CHURCH

SANCTUARY

CYRUS JONES MEMORIAL CHAPEL

EDUCATION WING

Learn more about the history of the Elm Park UMC building.

Learn more about the history of the Elm Park UMC Sanctuary.

Learn more about the history of the Elm Park UMC Chapel.

Learn more about the history of the Elm Park UMC Education Wing.

THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH BUILDING

ELM PARK UMC

CONSTRUCTION

DESIGN: Romanesque style by Weary and Kramer of Akron, Ohio.

CONTRACTORS: General contractor was Conrad Schroeder. Stonework contractor was Frank Carlucci.

MATERIALS: Constructed of West Mountain Stone with Ohio Sandstone as trim. The lower level is Nicholson Bluestone.

COST: $200,000 including land

STORY: DESTROYED TWICE BY FIRE DURING CONSTRUCTION. THE CUSTODIAN WAS RESPONSIBLE BOTH TIMES. HE WAS RELATED TO THE SCRANTON FAMILY AND WAS ANGRY THAT THEY SOLD THE LAND TO THE CHURCH FOR $100.

THE HISTORY OF THE SANCTUARY

ELM PARK UMC

SANCTUARY WINDOWS

THE RESPONSE IN EGYPT

THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST

CHRIST AMONG THE DOCTORS

DESIGN: DESIGNED AND CREATED BY FORD AND BROOKS OF BOSTON IN 1892.

COST: $7,600 (1892)

STORY: The windows were destroyed by the fire on December 3, 1892 which was nine days before the scheduled dedication of the church. They were remade and were in place for the dedication a year later.

SANCTUARY ORGAN

The original organ was built by the Ferrand and Votey Organ Co. of Detroit at a cost of $9,700. Like the memorial windows, it was destroyed by the 1892 fires and had to be completely replaced. The organ was in place for the dedication of Elm Park in December of 1893. It had 3 manuals and pedal, 68 stops, and 2,224 pipes with one of them being 16 feet tall. The Ferrand and Votey organ was repaired and rebuilt in 1953 at the cost of $5,000. By 1995, the original organ had deteriorated to the point where it was no longer dependable. After much study, a contract was awarded to the Reuter Organ Co. to provide a new organ. The current organ (Opus 2179) has 3 manuals and pedal, 3,025 pipes (53 ranks) and two 12 note electronic voices. Many of the pipes from the 1893 organ have been reconditioned and inorportated in the new instrument.

THE PRESENT DAY ORGAN

CYRUS JONES MEMORIAL CHAPEL

ELM PARK UMC

Elm Park's magnificent Gothic-style chapel is a memorial to Cyrus D. Jones, a Scranton business leader and philanthropist and a long time trustee of the church.

The chapel was designed by A.N. Dobbins, of Philadelphia, a noted church architect of the period.

It was dedicated on July 28, 1930, when Frederick B. Jones, a son of Cyrus B. Jones, presented it to the congregation on behalf of his mother.

After more than 70 years of service, the chapel underwent a major restoration and was rededicated on November 12, 2006.

The nave (ceiling) is divided by two Gothic arches into three equal parts representative of the Holy Trinity. The corbels under the terminals of the arches symbolize the Four Evangelists.

The altar with its gold cross and delicately carved background (reredo) with a shield containing the Chi Rho symbol -- among the most ancient of the so-called monograms of Jesus Christ.

The pulpit has an iron panel with a pierced carving of the Rose of Sharon, a symbol taken from the phrophecy of Isaiah -- "the desert shall bloom as a rose at the coming of the Kingdom of Righteousness."

At the rear of the pulpit is a canopied clergy seat and on the opposite side is a group of four choir seats, all with intricately carved cresting.

More symbolism is found in the side lighting fixtures that contain crests symbolic of the three theological virtues -- Faith, Hope, and Love.

CHAPEL WINDOWS

The subjects used for the chapel windows depict some of the important events in the life of Christ.

Listed in chronological order starting at the front of the room: The Annunciation, The Nativity, Christ Among the Doctors, Christ Blessing the Children, Baptism of Christ, Temptation of Christ, Palm Sunday, The Last Supper, The Crucifixion, The Resurrection.

A great deal of thought was given to the subjects and the color schemes of the windows. The medallions containing the scenes are superimposed on diamond-shaped glass of mellow colors and are held in splace by a border of colors. The whole effect makes the windows harmonious with the rest of the chapel and, as a result, they become an integral part of the beautiful interior.

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CHAPEL ORGAN

• The chapel organ was built by the Skinner Organ Co. of Dorchester, MA., then one of the most influential organ builders in the United States.

• The organ (Opus 822) is a two manual instrument of eight stops, six of which are playable on either manual, and two on the pedal. There are 387 pipes and a set of cathedral chimes.

• The entire organ is enclosed in a chamber and the tone emerges through two openings in the rear wall.

• As part of the 2006 chapel renovation, the Skinner organ was compeltely refurbished by PJ. Swartz, Inc., of Eatonton, Georgia, with extreme care taken to maintain the integrity of the original instrument.

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THE CHURCH HOUSE

ELM PARK UMC

EDUCATION WING

• Built in 1926-27 at a cost of $250,000.

• Architects were Cain and Dobbins of Philadelphia.

• General contractor: E.S. Williams of Scranton.

• Exterior matches main church in style and materials

• Currently contains church offices, Library, Church School Classrooms, two auditoriums, a tv studio, and a Gymnasium.

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OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Friday

9:00 - 4:00

CONTACT

SUNDAY WORSHIP

712 Linden Street

Scranton, PA 18503

570-342-8263

office@elmparkumchurch.org

8:30 am

10:00 am

10:00 am

1:00 pm

Chapel Service

Sanctuary Service

Livestream Service

Swahili Service