Pastor Scott Paradise closed out his ministry at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church May 5.

He has served the congregation since 2013. The church, at 417 Howertown Road, Catasauqua, is being sold, but the agreement is not finalized. The last service in the church will be in June.

Paradise indicated that he planned to travel in southern New England to learn more about his father’s family.

“For me, it will be a pilgrimage. Every trip should have a purpose, and any trip that has a purpose is a pilgrimage,” he said.

St. Paul’s has a long history of serving the community. The cornerstone for the church was laid July 4, 1852. The first congregation consisted of Lutherans and German Reformed Christians. By 1855, the membership grew to 136, and in 1868, the church became all Lutheran. The original church was demolished in 1885 and the new, present-day building was consecrated in August 1888. The church expanded with two chapels to serve the community.

In 1940, after a fire at Lincoln Middle School, St. Paul’s served as a temporary school.

The large addition serving as a church hall was begun in 1962. A new rectory was built across the street.

In March 1979, a fire caused great damage to the church. The repaired church was reconsecrated in October 1980.

St. Paul’s added a day care facility and strongly supported Scouting with four different affiliated groups.