On a sunny, February day, 57 years ago, the dedication ceremony of a new church on Center Street in Bethlehem Township was celebrated. The First Presbyterian Church was designed by the prominent New York City architectural firm McKim, Mead & White. The firm was responsible for Penn Station, the New York Public Library and the west and east wings of the White House. This was the third church for the congregation and three short years later they would need to expand to add a north wing. The cost of building the new sanctuary and education building was $1,250,000.

On the day of the dedication, Feb. 24, 1957, 850 people filled the spacious sanctuary and balcony to hear Rev. Dr. Elam Davis remember the congregation's 82-year history. Stoddard Smith, organist, played the new $54,000 organ. He was backed by the 42-member chorus.

Like many of Bethlehem churches, the congregation's beginnings can be traced back to South Bethlehem in 1869. The earliest Presbyterian congregation built a church at West Fourth and Martel streets. Presbyterians living on the north side decided to organize a church closer to home. On Nov. 14,1875, the group of 22 members began worshipping in the YMCA on Main Street, in a second floor room. Next, the group moved to a former United Brethren meeting house on Union Street.

In 1878, a visiting clergyman from Philadelphia, Rev. George Musgrave gave the congregation $2,000, more than one-fourth of the cost, toward the construction of a chapel at Center and North streets.The new chapel was named "Musgrave Chapel" in appreciation. Rev. Alexander D. Moore served as minister during the years 1876 through 1891.

As the membership continued to grow, the congregation built a new church on the same site in 1913. A Sunday school building and gymnasium was added in 1921. By the end of World War II, membership included over a thousand and the congregation had outgrown the church buildings once again. In the 1950s, 52 acres of land was purchased further north on Center Street. In 1957, the new church was dedicated. By the 1960s, membership numbers had reached 2,000.

Today, Head Pastor Rev. Alf Halvorson oversees a comprehensive program that includes local and international service ministry, such as building Habitat for Humanity houses in Bethlehem. The "Hi Neighbors" program is a popular lecture series and the music program is appreciated by members and non-members alike. The founding congregation would be proud of how their church has grown.