Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church

Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church
Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church pre-1923
Location	625 Montgomery Avenue, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania 19010
Country	United States
Language(s)	English
Denomination	Presbyterian
Membership	2,174 [1]
History
Status	Open
Founded	1873 (1873)
Associated people	President Woodrow Wilson
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Administration
Synod	Synod of the Trinity
Presbytery	Philadelphia
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)	The Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet
Pastor(s)	The Rev. Rebecca Kirpatrick The Rev. Rachel Pedersen The Rev. Melanie Hardison The Rev. Andrew Greenhow
Laity
Organist/Director of music	Jeffrey L. Brillhart (1983-)
Organist(s)	James Kealey (2025-)
Session clerk	Dorothy Bowen
Music group(s)	Bryn Mawr Chamber Singers, Handbell Choir, Sanctuary Choir (adult), Singing for Life (senior choir), Youth and Children's Choirs,

Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church is a church in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; founded in 1873, it is currently a 2,500 member church of the PC(USA). It is located on the Main Line, just west of Philadelphia. Being a large congregation, the church is active seven days a week. ^[2]

Worship in Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church is traditional: the architecture includes stained glass windows, and the music is provided by a pipe organ and choir, which is directed by Jeffrey Brillhart. ^[3]

Besides worship on Sunday mornings, the congregation takes part in a variety of opportunities for faith enrichment, education, fellowship, and outreach on behalf of others. The church's theology is inclusive and emphasizes diversity, receiving people regardless of race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}

Notable members

• U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was a member of this church while he served on the faculty at nearby Bryn Mawr College.
• The church sponsored the 40-year-long medical mission to India by Dr. William James Wanless.

Dr. Wiliam James Wanless circa 1888, likely at the New York University School of Medicine

Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church Manse pre-1923

Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church pre-1923

Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church Chapel pre-1923

Publications

Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church

• The Story of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church by Rex Stowers Clements in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the church. Published in 1948. ^[9]
• Bon Appetit Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Community Cookbook. Published in 1966 ^[10]
• Spirit of a Century - 100 Years of the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church by Hugh Best in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the church. Published in 1973. ^[11]

Pastor authored:

Rev. Dr. David B. Watermulder

• Proclamation: Aids for Interpreting the Lessons of the Church Year by David B. Watermulder and Gerhard A. Krodel. Published in 1973. ^[12]
• Pastoral Prayers for the People of God: An Anthology of Classic Pulpit Prayers by the Reverend Dr. David B. Watermulder edited by Paul Watermulder and Martha Watermulder. Published in 2017. ^[13]

Burials

Current

Currently, there is no traditional burial grounds maintained by the church. However, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church in the late 1970s explored and in 1980 opened an outdoor columbarium contained within the Church property for disposition of cremated remains. ^[14]

