Bobbie Atkinson • Heritage Committee Member

2024 marks the 300th anniversary of Derry Church. Throughout the 20th century, Derry has made the effort to mark its anniversaries by studying the our church’s history and remembering the church family members who helped Derry Church grow and serve God and their community. As the years progressed, anniversary celebrations grew from a simple weekend celebration to a year-long celebration with special events held almost every month during the anniversary year. This approach to recognizing a significant anniversary was first used during Derry Church’s 250th anniversary in 1974. This anniversary occurred just as the United States was making plans to celebrate the nation’s bicentennial in 1976.

At that time, Derry Church was being led by Reverend Ira Reed, who had been called as Derry’s pastor in 1959. Derry Church enjoyed significant growth during his tenure, which led to the construction of the Sanctuary, completed in 1966. In 1971 staff also expanded. Nancy Joiner Reinert was hired as Derry’s first full-time Director of Christian Education and Herbert Fowler joined Derry as the first full-time Director of Music.

Like many of Derry’s previous pastors, Reverend Reed had a strong interest in Derry’s history. He and his wife, Winnie, both advocated for a year-long celebration of Derry Church’s 250th anniversary.

Derry members Grant Custer and Leonard Snyder were asked to co-chair the anniversary committee. The group made plans for a varieties of activities and events that would be held throughout the year. The celebration would include noteworthy visiting preachers, dinners and picnics, as well as musical events, plays, and pageants. In addition the Presbyterian Women, organized by Winnie Reed, planned to hold a fair that would celebrate Derry Church’s colonial roots. The Old Derry Colonial Fair would feature hand crafted items for sale as well as demonstrations of different colonial era crafts.

There were special Anniversary events almost every month. In January, Reverend Sheldon Blair, Derry’s pastor from 1950-1959, was invited to start off the celebration by preaching at a worship service. In February, the church celebrated a Family Night and Historical Fair. In true church tradition, the congregation gathered to enjoy a covered dish dinner in the social room. A special guest, Reverend William Swaim, an authority on Presbyterian history, presented a talk on Derry and early Pennsylvania Presbyterian history. At this event, historical items that Derry had been collecting since the 205th anniversary (1929), were displayed. Women attending the event were encouraged to wear period dresses.

In May, Senator Mark Hatfield, former Governor of Oregon and a member of the United States Senate, was the guest preacher. According to news articles, Senator Hatfield’s message was that hunger, not enemy weapons, was the greatest threat to America. He also referenced the widening gap between the “haves and have nots.” He asked for Christians to be good stewards of the land and to consider what our lavish lifestyle was costing in terms of environmental destruction. His words from 50 years ago are even more compelling today.

In June, the church celebrated with a Homecoming picnic following worship to commemorate how members of Derry might have gathered on Sundays 250 years ago. This is a tradition that we still continue today, with our annual end of church school year picnic under the oaks.

September was a very busy month, especially for the Presbyterian Women’s group. Since February, Derry women had been meeting monthly to craft items that recalled earlier centuries such as pinecone candle rings and wreaths, rag dolls, corn husk dolls, herb wreaths and sachets. To craft these and other items, the women — with the help of congregants and friends — collected egg cartons, Christmas cards, used photo flashcubes, spray can tops, toothpaste tube tops, jar rings, old pieces of brick, sewing odds and ends and Styrofoam trays. Households were also urged to collect meat drippings and fats that could be used to make candles and soap.

This was such an involved event that workshops were conducted for volunteers to learn how to make the many craft items. The various workshops were led by members with special skills. The Holiday House Workshop, co-chaired by Marion Alexander and Karen Nestler Carns, provided instructions on pine cone candle rings and wreaths. Another workshop, the Pins and Needles Workshop, chaired by Vera Dinner, taught participants how to  make rag dolls.

The Old Derry Colonial Fair was held on September 6-7 and was advertised as an old fashioned fair with 11 booths operating on the church grounds, tours of the church, and interludes of organ music throughout both days. The booths offered items for sale and demonstrations of the different crafts. Booths were imaginatively named: Holiday House, Cousin Jennie’s Playhouse, Colonial Reproductions, Whatnot Shoppe, Clipper Ship, Needlework Basket, Aunt Emma Hope Chest, Grandmother’s Pantry, and Uncle John’s Garden.

This fair was such a success that the women had to continue to meet and craft additional items after they oversold their entire stock. The money raised from this project was directed toward mission projects.

Later in September, Derry hosted Reverend Dr. Robert C. Lamar, Moderator of the 186th General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States (UPCUS). At the time, Dr. Lamar held the highest elective office of the Presbyterian denomination. He also served as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Albany, New York.

During October, Director of Music Herbert Fowler presented a Festival of Music as part of Derry’s Vesper Series (today known as Arts Alive). The program, Bach’s first masterpiece in the cantata genre, Cantata 106, was presented by an augmented Sanctuary Choir and a six-piece orchestra. Later in October, the Celtic Fellowship youth group presented Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town, a story of life in a small New Hampshire town, providing insightful thoughts as to the important things in life.

To conclude the year’s celebratory events, the Vesper Series presented A Historical Pageant. Herbert Fowler composed a score of 13 movements and Gwen Myers wrote an original script for five choirs, actors, and dancers to present a historical pageant celebrating 250 years of Derry’s history. Over 150 people were involved in this production, either as actors or behind the scene, building sets, handling and operating lights, or working as the stage crew. The pageant told the story of 250 years in seven scenes and included early settlers, Indians, dancers, session meetings, women’s missionary society meetings and a short 18th century sermon. The present church was portrayed through a multi-media presentation that included simultaneous projection and sound track, and a professional recording was made and available as a souvenir.

This was a very ambitious year-long celebration, much like we are experiencing this year. Similarly, other events not associated with the anniversary, also took place. The Vesper Series prepared and presented other performances, the Celtic Fellowship presented other dramas, and the corn roast was held in August.

This week, on Heritage Sunday, April 28, we will recognize those people in our Derry family who have been members for 50 years or more with a luncheon following worship. Those being recognized were here during the 250th and 275th anniversary milestones, and many were actively involved and volunteered their time to participate in anniversary activities. Many are still active, serving as Elders or Deacons, chairing and participating in our many committees, or just by doing odd jobs around the church. The strength and longevity of this church was and is very much dependent upon the faith and devotion of those worshipping here. Let us give glory to God, who is and has always been with us and for us.