Gwynedd Square Presbyterian Church, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, didn’t always worship at its present building at 837 Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd.

Nancy Weber, a charter member and committee chair of the church’s 50th anniversary committee, submitted this photo and noted that it was taken in 1958.


It shows the one-room schoolhouse that had been on West Point Pike and that was used by the congregation when it was just starting.

The car and the style of dress of those outside the building attest to the 1950s date.

And as for the church itself, here is some history provided by the anniversary committee:

On Feb. 15, 1959, the first worship service was held in the old one-room schoolhouse, which was next to the newer West Point Elementary School.

Both building have since been torn down and the land purchased by Merck & Co.

Members scrubbed and painted the interior of the one-room schoolhouse, the committee said, and closed off the stage area to create two Sunday school rooms.

The new congregation was formally organized on June 14, 1959, with 117 charter members.

The organizing pastor was the Rev. Donald F. Shaw. Services were held at this location for 2œ years while building plans were prepared and implemented for the current site at 837 Sumneytown Pike.

Old maps showed this area at South Broad Street and Sumneytown Pike was known as Gwynedd Square, according to the anniversary committee.