| Our History
The Pennsylvania Eastern District Extension Committee sent the Rev. Raymond Dibble to State College to organize a new Alliance Church in June of 1961. The first Sunday meeting took place in a rented hall at 230 East College Avenue on August 20. There were 12 in attendance. The Church was organized in February of 1962 and a Constitution was adopted. In September, property was purchased for a sanctuary building from Dale Hugh on the corner of Fry Drive and Norma Street. The first Sunday service was held in the Norma Street building in September of 1964. In October 1965, sufficient local church income allowed the District to discontinue all subsidy payments. In September 1967, State College Christian and Missionary Alliance Church was incorporated. Twenty-eight members signed the charter. Beginning in September 1968, two worship services were established with an average attendance of 196. Groundbreaking was made in March 1971 for a $130,000.00 addition to the original Norma Street building. The Alliance Christian School was formed in September 1975 as an outreach of the church. In 1987, it was renamed the Nittany Christian School. Alliance Christian Fellowship was also established in 1975 as an outreach to the students of the Pennsylvania State University campus. In December of 1978, Rev. Dibble (first sent here in 1961) became the first District Extension Director for the Pennsylvania Eastern District. Rev. James Livingston replaced him as Senior Pastor in September 1979. Rev. David J. Phillips in 1985, and Rev. David Janssen in 1990 followed him. Rev. Janssen continues his ministry with us today. In May 1992, the Land Committee recommended the purchase of 9.2 acres of property on West Whitehall Road for a new facility. The purchase of the property was complete in November 1994 and the loan was retired in May 1995. In September 1997, the congregation voted to proceed to construct a new building on this property. Upon completion in June 2000, the first service was held in the West Whitehall Road facility. |
