Perched high along East Houston Avenue, the former Christ Lutheran Church’s original building was in the first stages of construction in 1889. According to the Montgomery Centennial history book, the church and E.K. Shollenberger’s home were the first two structures on the street, which at the time, “was just a winding road.”

Israel Wagner opened a brickyard in Montgomery in July of 1889, and his first order was for red bricks to build the church. In October, the cornerstone was put in place and the event was commemorated with special ceremonies (Montgomery Centennial history book).

In 1892, an 814-pound bell cast by the McShane Bell Company was hung in the church’s bell tower (The Luminary, May 6, 2020).

However, the bell wouldn’t be the last enormous addition to the church. A massive pipe organ was installed on February 13, 1914 (The Montgomery Centennial history book).

The Grit reported in the February 15, 1914, edition, “A handsome pipe organ has just been placed in the Lutheran Church. The instrument occupies a space 17 feet, 6 inches in height, 15 feet and 6 inches in width and 10 feet, six inches in depth. It occupies the entire northeastern corner of the church. It is operated by an electric motor connected by patent adjustable combinations, they being operated by pistons placed under respective manuals. It has tubular pneumatic action, a total of 1,057 pipes, ranging from 4 to 16 feet, and 28 stops. The case is handsome with quartered oak finish with the bronze pipes decorated in gold bronze.”

The article went on to say that the organist would be Miss Mary Decker. She had graduated from Dickinson Seminary, which would eventually become Lycoming College. Her father was J.C. Decker, a prominent early businessman in Montgomery.

The Grit also reported that one of the most famous organists in the United States, James Robert Gillette, would travel from his home in Syracuse, New York, to give a concert at the church on February 20, 1914.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church’s congregation grew, and the decision was made to add Sunday School rooms. Early in June of 1927, a groundbreaking ceremony was held. However, the construction project went terribly wrong. On June 15th, the strength of the basement wall had become compromised after being excavated, and the rear wall collapsed. The magnificent pipe organ was destroyed (The Montgomery Centennial book).

Construction and renovations progressed, but within months the church suffered a devastating fire. The Montgomery Centennial book notes the fire happened on March 12, 1928. The Grit ran an article titled, “FIRE FOLLOWS COLLAPSE” on March 18, 1928. The paper reported, “The latest of these disasters occurred last week when fire of undetermined origin swept through the main church auditorium and the former Sunday school quarters and destroyed these two departments of the church plant.” The minister told the paper that it was estimated that the damage was between $50,000-$75,000 ($855,716.37-$1,283,574.56 in today’s money).

The article went on to say that a new organ had been purchased but was thankfully offsite in storage. The joint efforts of the Montgomery and Muncy fire departments saved the new Sunday School section, but there was some water damage to the wooden floors.

The new Sunday School building was repaired and finished, and the congregation used the building for all of their services (The Montgomery Centennial history book).

The new sanctuary was built in 1951-1952 of gray block (Around Montgomery Borough 1940-1990 by Joan Wheal Blank).

In 2012, the church closed its doors for good (The Luminary, May 6, 2020).

The building still stands, and is now a private property.