Buck Run Chapel Celebrates 100 Years with Special Events
UPDATE: Trinity Lutheran Chapel in Buck Run is set to celebrate its remarkable 100th anniversary with a special service and dinner on September 21, marking a century of community and faith. Built in 1925 by coal baron James B. Neale for his workers, the chapel continues to thrive as a vital part of the local community.
This celebration is not just a look back; it highlights the chapel’s ongoing impact in a world where many congregations face decline. Rev. Carl D. Shankweiler, pastor of Trinity and Zion Lutheran in nearby Frackville, emphasizes the chapel’s vibrant congregation. “The attendance at services here shows that people are interested in more than an old church,” he said, underscoring the chapel’s role as a living center of faith.
The chapel’s small size, once perceived as a disadvantage, has become its strength. As larger churches struggle with dwindling numbers, Trinity Lutheran Chapel’s intimate environment fosters a strong sense of community.
Historically significant, the chapel is the last of three churches built by Neale for his workers during the early 20th Century, a time marked by upheaval in the anthracite coal fields. Neale’s vision extended beyond the chapel; he also founded a Roman Catholic church, a Greek Orthodox church, a primary school, and a health clinic during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918. “Trinity Lutheran Chapel is the only one of the churches that has survived,” noted Carol Sterling, president of the church council.
The chapel’s interior, featuring original stone walls and stained glass windows, remains largely as it was a century ago. Notably, a pink stone embedded in the wall originates from Neale’s coal mines in Canada, connecting the chapel’s past to its present.
Renovations in the 1990s enhanced its beauty, including refinished wooden pews and restored stained glass windows, each sponsored by local families. The chapel preserves chalices and candelabras from its original church, and its refurbished bell still rings out to announce services, resonating with a century of history.
As part of the anniversary celebration, a time capsule embedded in the chapel’s cornerstone will be opened at 8:30 a.m. on September 21, offering a glimpse into the past. “It’s been in there for 100 years, so we’re not sure what we’ll find when it’s opened,” said Robert Sterling, church treasurer and Foster Township supervisor.
A commemorative service will follow at 9 a.m., leading to a dinner program at 11:30 a.m. in St. Nicholas Hall, Primrose. Attendees will receive a glossy booklet celebrating both the chapel’s centennial and the 160th anniversary of the congregation’s founding.
For further information, contact the chapel at 570-573-1706. This is a moment to honor not just a building, but the families and faith that have sustained it through the decades. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a living legacy.