Pastors

Pastors of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church

Image		Pastor (Called)	Years	Other Pastors (Supply, Interim, Associate, Student, etc.)
	1	The Rev. William H. Miller [15]	1873-1906
	2		1906-1912
	3	The Rev. Dr. Andrew Mutch [16] Spouse: Petrice Dow Young [17]	1912-1936
	4		1936-1962
	5	The Rev. Dr. David Brainard Watermulder [18] Spouse: Ruth Gullyes [19]	1962-1986	The Rev. Dr. George Bryant Wirth (1972-1977) The Rev. Barbara A. Chaapel (Valentine) (1977-1981)
	6		1987-2006	The Rev. Adan A. Mairena (2003-2005)
	7	The Rev. Dr. Wesley Avram [20] Spouse: Lynne Avram [21]	2006-2009	The Rev. Robert McClellen (2007-2010)
		The Rev. James Leighton Carter (Interim) [22]	2010-2012	The Rev. Robert McClellen (2007-2010) The Rev. Kellen A. Smith The Rev. Jacqui Van Vilet The Rev. Susan Rice The Rev. Elizabeth Lovell The Rev. R. Charles Grant (-2014) The Rev. Sherri Hausser (-2013) The Rev. Louisa Watkins-Umphress The Rev. Joanne Fong
		The Rev. R. Charles Grant (Interim) [23]	2012-2013	The Rev. Kellen A. Smith The Rev. Jacqui Van Vilet (-2014) The Rev. Susan Rice The Rev. Elizabeth Lovell The Rev. Sherri Hausser (-2013) The Rev. Louisa Watkins-Umphress The Rev. Joanne Fong
	8	The Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet [24] [25] Spouse: Larry Arney [26]	2013-2025	The Rev. R. Charles Grant (-2014) The Rev. Dr. Nicole Duran (2013-2014) The Rev. Richard Wohlschlaeger The Rev. Mary Steege The Rev. David B. Smith The Rev. Andrew H. Mann, Jr. The Rev. Rachel Pedersen (2014- The Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick (2015- The Rev. Franklyn C. Pottorff (2017-2024) The Rev. Leigh DeVires (2019-2024) The Rev. Brian Ballard (2019-2023) The Rev. Kirby Lawrence Hill (2023-2025) The Rev. Andrew Greenhow (2024- The Rev. Melanie Hardison (2025-
	9	The Rev. TBD Active Search Spouse: TBD	2025-	The Rev. Rachel Pedersen (2014- The Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick (2015- The Rev. Andrew Greenhow (2024- The Rev. Melanie Hardison (2025-

References

1. "2023 Annual Report". 22 May 2024.
2. "About Us." Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania: Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, retrieved online February 23, 2019.
3. Schaefer, Mari A. "Singing in a choir may be one key to health, happiness for older adults." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Inquirer, December 20, 2018.
4. "New Here?".
5. "Mission".
6. "Mission at BMPC".
7. "Education & Bible Study".
8. "Adult Education & Fellowship".
9. "The Story of the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania (First".
10. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1392261687/bryn-mawr-pennsylvania-vintage-1966 ^{[ bare URL ]}
11. https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Century-Presbyterian-Church-Pennsylvania/dp/B003DID09Y ^{[ bare URL ]}
12. https://www.isbns.net/isbn/9780800640514/ ^{[ bare URL ]}
13. Watermulder, Paul; Watermulder, Martha (13 February 2017). Pastoral Prayers for the People of God: An Anthology of Classic Pulpit Prayers by the Reverend Dr. David B. Watermulder. Xlibris. ISBN   978-1524580056.
14. "Better than a Cemetery: A Presbyterian church offers an alternative".
15. "Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, founded 1873 • A Brief History • the Bryn Mawr 100 • Bryn Mawr, PA 19010".
16. "J. Margaret Ada Mutch - View Obituary & Service Information".
17. "J. Margaret Ada Mutch - View Obituary & Service Information".
18. "David B. Watermulder, 94, pastor". 17 April 2015.
19. "The Reverend Dr. David B. Watermulder - View Obituary & Service Information".
20. https://www.pinnaclepres.org/staff/dr-wesley-avram#:~:text=He%20has%20a%20bachelor%20degree,and%20the%20University%20of%20Chicago. ^{[ bare URL ]}
21. https://www.pinnaclepres.org/staff/dr-wesley-avram#:~:text=He%20has%20a%20bachelor%20degree,and%20the%20University%20of%20Chicago. ^{[ bare URL ]}
22. "BMPC Annual Report 2010". 30 April 2011.
23. "BMPC Annual Report 2010". 30 April 2011.
24. https://bmpc.org/welcome/clergy-staff ^{[ bare URL ]}
25. https://www.bmpc.org/pastoraltransitions#:~:text=Agnes%20W.,strength%20of%20our%20shared%20ministry.
26. "Agnes W. Norfleet - Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church".

External links

• Church website

40°01′19″N75°18′41″W / 40.0220°N 75.3113°W / 40.0220; -75.3113