St. Stephens Church today is located at Sixth and Arch Streets (110 N. Sixth street) in Perkasie, PA. The name of the church comes from St. Stephen, who was known for being the first Christian martyr.

EARLY CHURCH HISTORY

The church dates back to 1883 when a group of people organized a Reformed Church. Services were conducted in the school house on Main Street (now 509 Chestnut Street) with ministers from area churches.

On April 24, 1885 the cornerstone was laid by a small group hoping to form a Reformed Church. An edifice was made along with a parsonage in 1902. This building was eventually rebuilt with another tower and larger worship area.		Here is St . Stephen's Church (the second church) during reconstruction in 1904. Note the extensive scaffolding used to construct the bell tower.

BUILDING and CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURE

The building of the first church was contracted to Jonathon Wolfe of Telford; the drawings and specifications were furnished by Benjamin D. Price, architect of Philadelphia, PA. The structure seated 500 people and had a basement for Sunday School and other church meetings. The building was constructed in the Gothic style with large stained glass windows, bell tower and steeple. Walls were constructed of native stone and black mortar. The first parsonage was built on Arch Street, NW of the original church.

On April 24, 1885 the cornerstone was laid for the first church with the dedication of the church on November 1886. In 1902 a new structure and parsonage were built on the site and the congregation worshiped in the Opera House (Fourth & Walnut Streets).

On May 1, 1904 a new church was dedicated on the site. The church was built of Rockhill granite and was built exactly like the first church inside - only larger. The main church seated 450 and the Sunday school room, which opens to the main auditorium seated 350 people - for a total seating capacity of 800. The cost of the new structure was $25,000 and was built by David W. Stoneback of Perkasie. In 1904 plans were made to light the church with 183 electrical lights. The 2000 pound Meneely bell was also installed in 1904

In 1924 the interior was renovated including new electrical fixtures and re-frescoing. In 1926 there was a dedication of a new pneumatic pipe organ with chimes, harp, and antiphonal organ. In October of 1928 a new 410 foot stone wall was completed on the east side (Sixth Street side) of the church property.

The 1904 church tower was completely renovated in 1998. New mortar, wood, tin, trim, and roofing was included. Tower gargoyles were removed and restored.

On May 28, 1989 ground was broken for renovations that were completed in August 1990. These recent additions cost $1,000,000 and included new parking entrance with overhang, conference room, new kitchen, and upper Sunday School room (next to the kitchen).

Here is the church as it appears today at Sixth and Arch Streets. ornamental pear trees were recently added along the road side on both Sixth and Arch Streets.		One of the additions to the building as viewed from Sixth street.
Here is the interior of the church where worship takes place today. Note the arched design of the pews and vaulted ceiling elements.		A parsonage on the Sixth Street side of the church was built in 1903.

GOTHIC STYLE

This church like many in the Upper Bucks County area features a gothic revival architectural style. Major elements on the exterior of the building that help characterize this building as Gothic style include pointed arches above doors and windows, pointed towers and design elements, gargoyles, stained glass, and heavy window tracery.

The tower features a carillon of bells. Songs are played on special occasions and in conduction with services. A carillon can play a melody with its set of bells.		Gargoyles traditionally were used in Medieval European churches to ward off evil. Few churches in our area use gargoyles; St. Stephens is the only church in Perkasie with gargoyles.
Four gargoyles are found peering down at the people on the street from the bell tower.		This face on the exterior is one of several next to the large Gothic windows on the Sixth Street side of the building.

 

"St. Stephens" in stained glass is placed above the door. This window is a quartrefoil (four leafed) design.		Heavy tracery, or curved ornamental stone framed windows are found throughout the exterior of the main building.
Colorful stained glass windows are outlined with heavy tracery as seen from the inside of the building. Note the pointed arches within the larger pointed arch.		Numerous details in the Gothic style point upward with fine ornamentation.