Rev. William Bishop
Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Baptist clergyman and first ordained minister in Scranton, built a combined log church and house near here in 1795. There he preached and held services. He was born in England, 1749, and died in Scott Township in 1816.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Born in England in 1749, William Bishop became the first ordained minister to serve the future city of Scranton. Around 1795 he raised a combined log church and dwelling near this spot, where he preached to the scattered settlers of the region until moving on; he died in nearby Scott Township in 1816. His humble log meetinghouse was among the first institutions of faith in the Lackawanna Valley.
Why it matters
Frontier clergymen like Bishop planted the earliest churches in newly settled country, knitting isolated pioneers into communities.
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Related people
- · William Bishop
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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