St. Andrew's Methodist Episcopalian Church – 17 Llandillo Road
3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms
Built in 1898
List of Ministers
| Names | Years |
|---|---|
| Rev. James Thompson (S.M. Thompson?) | 1899–? |
| Rev. W.E. Shinn | ?–1908 |
| Rev. Embury B. Bryan | 1908–at least 1912 |
| Rev. C.H. Shirk | 1914–1918 |
| Rev. Orville Strang Duffield | 1918–1924 |
| Rev. G.W. Babcock | 1924–1930 |
| Dr. Rev. Charles Wesley Straw, D.D. | 1930–1937 |
| Rev. Henry E. Walhey | 1937–1939/1940 |
| Rev. Herbert R. Howells | 1940–1948 |
| Rev. Richard B. Wells | 1948–1951/1952 |
| Rev. Edgar C. Hersh | 1956–1964 |
| Rev. Robert W. Wright | 1964–1967 |
| Rev. Merritt Godshalk | 1967–at least 1968 |
| Rev. Gary L. Bowman | c. 1985 |
Inhabitants
| Names | Years |
|---|---|
| Michael Szlachta & Jodie Szlachta* | 2014–present |
*I normally don't include names of current residents on this website, but have included them here because their residence and conversion of the church into a home has been of public record and subject to news interviews.
History
The building originally had a shingled roof, but it was replaced during its renovation into a home
Origins
In March 1896, the West Chester Daily Local News stated that ""Building lots for new churches at Llanerch and at New London have been secured. A new church organization has been established at Llanerch and a "class" formed at Swarthmore." The church must've been located at a house on Park Road at some pointed, because in 1897, a "fête" was held for the raising of funds for the construction of the new church building.
Philadelphia Inquirer, September 19th, 1897, page 7
1897 saw the completion of the planned proposal of the church, as published in the paper.
Philadelphia Inquirer, July 25th, 1897, page 38
1898 is when the building was constructed, and I believe that it would most likely have been everything except the part to the very left. The dedication occurred on May 14th, 1899 under new Reverend James Thompson. I cannot find a mention of Thompson after the dedication, and by 1908, Reverend W.E. Shinn was the lead minister.
Philadelphia Inquirer, May 15th, 1899, page 6
In 1910, "extensive exterior improvements" were made, and in 1912, Thomas Sheridan sold land of his Llanerch tract for the brick sunday school. It was constructed in 1913 at a cost of $20,000 ($650,000+ in 2025). Reverend Embury Bryan served as the minister from 1908 until at least 1912, possibly until 1914. In 1914, C.H. Shirk became minister of the church, and an organ was donated in 1916. Shirk left the congregation in 1918, being replaced by Reverend Orville Strang Duffield, who served at least through 1920.
1917 saw many men aged 21 to 31 drafted to fight in WWI. The side of the church facing Llandillo has a plaque adorned with the names of 24 congregants who fought in WWI, including 2 who died in service. For further information on those in the congregation who served, click here.
Click image to enlarge
In 1919, a Bible class was held at the church (in absense of Fielding and Hunter, who were both killed in combat), in which members rallied to "Stamp out the Bolshevist as you did the German!"In 1924, Duffield left the congregation, and was replaced by Reverend G.W. Babcock. In 1926, the left half of the building was erected as an extension of the original. Babcock served until 1930 and died in 1938. He was replaced by Reverend Charles Wesley Straw. Straw himself retired in 1937 and died in 1949.
Philadelphia Inquirer, July 17th, 1938, page 6 & Carlisle Sentinel, April 14th, 1949, page 4
Reverend Henry E. Walhey replaced Straw in 1940, and he was the minister up until 1948.
Harrisburg Evening News, April 23rd, 1947, page 6
Howells was replaced by Reverend Richard B. Wells, who lasted until 1951 or 1952 before transferring to Philadelphia. It is inclear who occupied the positino from 1952 to 1956, but it was transferred then to Reverend Edgar C. Hersh, formerly of Mount Pocono. Hersh held the position until 1964, replaced by Reverend Robert W. Wright.
Up until his death in 1959, Charles Stanley Halsall of 104 East Park Road was the president of the board of trustees. From 1956 to 1960, James S. MacMain was the youth director, prior to his preparation to himself become a minister. 1966 saw the completion of a renovation of the sanctuary. Wright transferred to the Windsor Street Methodist Church in Reading in 1967.
Intelligencer Journal, May 22nd, 1967, page 28
Wright was replaced by Reverend Merritt Godshalk. In 1979, Howard A. Hoffer, Sr. died. He was a longtime layleader, elder, and trustee of the church. Reverend Gary L. Bowman was pastor as of 1985.
Delaware County Daily Times, June 24th, 1967, page 11
The church was active until at least 2007. In 2013, zoning board hearings raised tensions when its future as a community center came under threat. It had been used as a venue for the local Troop 2 of the Boy Scouts since at least 1935. The home was sold to the Szlachta family in 2014 for $230,000, as they were determined to turn it into their home. In 2016, they sued their contractor for negligence. It has been their residence to date.