Sketch for 1891 - 1917 - Rev. R.H. Bergstresser
Sketch for 1917 - 1993 - Rev. Carl W. Alexy
Edited and Updated by Rev. Betty E. Landis, 2008

In 1891, Mr. William S. Tomlinson and Mr. Joseph W. Wilson, members of the First Lutheran Church, together with Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Harpster and Mr. and Mrs. James H. White canvassed the territory of what is now the 8th and 10th Wards of Altoona for the purpose of securing the names of Lutherans who would be willing to cooperate in organizing a Sunday School in that section of Altoona. The canvass revealed sufficient interest, and the first meeting was held on the second floor of the John Kline building, 330 Sixth Avenue, on Sunday afternoon November 22, 1891. The meeting was attended by a large number of people, and 69 people organized the first Bethany Lutheran Sunday School. The first officers elected were: John H. White, Superintendent; Isaac Hapster, Secretary; and Harry C. Keith, Treasurer. The School grew so rapidly that, in less than a year, it became necessary to seek larger quarters. The third floor of the IOOF Building at 401 Sixth Avenue was rented, and this continued to be the place of the meeting until a church was built.

On June 25, 1893, Bethany Lutheran Church was organized with 48 charter members: Mr. and Mrs. Adam Beecher, Mr. Emory Beecher, Miss Molly Beecher, Mrs. L.W. Flanagan, Miss Maggie Gibbons, Mr. John Griffith, Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Haffly, Miss Jennie Haffly, Miss Lilly Haffly, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Harpster, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Keith, Mr. and Mrs. George Klahr, Mrs. James Laughlin, Mr. James Leach, Miss Jennie Leach, Miss Mary Leach, Mr. George Levan, Miss Emma Liebegotte, Mr. George Liebegotte, Miss Verna Liebegotte, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lingenfelter, Mr. and Mrs. John Lingenfelter, Mr. and Mrs. M.W. Porter, Mr. and Mrs. John Richabaugh, Mr. and Mrs. D.R. Stonerod, Mr. and Mrs. William Tomlinson, Miss Mamie Wantz, Mr. and Mrs. L.W. Watts, Mrs. Ella White, Mr. and Mrs. James H. White, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas White, Mr. Joseph Wilson.

The Church was self-supporting from the beginning. The first officers elected were Elders: James W. White, President of Council and William S. Tomlinson. Deacons: George Liebegotte, Isaac S. Harpster, George W. Levan, and John D. Rickabaugh, Secretary, Rev. Elmer E. Parsons, a member of First Lutheran Chuch and a student in the Theological Department at Gettysburg College, acted as a supply pastor during one of his summer vacations from June 25 to September 1, 1893, when Rev. H.W. Heilman was elected regular pastor. A few days later, on September 7, 1893, Bethany Lutheran Church was admitted to the Allegheny Synod of the Lutheran Church in America.

Mr. D.K. Ramey, a member of Second Lutheran Church, realizing the great need of a permanent home for the new organization, very generously donated a plot of ground, 50 x 120 feet, at the corner of Third Avenue and Second Street. A building was at once started and the cornerstone was laid on November 12, 1893. In addition to the Pastor, Rev. H.M. Heilman, the others who assisted were Rev. J.B. Hartman, D.D., Rev. E.D. Weigle, D.D., and Rev. B.S. Dise. The church was dedicated April 1, 1894, with the dedication sermon preached by Rev. J.F. Hartman, D.D., Pastor of the Second Lutheran Church.

On January 2, 1897, Rev. H.M. Heilman organized the Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church, Elberta, PA, about two miles east of Altoona, which was served by the Pastors of Bethany Lutheran Church until 1915, when it was made part of the Sinking Valley Parish. The membership of Bethany Lutheran Church was now over 200, and in 1902 the building was remodeled, an annex building added, and the entire building brick encased.

Rev. Heilman resigned May 17, 1903. "Verily his works do follow him." The second pastor of the church was Rev. T. Bahn Thomas, who was called from October 1, 1903 through June 1, 1905. During his pastorate the chuch debts were materially decreased and the house and lot at 204 Third Avenue adjoining the church property was purchased for the sum of $2,700. The Rev. H.W. Stine, Ph.D., served as third pastor of the congregation from August 1, 1905 until November 1, 1908. During his pastorate the church debt was reduced to $3,000 leaving a balance of $2,500.

Rev. Ralph H. Bergstresser, the fourth pastor, accepted a call to Bethany on December 1, 1908. The ministry during his administration was greatly blessed by God. The membership increased to more than 500.

The church debt was cancelled and the offering for the apportionment increased in 8 years from $214 to more than $1,000 annually. On March 26,1916, the property adjoining the parsonage, known as 206 Third Avenue, was purchased for $2,500 cash, now giving the church property a plot of ground extending 100 feet on Third Avenue and 120 feet on Second Street. In addition, on May 1, 1917, nearly $7,000 was saved in the New Building Fund. Rev. Bergstresser resigned the pastorate June 1, 1917, to take a call at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Hanover, PA. His successor, Rev. A.J. Rudisill, began his service November 4, 1917.

