Our stories are continually woven together
in God's great big story of LOVE
An ecumenical history...
Swarthmore UMC's history is built on an ecumenical/multi-faith foundation. In July 1888, a group of Swarthmore Methodists, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians began worshipping in a home on Vassar Avenue under the leadership of Rev. John Cass. Soon outgrowing this first space, Union Evangelical Church was chartered on November 29, 1892. Sunday services were moved to the second story of the new public school. Within a few years, money was raised to build Union Chapel located at 129 Park Avenue. Union Chapel was dedicated in May 1897, offering a permanent place for worship and spiritual life. On December 2, 1901, a petition was made to transfer ownership of the Union Chapel to the Methodist Episcopal Church (the predecessor to The United Methodist Church.) The petition was approved on February 20, 1902. The current sanctuary was built in 1926 and expanded again in 1963 to form the present church space.
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SWARTHMORE UMC PIPE ORGAN
In 1963, a Casavant Freres Ltee (Opus 2714) Organ was installed and commissioned for use in the sanctuary. It has 45 ranks. 2,419 pipes. 4 divisions. 3 manuals. 32 stops. 33 registers In 1987, a 61-note unit Trumpet stop was added available on the Great at 8', Pedal at 8', Positiv at 8' & 4' and a tremulant added to the Positiv. |
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Sacred spaces...
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Historic Union Chapel was dedicated as a sacred space in 1897, has been in continuous use as a worshipping space since that time. Currently, Union Chapel is used for special services, as a prayer & meditation space, and for Bible study throughout the year.
The most stunning feature of Union Chapel is the Memorial Window, which faces Park Avenue. |
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The Memorial Stained Glass Window in Union Chapel was presented to the church by Rev. Frank B. Rose in memory of his daughter, May Virginia Rose Waddell. The Rose family lived in Swarthmore for many years at the corner of Harvard and Haverford Avenues in the frame "house with the turrets." Rev. Rose served both the U.S. Army and Navy as a chaplain, including a post aboard the U.S.S. Constitution. On retirement, he was awarded the rank of Rear Admiral. Mrs. Waddell was the mother of Mrs. Arthus Bassett and grandmother of Mrs. David Cochrane of nearby Wallingford.
The Sanctuary was built and dedicated in 1926, creating a second, larger worshipping space for the church. A significant renovation was completed in 1963, which included the installation and commissioning of the Casavant Organ, continuing a longstanding tradition of music excellent at SUMC. In 2022, another renovation project began, which included removing the pews, installing air-conditioning, and making the high altar/chancel area more accessible for all.
A church who welcomes all...
In 2008, Swarthmore UMC underwent a discussion, prayer, and discernment process regarding the inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons in the full life of the church. At the end of the process, SUMC overwhelmingly voted to become a United Methodist Reconciling Congregation, adopting the following statement: “We celebrate God’s gift of diversity and value the wholeness made possible in community equally shared and shepherded by all. We welcome and affirm people of every gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, who are also of every age, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability, level of education, and family structure, and of every economic, immigration, marital, and social status, and so much more. We acknowledge that we live in a world of profound social, economic, and political inequities. As followers of Jesus, we commit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and pledge to stand in solidarity with all who are marginalized and oppressed.” In 2023, SUMC celebrated 15 years of welcoming and affirming all with a community-wide PRIDE picnic, hosted with our friends at Park Avenue Community Center, Swarthmore Public Library, Viviana Theatre, and the newly formed group Swarthmore PRIDE. Mayor Marty Spiegel and Rep. Mary Gay Scanlan spoke at the picnic, which was attended by over 200 people.
We recognize that we live in a world that is both beautiful and still broken. As a church, we are called to love all and to stand up for justice. In 2023, the church PRIDE flag was torn down and stolen twice. You can read the church statement from the first incident here: pride_flag_statement.pdf
A God who is still creating...
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SUMC is committed to a continual process of "becoming." We strive to be a place where all people know they are infinitely loved and belong. We believe in a God who has created and is still creating (UMH #883) which we find best expressed through vital relationships with community partners who share both our church home and core values.
These partnerships include:
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Jesus Christ Superstar - Summer 2023 (Viviana Theatre & SUMC)
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