St. Nicholas
Roman Catholic Church
About Us
St Nicholas Parish in Walnutport was established in 1974. The history of the parish can be traced back to Nicholas Glasser, a German immigrant who settled in Lehigh Township by 1840. He allowed a small building to be built on his land for the purpose of Catholic worship. The first log church was named for Saint Nicholas and built in Berlinsville by Father Tanzer of Easton about 1840. A small cemetery was located beside the church.
The Saint Nicholas Congregation in Berlinsville was formally established as a mission and the cemetery blessed by Bishop John Neumann of Philadelphia on August 23, 1855. Nicholas and Catharine Glasser deeded the land and church to Bishop Neumann on March 7, 1856. Bishop Neumann blessed the church on December 7, 1856. The second Saint Nicholas Church was built in 1872. Nicholas and Catharine Glasser sold the property with the newly constructed church to Bishop James Wood of Philadelphia on August 19, 1873.
The Saint Nicholas Congregation in Berlinsville was formally established as a mission and the cemetery blessed by Bishop John Neumann of Philadelphia on August 23, 1855. Nicholas and Catharine Glasser deeded the land and church to Bishop Neumann on March 7, 1856. Bishop Neumann blessed the church on December 7, 1856. The second Saint Nicholas Church was built in 1872. Nicholas and Catharine Glasser sold the property with the newly constructed church to Bishop James Wood of Philadelphia on August 19, 1873.
St. Nicholas and the Origin of Secret Gift-Giving
Saint Nicholas is believed to have been born around AD 280, the only child of a wealthy, elderly couple who lived in Patara, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey).
When his parents died in a plague, Nicholas inherited their wealth.
Nicholas generously gave to the poor, but he did so anonymously, as he wanted the glory to go to God.
One notable incident that occurred during this time in Nicholas’ life was when a merchant in his town had gone bankrupt. Now poor, he had three daughters of an age to be married. In those days a young woman's family had to have something of value, a dowry, to offer prospective bridegrooms. The larger the dowry, the better the chance a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery, or worse.
Word of the family's misfortune reached Nicholas. Coming in secret by night, he tossed a bag of gold into the house. It sailed in through an open window, landing in a stocking left before the fire to dry. What joy in the morning when the gold was discovered! The first daughter soon wed.
Not long after, another bag of gold appeared mysteriously. The second daughter was married. The father, now very anxious to know who the secret benefactor was, kept watch during the night.
A third bag of gold landed inside the house and the watchful father leaped up and caught the fleeing donor. "Ah, Nicholas, it is you!" cried the father, "You have saved my daughters from certain disaster."
Nicholas, embarrassed, and not wishing to be known, begged the man to keep his identity secret. "You must thank God alone for providing these gifts in answer to your prayers for deliverance."
Saint Nicholas is believed to have been born around AD 280, the only child of a wealthy, elderly couple who lived in Patara, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey).
When his parents died in a plague, Nicholas inherited their wealth.
Nicholas generously gave to the poor, but he did so anonymously, as he wanted the glory to go to God.
One notable incident that occurred during this time in Nicholas’ life was when a merchant in his town had gone bankrupt. Now poor, he had three daughters of an age to be married. In those days a young woman's family had to have something of value, a dowry, to offer prospective bridegrooms. The larger the dowry, the better the chance a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery, or worse.
Word of the family's misfortune reached Nicholas. Coming in secret by night, he tossed a bag of gold into the house. It sailed in through an open window, landing in a stocking left before the fire to dry. What joy in the morning when the gold was discovered! The first daughter soon wed.
Not long after, another bag of gold appeared mysteriously. The second daughter was married. The father, now very anxious to know who the secret benefactor was, kept watch during the night.
A third bag of gold landed inside the house and the watchful father leaped up and caught the fleeing donor. "Ah, Nicholas, it is you!" cried the father, "You have saved my daughters from certain disaster."
Nicholas, embarrassed, and not wishing to be known, begged the man to keep his identity secret. "You must thank God alone for providing these gifts in answer to your prayers for deliverance."
Saint Nicholas became a mission church of Assumption Parish in Slatington in 1906 and was attended to by the priests from Slatington. On October 8, 1967, the new Saint Nicholas Church in Walnutport was dedicated by Bishop McShea. The congregation of Saint Nicholas remained a mission church for 119 years until it was established as a parish by Bishop McShea in 1974. Father Robert Reed was appointed as the first resident pastor. Father Ed McElduff was the second pastor and served for 20 years. Father Francis Schoenauer, M. Div. has served as pastor of Saint Nicholas Parish beginning in June, 2003. Father Thomas Derzack served as pastor from 2011 to 2020. Father Adam Sedar was appointed pastor in July 2020. In 2021, the church was completely renovated. On December 5, 2021, the new altar was consecrated and the church was dedicated by Bishop Schlert.