Building and Sacred Places
Explore the spaces where generations have gathered, grown, and served in Christ’s name.
The Sanctuary
The Sanctuary of the State College Presbyterian Church was completed in 1913 with the first service held on September 7, 1913. The final report of the Building Committee showed that the furnished building cost $57,030 and the land cost $7,750 (two lots) for a total investment of $64,780. The original Haskell pipe organ was given by Mrs. Charles P. Turner of Philadelphia in memory of her husband, and the tower bell that called the people to worship by Mr. Alba B. Johnson, also of Philadelphia. The beautiful stained glass window at the front of the sanctuary was given by John Hamilton and his wife, Elizabeth. Dedication services were held October 5 thru October 12, 1913. Thus, this gothic “Church Beside the Tower” built of native limestone, stately and inspiring, began its mission. It had many new opportunities, many responsibilities, and its members needed courage and pioneer spirit to look to the future.
The Haskell organ was rebuilt in 1923 and the console was moved from the choir loft to the main floor. Organ chimes and electronic tower chimes were installed in 1939 and 1940. In 1966 a new Moller organ was installed and named the J. Max Krumrine Pipe Organ in honor of Max’s 42 years of service (1926-1968) as Church Organist. The choir loft and chancel area of the sanctuary were remodeled to accommodate a larger choir (about 38). Pews were eventually added to the balcony to replace outdated wooden chairs, and insulation was installed on the sanctuary ceiling. New carpeting was installed in the summer of 1981 and new pew cushions were added in 1989. In 1994, when the new Christian Education wing was added, additional sanctuary appearance and lighting improvements were completed. A new sound system (including hearing assist devices) was added in 1998-99 to enhance the worship experience for everyone.
A three camera system was installed in 2025 to greatly enhance the livestream for worship and other events.
The maximum seating capacity of the sanctuary is approximately 600.
A Look at the Meaning of our Stained Glass Window
by Joanne Chuckran, church historian
The window at the front of the sanctuary is divided into two halves — the left half represents the New Covenant and the right half represents the Old Covenant.
Moving from top to bottom the representations are as follows:
THE NEW COVENANT - Left Side
Small window top left — Word of God: John 3:14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man (Word of God) must be lifted up”
Two windows below — (left) Angel With Scroll ” A new commandment I give …”, and (right) Angel With Scroll “…to you that you love one another.” from John 13:34
Two large windows — Jesus Talking to the Multitudes: (left) Apostles and Woman, and, (right) Jesus Seated “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd.” from Matthew 9:36
THE OLD COVENANT - Right Side
Small window top right — Serpent on a Pole: Numbers 21:4-9 “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone bitten can look at it and live.’ So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then anyone bitten who looked at the snake, lived.”
Two windows below — (left) Angel With Scroll “Hew thee tablets of stone …”, and, (right) Angel With Scroll “…like unto the first .” from Exodus 34:1
Two large windows — Moses Returning with Stone Tablets: (left) Moses and Tablets, and (right) Aaron and Israelites “When Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone and they were afraid to come nigh him.” from Exodus 34:30
Each left-hand side window Scripture complements the matching right-hand side window Scripture, showing the connection between the Old Testament passage and the New Testament passage.
At the Bottom of the Window
In windows 2 and 3: In Memory of the Founders of the State College Presbyterian Church
In windows 1, 2, 3 & 4: “These all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us.”
~Hebrews 11: 39-40
The Vision
They were led to establish a Columbarium and Mission Endowment where one half of the cost of the Columbarium niche is to be used for mission work, within Centre County and beyond, and one half is to be used for maintenance, urns, nameplates, and the future purchase of additional niches when needed. With the installation of additional niches, the Mission funds will be in excess of $250,000.
The Meditation Garden
The Meditation Garden offers a beautiful, tranquil space for quiet reflection and meditation, as well as providing the option for those who would like for their cremains to be interred on church grounds.
The Meditation Garden is open during regular church hours. Enter through the door by the parking lot entrance.
This meditation garden was built to accommodate a most important feature of the church, the columbarium, which is a wall of niches that can be purchased much like a plot in a cemetery to hold “cremains” (the ashes of a cremation). The price for each niche provides resources for both the upkeep of the garden and for the establishment of funds to support the mission efforts of the church. It is a thoughtful way to support both the good work of SCPC and to resolve at least one difficult question about where to be buried. Please contact the Church Office for more information.
To Purchase a Niche
- Pick up packet in the church office
- Complete the forms and submit payment
- Application will be submitted to Session for final approval, then applicant can select niche
- The church will reserve niches for church members whose circumstances preclude the reservation of a niche
A complete packet of information on the Columbarium is available in the Church Office.
Eligibility
- Current or past church members, and members of their immediate family (see brochure for more details).
- Current and former ministers, and members of their family
Contributions
- The current one-time contribution is $2,000, per niche. Includes: up to two urns, all costs associated with inurnment, inscriptions on the plaque, and perpetual care. Does not include costs of cremation and other off-site costs. Fee may change in the future, to be determined by the Session.