[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 172 (Friday, October 1, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1057-E1058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF PROVIDENCE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ON ITS 175TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 30, 2021

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Providence 
United Presbyterian Church in Scranton, Pennsylvania on its 175th 
anniversary. According to the original charter, it was the first 
Presbyterian church to be founded in the Lackawanna and Upper Valley. 
The occasion will be marked with a festive celebration and service on 
Sunday, October 3, 2021.

[[Page E1058]]

  On July 27, 1846, residents of Providence village gathered to discuss 
building a meeting house. A vote determined that the meeting house 
would be governed by the. Presbyterians. On October 5, 1846, the First 
Presbyterian Church of Providence, Pennsylvania was organized. The 
first church building was built on the corner of Church Avenue and Oak 
Street, and the first meeting of the congregation took place on April 
19, 1847. The house was dedicated on July 25, 1849 with Rev. Joseph 
Barlow as the first pastor. In 1862, a parsonage was added to the 
grounds, and a lecture and bible classroom was added to the church 
building in 1869.
  In 1882, the congregation purchased land to build a new house of 
worship. They sold the parsonage to fund the cost of the new church in 
1884, and in 1886, the beautiful stone church was completed and 
dedicated.
  The faithful gathered and worshiped at 2020 North Main Avenue for 
almost a century. In 1971, the Providence Presbyterian Church merged 
with the Suburban Presbyterian Church to form the Providence United 
Presbyterian Church (PUPC). The congregations joined together to bear 
witness to their faith and serve their community.
  The PUPC has been a pillar of the strong and supportive faith 
community of the City of Scranton for nearly two centuries. When the 
Concord United Church of Christ closed its doors, the PUPC welcomed its 
members into their fold. From 2004 to 2008, the PUPC shared worship and 
gathering spaces with many area churches, such as Marywood University, 
Covenant Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Church of Dunmore, 
Immanuel Lutheran Church, and Throop United Methodist Church. In 2008, 
the PUPC dedicated its new church building at 1145 Providence Road in 
Scranton.
  Today, PUPC continues to grow and thrive. The church welcomes the 
faithful of the City of Scranton to practice their faith, fostering 
community and fellowship within the congregation.
  I am honored to join with the congregation of the Providence United 
Presbyterian Church to celebrate 175 years of worship and community and 
the essential role it has played in the growth of Presbyterianism in 
Scranton. May PUPC continue to be a mainstay in the Scranton faith 
community and provide a safe and welcoming place to worship for 
generations to come.

                          ____________________