“I
believe in an America where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act
against one church is treated as an act against all.”
~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy
~ 1917-1963
~ 35th President of the United
States of America
~ 1960-1963
& U.S. Navy veteran
~Address
to the greater
Houston Ministerial Association
~ Sept 12, 1960
The
historic First United Church of Christ of Easton stands as a beacon of faith in
downtown Easton, Pennsylvania along the Karl Stirner Arts Trail on a beautiful
late October afternoon.
The
German Reformed Church was originally constructed at Third and Church Streets
in 1775-1776 and was the largest building in Easton at the time. The church
congregation’s office building, on Church and Sitgreaves Streets, dates from
1778, and was originally Easton’s second school building. The church served as
a Revolutionary War hospital, treating wounded soldiers from the Battles at
Brooklyn and Brandywine. It was during this time that George Washington came to
the church to visit the wounded. The church was also the site of the Indian
Treaty Conference in 1777.
The
brick portions were designed by Thomas Ustick Walter, who was the architect of
the dome of the United States Capitol and later served as President of the American
Institute of Architects from 1876-1887. Known today as the First United Church
of Christ of Easton, it stands as the oldest existing church building in the
city.
The
church has a Star of David in honor of Meyer Hart, Easton’s first Jewish citizen
and a contributor to the original church building fund.
The
Karl Stirner Arts Trail follows the historic and bucolic Bushkill Creek for
1.75 miles. Though the placement of artwork in a transcendent natural setting,
the Arts Trail seeks to stir the public imagination and sense of possibility.
The
trail is named for Easton sculptor Karl Stirner, who spent 25 years as a mentor
and unofficial real estate agent, ushering aspiring artists to Easton.
