A Bit of History

St. Margaret's Episcopal Church is currently preparing to celebrate its 100th Anniversay.  These years are marked by service to the community and growth in both the faith and numbers of members. The family and friends of Emmanuel Derr first met in a rented store on Main Street. They endured the cold, the drafts and the leaky roof. The pump organ was to the left and the pot-bellied stove was to the right of the altar.

The congregation grew and built a church on Fourth and Broad Streets. Young men training for the ministry at Leonard Hall conducted their first services there until 1957 when the current building on Elm and Keystone Streets was dedicated. Since then, there have been two additions, with rooms for Christian education, a chapel, and a parish office. The building is wheelchair accessible.

Parish life centers around the Sunday celebrations of Holy Eucharist. Members are active as acolytes, chalicers, lay readers, ushers, and vestry members. The Women of St. Margaret's, the Episco "Pals", and bible study groups meet regularly.

The Rev. Canon Lexa H. Shallcross, a graduate of The General Theological Seminary, is the present rector of the parish. She is a skillful preacher and teacher. She lives here in Emmaus. Hobbies include birding, photography, travel and art.

The Rev. Elizabeth Diely is an Assisting Priest.

The St. Margaret's Nursery School staff welcomes children and families from the community. The parish van circulates through town picking up senior citizens for shopping, medical visits and social outings. An Atrium for young children was opened and landscape plans include an outdoor labyrinth.

Each November, the parish celebrates its heritage on "St. Margaret's Day" with bag-pipes, special dress and a luncheon. Margaret, queen of Scotland, encouraged the building of schools, hospitals and orphanages. She was a devoted wife and mother of eight.

St. Margaret's understands itself to be a "small but mighty" church according to Sally West, Senior Warden and one of the members of the team which traveled to Hondura with the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief in March of 2001 to help rebuild after Hurricane Mitch. She and her husband Mack West chaired the committee which led St. Margaret's to settle a refugee family from Liberia here in the Lehigh Valley three years ago.