Rev. Edward W. Cloughen began his service of pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Tower City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in August 1972. On September 1972, he was installed as pastor. At the time, the West Schuylkill Herald reported the following story about his background and installation service.
__________________________________________________
REV. EDWARD W. CLOUGHEN INSTALLED AT ST. PAUL’S
The Rev. Edward W. Cloughen was installed Sunday afternoon at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church by the Rev. Dr. Maynard Hallock, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Pottsville, and dean of the Schuylkill District.
The Rev. Gunther J. Stippich of Reading, an uncle of the pastor, preached the sermon. Mrs. Frederick Bressler Jr., Pastor Cloughen’s sister, assisted in the musical portion of the service as soloist.
Pastor Cloughen graduated from the Lutheran Theological Seminary, at Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, in 1967, at which time he assumed the pastorate of Grace Lutheran Church, Lehighton. He did undergraduate work at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in 1964. He began his service at St. Paul’s Tower City, August 6 [1972]. Prior to that he served as pastor of Trinity Church, Bangor, and a year as a staff announcer at WEEU Radio Station, Reading.
A native of Bronx, New York, Pastor Clougen grew up in suburban Dumont, New Jersey before moving to Reading with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer W. Cloughen.
He is married to the former Cynthia Heiser of Lehighton and they have a two and one half year old daughter Sarajane Cloughen.
The congregation was invited to the fellowship hall following the installation service and had an opportunity to welcome and greet the new pastor and his family.
Members of the local ministerium and their families attended along with members and friends of St. Paul’s and the following out of town guests.
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer W. Cloughen, Shoemakersville; Mr. and Mrs. Ward Heiser, Lehighton, parents of Mrs. Cloughen; Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Bresler Jr., and family, Shoemakersville; Evelyn Heiser, Dorothy Heiser, Mrs. and Mrs. Clarence Utt, Rev. and Mrs. Paul H. Spohn and family, Lehighton; Mr. and Mrs. William Schreiner, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Dickinson, Reading; State Senator and Mrs. Henry Messinger, Allentown; Rev. and Mrs. Gunther J. Stippich, Reading.
Area clergy included the Rev. Philip Lynch, pastor of Muir Foursquare Gospel Church; Father Morgan of Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church; the Rev. and Mrs. Arthur Knoebel, pastor of Tower City and Orwin United Church of Christ.
___________________________________________________
Photo from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.