate stained glass panels depict not only Biblical figures but also John and Charles Wesley, the Anglican priests who founded the Methodism movement, as well as other key figures in its development.
 
What makes Lansdale United Methodist Special? “This church is very passionate about mission and outreach. Locally, but also whenever calamities hit our country, a group of people travel – to the Carolinas, to Florida, wherever – to help. Every year they do that a few times,” says Rev. Kurien “Also, we are a diverse congregation. A majority is Caucasian, but we have families from Africa, from India, from other Asian countries, and there are people whose first language was not English – like my own history. I began to speak English really after college. I understand the challenges of an immigrant community."
 
Message for the NP area: “We are living in a world that is hurting in so many ways – communities are divided, people not trusting one another – and my hope is the message of Jesus Christ is so precious and so significant and important that it can change lives, that it can bring people together not just to worship God but to impact their lives in such a way that they would begin to see God in the other person and to be a loving community that can transform the world. That is our only hope.”

North Penn Mosque, 600 Maple Ave., (215) 361-2229 (northpennmasjid.org)
Imams Muzzammil Zakir and Abu Rashed
 
History: The Mosque began in 2000 to serve a growing Muslim community. “They were looking for a place to pray, and they wanted a mosque where we all can come together and the community’s needs can be fulfilled,” says Imam Zakir. “They found this place, which had been a church and then a night club. Everybody gave a hand, the township and the people in the community, and all the neighbors were welcoming.”
 
Size: On an average day, more than 200; on Fridays, as many as 600 or more. “Sometimes it gets so tight that people even go outside,” says Imam Zakir. “When we stand for prayer, we stand shoulder to shoulder,” says Imam Rashed.
 
What makes the Mosque special? “We work with the local community and neighbors, for any kind of help they need, no matter what religion they are,” says Imam Zakir. Whether illness or financial difficulties or victims of fraud, says Imam Rashed, “we try our best to help them. ... What makes this mosque special is that we are connecting God to the individual – I am connecting myself to God and to the community, and to the service of the community.”
 
Message for the NP area: “Make sure we love one another, for the sake of God,” says Imam Zakir, “because all faiths are based on everybody believing in one God. And when we believe in one God and pray to one God, and love the creation of God, then God helps us to live our lives beautifully and elevate our generation to the next level.”

St. John’s United Church of Christ, 500 W. Main St., (215) 855-5489 (st-johns-ucc.org)
Rev. Dr. Susan Bertolette
 
History: St. John’s was established in 1876, in a building (since razed) across Richardson Avenue from its current location. The current stone Gothic cathedral-style building was dedicated in 1952, with the motto: “A pew for you in ’52!”
 
Size: Membership about 800, with about 250 regular attendees
 
You might not know: Manna on Main Street, the regional food bank and kitchen at North Penn Commons, was started by former Rev. John Touchberry as Friday dinners in the fellowship hall, and the need quickly outgrew the capacity. St. John’s continues its connection by hosting Manna's annual Thanksgiving dinner. Manna’s home at St. John’s, formerly a bank building, was torn down a few years ago to increase parking capacity, and to add a labyrinth/meditation garden for the congregation and community.  
 
What makes St. John’s special? “We have intentionally chosen to draw the circle wide,” says Pastor Bertolette, “as we work together to meet people where they are and share God’s love with them.” As part of that inclusiveness, she points to St. John’s lead and associate pastors both being women. “I think it is not a small thing that St. John’s is one of the few churches in the area with female pastors, that’s not unique within my denomination but it is unique within the community."
 
Message for the NP area: “When you have been preaching for several years you basically have five sermons that you preach in a variety of ways, over and over again, because the theme is important to you,” Pastor Bertolette says. “And one of the things I say repeatedly to our congregation and I would say to the world, is that we are in this together, and to use Maya Angelou’s words, ‘We are more alike than unalike.’ Let’s figure out a way to do this together, because we’ve all been created in God’s image.”

St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church, 51 Lansdale Ave., (215) 855-3133  (www.ststanislaus.com)
Monsignor Joseph Tracy
 
Interesting fact: Original church founded in 1876 was actually just outside of Lansdale Borough in an area dubbed Marienfeld, the current site of Mater Dei Catholic School (which was just named a Blue Ribbon school by the U.S. Dept. of Education). The current church – the third St. Stanislaus – was completed across the street in 1964.
 
Size: About 2,300 members, about 700-800 on a typical weekend.
 
