Established in 1970 the Washington New Church School stands as a testament to faith and education. It’s more than just a school. It’s a community a place where children learn not only academics but also moral and spiritual values. The Washington New Church and School’s roots however stretch much further back to 1846. That’s when the Washington Society of the New Jerusalem Church was formed.
For many years services were held in members’ homes. Then in 1910 Reverend Alfred Acton began regularly serving the group. He traveled from Philadelphia until 1952. This marks a turning point. The church gained its first resident pastor Reverend Dandridge Pendleton. He served for six years. He helped the church secure its own building and property. This wasn’t easy.
Reverend Frederick Schnarr succeeded him. He guided the congregation through a period of immense growth. In 1959 the church purchased a building at 2800 Douglas Street NE. They remained there until 1964. The congregation realized they needed more space. They purchased ten acres of land. They envisioned a church community. The current sanctuary and original classrooms were dedicated in November 1965. Imagine the scene then much of the surrounding area was farmland. You could cycle down Enterprise Road.
Between 1965 and 1968 the church acquired more land. By 1972 they had about 100 acres for their community project. This wasn’t simply a church it was becoming a thriving center. Reverend Schnarr stayed until 1977. During his tenure the school flourished. Since then the church and school have had several pastors and assistant pastors many of whom started their careers there.
Today the Washington New Church School offers a distinctive New Christian education. It caters to children from Junior Kindergarten through Tenth Grade. Its mission is to support parents in nurturing their children’s development. The school prides itself on its unique understanding of the Bible. It leads to outstanding results even above national averages in standardized testing. The school boasts a comprehensive curriculum. It includes religious studies visual and performance arts. Computer technology languages music and physical education are taught as well.
The Washington New Church and School isn’t just a place of worship and learning. It is a community hub. Its extensive grounds include Acton Park. The park which is named after Reverend Alfred Acton provides a buffer against development. It’s a haven of nature trails home to diverse wildlife. The school uses Acton Park for environmental lessons. Forested Inc leases 12 acres for an educational forest garden. University students use it too. The Washington New Church and School continues to grow. Its vision expands beyond its walls embracing both faith and education. This makes it truly special.