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Authored by Society president George Meiser IX |
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A bit more on St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Birdsboro
=========================================== In 1885, Berks historian Morton L. Montgomery, visited St. Michael's in preparation for entry in his 1886 History of Berks County. Here is what he wrote: The congregation occupying this house of worship had its origin in missions, which were established at Birdsboro and Mt. Airy by St. Gabriel's Church of Douglassville. The interest thus developed led to the erection of a small church at Birdsboro, the cornerstone of which was laid by Rev. Edmund Leaf, on May 31, 1852. Consecration occurred Feb. 12, 1853. Some time afterward, through the liberality of Edw. and Geo. Brooke and others, a chapel was built on the same lot. In 1877, E. & G. Brooke built a rectory at a cost of $6,500. In 1885, the Brookes again manifested their interest in St. Michael's by remodeling and rebuilding the church at a cost of $12,500. Its exterior has been made very substantial, and the interior is beautifully decorated, containing also memorial windows perpetuating the remembrance of Edward Brooke, Caleb Harrison, Rees Evans, and family of Hiester Clymer, and others. During the winter of 1881 and 1882, a library hall was erected on the property. In 1885, the library contained 800 books. [This structure was razed in 1967.] [St. Michael's Cemetery, located a short distance away along Route 724, originally overseen by the congregation, has sitting in it the old, frame Philomathean Academy building--now covered with white vinyl. Miraculously, it survives in spite of an effort some years back to tear it down.] -------------------- Four photos follow, all by Robeson Twp. history buff, Tony Matassa. The views were taken mid-afternoon yesterday (Friday, Jan. 17th). St. Michael's, as seen from Mill St., looking northwestward. The wooden ornamentation is typical of a Furness creation. 
St. Michael's from the rear, looking eastward. The large circular window opening, seen above the truck-body, contained the Tiffany window. 
The plaque commemorating the landmark's placement on the National Register of Historic Places. 
The 1877 rectory which sits immediately north of the church, on Mill Street. 
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