It was during the pastorate of Rev. A.J. Rudisill that the present church structure was built. It was dedicated September 23, 1923. The building stands as a tribute to the many people who labored long and hard to bring about its construction. To name just a few of the people would be to neglect the many who labored by means of their contributions. Also, we could forget that many individual efforts were undertaken in the name of church organizations and Sunday School classes. It should never cease to amaze the members of Bethany what their forebears did in raising the sum of $130,000 to build the present church structure. For example, the Church Council members each had themselves insured for $10,000 with the church as a beneficiary. One Sunday School class sold bricks. Another class raised the funds for an organ. There were dinners, soup sales, and just about anything anyone could imagine that raised the funds needed to build the beautiful church building that continues to be used in active service for our Lord today.

Bethany continued to grow over the years and in 1928 the basement was dug out to provide additional Sunday School classroom space. Throughout the years, other changes were made in the church building including the refurbishing of our Sunday School facilities both upstairs and downstairs. The membership steadily increased through the mid-1950's (especially under the leadership and ministries of the Rev. George K. Bowers, 1944-1954). However, Bethany has had the same steady decrease in membership since the late 1950's that has been seen throughout the country. Even though membership has decreased from the post-World War II era, the support of the members by way of their offerings and their care of the buildings increased so that the basement was redone and a basement lounge was created.

The parking lot was paved with blacktop. New gowns for the Cecelian Choir were purchased: new storm windows with Lexan covering for the church windows were installed. The parking lot was resurfaced and the church nave walls washed. A new pipe organ was installed and celebrated in 1973. A new roof was placed on the church, parsonage and garage in the 70's and again in 2007. The church nave and hall were repainted. The exterior of the church and parsonage were cleaned, silicone treated, the bricks pointed and the woodwork painted. Choir robes were purchased for Cherub, Junior and Senior Choirs. New glass doors were installed. An accessible ramp was built for the Third Avenue entrance - long before the law required it. Pigeon repellant continues to be used and updated to protect our roof. Carpeting was installed in the Nave, Social Hall and the Lounge area. All the lounge furniture was reupholstered.

Some other items of importance were the hiring of a Youth Director, Mary Lykens, who held that position from 1978 to 1980. Irvin and Amanda Lightner, Bill Pine, the Hoffman family, and the Kelly family were hired as sextons to succeed Mr. Paul Neff who had held the position for many years. In 1969, Virginia Barry and Jeanne Hair were the first women elected to Church Council. Jeanne Hair subsequently became the first woman secretary of the Council. Gertrude Johnson became the first woman to hold the position of Church Council President in 1980.

Rev. Paul L. Reaser addresses the congregation during a 2007 visit.

In the forty-six years that followed the death of Pastor Rudisill, Bethany had only six pastors: the Rev. Harry L. Saul (deceased), the Rev. Paul L. Reaser, the Rev. George K. Bowers (deceased), the Rev. George D. Birk (deceased), the Rev. Jerome V. Guss (deceased), and the Rev. Hugo W. Schroeder, Jr. (who preached for our 115th Anniversary worship). All of these pastors served in unique, giving, and faithful ways. Under Rev. Bowers and Rev. Schroeder's leadership, Bethany was very involved in cooperative and community-wide ministries. The Rev. Melvin Dick, Rev. Alfred Ambrose, and Rev. Vincent Guss, sons of Bethany, became pastors within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America during and after this era. In fact, the Rev. David O. Guss, brother of Vincent and son of Jerome, was one of the last pastors to be ordained in the Lutheran Church in America in late December of 1987 just before the creation of the ELCA in January 1988. Before going to Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina, he was a public school teacher for several years. He currently is the pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hallandale, Florida (near Miami).

In 1971, Pastor Carl W. Alexy began his 23-year ministry at Bethany. During Pastor Alexy's ministry, a number of projects were undertaken including the flourishing of the Altoona Area Lutheran Co-Mission, special outreach to adults and youth with disabilities, a new pipe organ, complete cleaning of the exterior of the Church, and in 1992-93 complete refurbishing of the sanctuary, nave and stairwells including new lighting and a new sound system. An associate pastor was called for a very short time, the Rev. Steven Caler, to serve the youth of the congregation.

During Pastor Brian Armen's call and due to his expertise, Bethany fully began to utilize computer technology. A son of the congregation, Pastor David Letscher, was ordained at Bethany in 2002. In June 2005, Pastor Suzanne Morelli became Bethany's first full-time Interim Pastor and first woman pastor. She was very devoted in caring for the needs of our congregation and helped us prepare us for 21st-Century mission and ministry. Despite the significant changes in Bethany's neighborhood and member demographics over the years, Bethany continues to try to be faithful to God's leading in this time and place. Bethany currently is seeing an increase in weekly church attendance and in numerous new ministries sharing God's love in Christ Jesus by reaching out to our community as well as meeting the pastoral needs of our faithful members.

Pastors of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church