Welcome to Inside the Red Doors – Stories from the St. John’s Archives!

As we approach St. John’s 150th anniversary in 2026, we are digging deep into the church archives to connect with the stories that shaped us. John Hendricks, our Photographer and Archivist, has worked faithfully for 15 years to maintain and share important pieces of our history. Leaning on his extensive knowledge and storytelling ability, we are excited to share these artifacts and anecdotes as a way to honor the past and imagine what the next 150 years could bring.

The Best St. John’s Fundraiser Ever?

by John Hendricks, St. John’s Archivist

St. John’s has held many fundraising events over 150 years. In recent years we have had basket raffles, hoagie and cookie sales, spud lunches and more. Farther back we had the rummage sales, sauerkraut and baked beans suppers, apple festivals and more. But perhaps the most adventurous took place when St. John’s was just 3 years old in 1879, a one-day trip adventure of about 300 miles to Rockaway Beach, NY.!

The Reporter of July 3, 1879, announced the trip. “A grand excursion under the auspices of St. John’s Reformed Church, Lansdale, and for its benefit, is now being arranged, and to take place Wednesday, July 23, 1879. (After taking the train from Lansdale to Bethlehem) the excursion will start at Bethlehem via. North Penn. & Bound Brook railroads to Jersey City (arriving 10 am); thence by splendid steamer (the Grand Republic) to the famous seaside at Rockaway Beach for 5 hours…tickets only $2.50”.

The Brooklyn NY Daily Times of July 24, 1879, colorfully reported the Lansdale visitors. “The Sellersville and Lansdale Coronet Bands…brought to the beach nearly 800 people. On arriving at the dock, the passengers were formed in line, with the Lansdale band in front, and then marched over to the surf. After reaching the ocean front, the 2 bands played alternate pieces, and were loudly applauded by the crowd. The bands and their friends took possession of the 2nd floor of the Mammoth Pavillion, where they gave a concert to several thousand spectators. The crowd then separated and made a dash for the ocean. As most of them came especially for the bath, the water on either side of Remsen Av. was black with human beings, bobbing up and down in a most hilarious manner. The surf was quite heavy and just suited the country lads and lassies, and they tumbled in the angry waves like so many ducks. The excursionists, after their dip in the ocean, had luncheon, then whiled the time away in dancing and strolling on the strand until the Grand Republic returned on her homeward trip.”

The Reporter on July 31 said the trip was an “exceedingly pleasant affair”. “The train in 2 sections consisted of 14 cars…carrying 576 persons. The number was not as large as there was reason to expect, and consequently the gain to the church fund will not be much, but all hands may be congratulated upon the pleasure and instruction derived.” There is no record of St. John’s trying another fundraiser this ambitious again, but it’s fun to picture our “country lads and lassies” of 1879 taking such a journey in one day!