October 30 Today in OPC History

Robert Atwell, a constituting member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1936 and the pastor of ten different OPC congregations, died on this day in 1988.

A graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary in 1935, Atwell accepted a call to serve as pastor of New Hope Church, Branchton and Faith Church, Harrisville, PA. Thirteen days after the OPC was formed on June 11, 1936, and while Atwell was also pastoring Westminster Church in Grove City, he married Mary Elizabeth Stuart on June 24. The Atwell's were blessed with three children, James, Margaret and John.

From there, he served First OPC, San Francisco; Grace OPC, Westfield, NJ; Calvary OPC, Middletown, PA; Calvary OPC, Glenside, PA; Galloway OPC, Miami; First OPC, Sunnyvale, CA and Nashua OPC, Edinburg, PA.

Having a great love for the covenant children of the church, Atwell helped establish the French Creek Bible Conference in Southeastern Pennsylvania and served as its president from 1948-62. His enthusiasm for teaching the Bible to the children could be seen in his leadership of and participation in summer Bible camps in the Presbyteries of Ohio, the South, Northern California and Philadelphia.

He also served as a trustee of Westminster Seminary from 1967-82, and on the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension from 1970-1979.