April was a busy, busy month. A time of many celebrations—it's both National Poetry Month and Deaf History Month; Passover and Easter were parallel this year, lending to a busy Lenten season; Arbor Day and Earth Day round out the month. Not only that, but April also saw PHS folks traveling to New York, tabling at events, and sending Presbyterian Heritage off to print. Like we said, we've been busy!
Before we dig into May, make sure you're caught up on all things Presbyterian history—check out what we've published this month and make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
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In April 1942, Edith Frances Millican found herself in Embudo, New Mexico, where she'd been authorized for medical work by the New Mexico Board of Medical Examiners. On April 12, 1960, President John F. Kennedy sent Rev. Eugene Carson Blake a letter about meeting in-person; April 1961 saw the students of Baghdad High School participating in Sports Day; and more.
On April 10, 1955, at around 5:42 a.m., dedicated attendees of the annual Easter Sunrise Service atop San Francisco's Mt. Davidson gathered for the 33rd year in a row. The service proceedings were broadcast over KYA from 5:30 to 6:15, for those not yet out of bed. The Rev. Dr. John A. Gardner, the new executive director of the San Francisco Council of Churches, preached the Easter Sermon, which he'd titled "Hail Him Lord of All!" Gardner had been elected to his position in November, just five months prior.
The four individuals who make up our 2026 cohort of research fellows are Abraham Akhter Murad, Audrey Ann Thompson, Kim Stevens Barker, and Randall J. Stephens. Presbyterian Historical Society staff are eager to welcome the fellows into the archives.
Devolution and Revolution: Mission and Church in Iran
GA overtures 005 and 006, addressing the restructuring of the PC(USA)'s World Mission and calling for a new missiological statement, recall the efforts of Presbyterians inside the U.S. and abroad to reshape their relationships during the middle 20th century. Many stories of Presbyterians finding their way through an utterly changed political reality can be told. Our second installment introduces the Presbyterian mid-century in Iran.
2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Let's zip back in time to see how folks celebrated the Bicentennial of 1976 with the help of the Religious News Service Photograph Collection.
BICENTENNIAL RUN FOR FAITH
NEW YORK -- Two brothers have started a cross-country Bicentennial run, carrying with them a Bible...and copies of the Declaration of Independence which, in time, will bear the signatures of millions of Americans. Joel and Tony Ahlstrom began their run on April 26 from San Francisco's Golden Gate and are jogging an average of 51 miles a day. They plan to cover the 2,957 mile route in 58 days, arriving in Washington, D.C., on July 1.
On May 30, 2026, the William Tennent House Association, will be hosting a banquet in celebration of the legacy of the man they are named after—the Reverend William Tennent, Sr., pastor of Neshaminy-Warwick Presbyterian Church and founder of what many consider the first college in Pennsylvania, the Log College at Neshaminy.