What makes St. Stanislaus special? “Ultimately, I think it’s the people. There’s a deep faith here," says Msgr. Tracy. "There are generations of families that are part of this parish, that have been in this area and come to this church, back to the great-grandparents. I think that’s a sign of stability of the neighborhood and of the area, when you have kids come back here to live, and start their own family. There’s a tremendous faith here.”
 
Message for the NP area: “If people are looking for something more, and don’t seem to be able to find it in the world, they’re always welcome to try here. That desire to find more, I think that’s God-inspired. There’s a welcomeness here, a community for people who want to find more in a spiritual way. We’re here, we’ve been here, we’ll always be here.”

Photo by Keith Clemens

Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 W. Main Street, (215) 368-1710 (www.trinitylansdale.com)
Rev. Paul Lutz (through Dec. 31)
 
Interesting facts: On the grounds is a Columbarium, a respectful above-ground wall for the permanent storage of funeral urns. And on the bitterest winter nights, Trinity hosts a Code Blue shelter on its grounds for homeless men at risk.
 
Size: About 3,000 members, and 500 attendees each Sunday.
 
What makes Trinity special? Communications director Victoria McKelvie cites its open embrace of all, in particular Reconciling in Christ, acceptance of the LGBTQ community without reservation. “We do not discriminate for any reason whatsoever. There’s a national organization, and we are a member. It’s not our focus, but we don’t exclude. God loves everyone.”
 
Message to the North Penn area: Rev. Lutz wants everyone to see Trinity as a safe haven for discussion of today’s most divisive topics. “I think one of our values is the desire to be better at having conversations around difficult issues; we would like to be a resource for folks to get together with people who disagree with them. Our sense of Christian community is, we all don’t agree on the same candidate, on the way to preserve the earth, about Black Lives Matter, but when we worship together we find ways to talk to each other.”

Where we worship

(From our 2022-23 Discover Lansdale Business Directory -- Please click here to let us know of changes or corrections.)

Cornerstone Presbyterian Church
37 Jenkins Ave.
Lansdale, PA 19446
Pastor Andrew Kim
admin@cornerstone-pc.com
www.cornerstone-pc.com
 
Corpus Christi Catholic Church (*)
900 Sumneytown Pike
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 855-1311
www.corpuschristilansdale.org
 
Family Worship Center (*)
1000 Troxel Road
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 361-2431
Tania Fink
fwc@familyworshipcenter.org
www.familyworshipcenter.org
 
First Baptist Church of Lansdale
700 N. Broad St.
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 855-3457
Pastor Eric Kraihanzel
info@fbcl.com
www.fbcl.com
 
First Generation Church
501 N. Broad St.
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 869-5703
Pastor Lee Eungdo     
chodaepa.com

Lansdale Life Church
407 N Broad St
Lansdale, PA 19446
(267) 367-LIFE
info@lansdalelife.church
www.lansdalelife.church
                                   
Grace Mennonite Church
630 York Ave.
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 855-7718
Senior Pastor Marc Hershberger
gracemennoniteoffice@gmail.com
www.gracemennonite.org
 
Kyung Hyang Presbyterian Church
601 W. Main St.
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 362-1452                 
                                                                       
Lansdale Mennonite Church
520 York Ave.
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 362-2659                 
 
Lansdale United Methodist Church
300 N. Broad St.                 
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 855-8364
Rev. Steward Warner
office@lansdaleumc.org
www.lansdaleumc.org
 
Montco Bible Fellowship
160 E. Main St.
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 855-0899
montcoinfo@montcobf.org
www.montcobf.org
 
North Penn Mosque
600 Maple Ave.
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 361-2229
northpennmosque@gmail.com
northpennmosque.org
                                   
Rihlatul Ilm Foundation Mosque
801 W. 2nd Street
Lansdale, PA 19446
(ofc: 1191 Walnut St., Lansdale, PA 19446)
​(267) 467-3460
rihlatulilm.org
abuzahid@rihlatulilm.org
 
St. John's United Church of Christ
500 W. Main St.
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 855-5489
office@st-johns-ucc.org
www.st-johns-ucc.org
                                   
St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church
51 Lansdale Ave.
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 855-3133
Rev. Sean P. English
info@ststanislaus.com
www.ststanislaus.com
 
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
1000 W. Main St.
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 368-1710
tlc@trinitylansdale.com
www.trinitylansdale.com