McCrea Memorial United Methodist Church will hold its final service next month after over 100 years as an active congregation. Watch video
McCrea Memorial United Methodist Church in Mansfield Township holds treasured memories for life-long members of the church.
Located in the small town of Port Murray, the church was founded in 1895 and for many years was a focal point of town activities.
McCrea Memorial UMC will host its final worship service at 4 p.m. on June 12. Five previous clergy are returning for the service. The church is closing due to low attendance.
At its height, long-time church members said attendance ranged from 50-75 people each Sunday. A former clergy member at McCrea Memorial UMC, Hae Jong Kin, later became a Methodist bishop.
Long-term members of the church recalled its prominent role in the community. The church's famous ham dinners were mentioned frequently, as members recalled the church often ran out of space to park for community members.
The building's future is uncertain. The Rev. Evan Rohrs-Dodge, the coordinating pastor, explained the church will fall into the hands of the regional Methodist church which overseas area churches. Members expressed concern at the possibility of the church's stained glass being destroyed.
Lifelong member Dale Coleman recalls walking to church on Sunday mornings by the canal. Although he went at first because his mother instructed him to do so, Coleman was active in the church his whole life. Coleman said he is deeply saddened by its closing.
Carol Feller has been a member of the church since her childhood, and spent many years as the Sunday School Superintendent.
"This room used to be filled with children," Carol Feller said, gesturing around her. Carol Feller is a lifelong resident of Port Murray.
Carol's husband Dalt Feller joined the church after marrying Carol in 1954. A faithful member, for years Dalt used his tractor to plow the snow out of the church parking lot each snowstorm and mowed the church lawn in the summertime. The Fellers' son was baptized at the church.
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Dolores Wilkinson, another lifelong member, remembers McCrea as a bustling church at its height. Although the closing is upsetting, Wilkinson knows it was an unfortunate reality.
"We tried bringing people in and we weren't really successful with it," Wilkinson said. "Closing is the decision that's been made."
Rohrs-Dodge said because the church is hidden within a small town and lacks parking, it had a lot working against it.
McCrea Pastor Amanda Cosnett, is new to ministry and express thanks for the opportunity to serve the small congregation early in her career.
"They're a small but faithful group," Cosnett said. "We're like a family."
Coleman said the congregation was very committed to the church until the very end.
"Even though it was failing, we all held on as long as we could," Coleman said.
Carol Feller added, "God's been good to this church."
Ashleigh Albert is lehighvalleylive.com's Russell J. Flanagan Memorial news intern. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.