November 19 Today in OPC History

On Friday, November 19, 1976, Miss Margaret Duff died and entered into the glorious presence of the Lord. Two services were held for Miss Duff. A memorial service, conducted by the Rev. Larry G. Mininger, was held at the Lake Sherwood Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida. The Rev. Henry P. Tavares, pastor of Covenant OPC in Grove City, Pa., conducted a funeral service at Nashua OPC, Edinburg, Pa., where Miss Duff was a charter member.

Before the Orthodox Presbyterian Church had come into existence, Miss Duff worked for five years for the PCUSA as a presbyterial missionary in the mining communities of Washington County, Pennsylvania. Once the OPC came into existence, Miss Duff turned towards helping the new church. In the 1940s she assisted in the work of Christian education, canvassing, and general church work in several Orthodox Presbyterian congregations. Among those churches that she helped were Calvary OPC, Middletown, Pa., Immanuel OPC, West Collingswood, N.J., Knox OPC, Silver Spring, Md., and the OP chapel in Oak Creek, Col. where her brother, Clarence, served as pastor. In 1946 she was asked to write a Primary Department Manual for Summer Bible Schools, which was published by the Committee on Christian Education.

Upon her death, the Presbyterian Guardian stated: "Her loyalty to the Orthodox Presbyterian Church was very deep. She was valiant in defense of the truth. Her influence for good was notable in the lives of members of her own family, of many of the students who studied under her in high schools and at Westminster and Thiel Colleges, and of a wide circle of friends. She sought to give her whole life to God's glory and the advancement of Christ's kingdom."

Read more about Margaret in Choosing the Good Portion: Women of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, which is available on OPC.ORG here.