Good Samaritan’s roots can be traced back to 1848, when the little village of Paoli was comprised of a railroad station, a general store, a few scattered cottages, and the Paoli Inn, which became a gathering place for Sunday morning services.
In 1876, a generous parishioner donated half an acre of land on the south side of Lancaster Turnpike on which to build a chapel. It was to be a copy of a village church in southern England and was called The Church of the Good Samaritan.
Moving into the 20th century, a parish hall became a major need, and $20,000 was raised for this purpose. Ground was broken in 1950, and the building was completed and dedicated to The Rev’d Horace Andrews Walton in 1952.
By 1956, the expanded church already needed greater space. Substantial funds were raised through a concentrated parish campaign, and on March 17, 1957, ground was broken for the new church, placed squarely in the middle of the 16-acre tract. This new church was dedicated on Easter Sunday in 1958 by The Rt Rev’d Oliver J. Hart, DD, STD, Bishop of Pennsylvania.
This brief look at the early history of the Church of the Good Samaritan does not capture the many loving, devoted, and faithful parishioners who, led by the Holy Spirit, guided and sustained these changes over the years.
The Church of the Good Samaritan Today
The church today stands on approximately 15 acres in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. In 2003, the “Keep the Light Burning Bright” capital campaign was launched, with pledges totaling $9.3 million.
Construction of the Ministry Center and sanctuary renovations began on November 21, 2004, and were completed in December 2007. Increased seating, new AV equipment, ADA accessibility, an expanded altar, an intercessory prayer corner, new font location, and additional decorative elements were all part of the sanctuary design.
A connector between the Education Building and the sanctuary became a light-filled atrium, serving as a welcoming gathering space. As part of the capital campaign, the first ten percent of funds raised was given to support projects in approximately twenty needy parishes, dioceses, and programs throughout the world.
The campus of The Church of the Good Samaritan today includes a large church, the original chapel, an office-education complex including the Day School, and two sizable rectories. A large cemetery is located behind the church. On the southwest corner of the campus, a memorial field is used for community recreational activities. Above it all, the cross stands atop the church, reminding us of whose we are and why we worship.
The Impact of Leadership
In the early 1970s, a newly installed rector, Fr Dan Sullivan—a man of vision and conviction—recognized that evangelism begins with the leading of the Holy Spirit. This led to the first “Faith Alive Weekend” and an awakening and deepening of faith among parishioners, a spirit that has infused congregational life for more than 50 years. Home groups and Bible studies gathered. Prayer circles and healing ministries flourished. The youth group led outreach locally and internationally, including a relationship with the Lakota people in North Dakota.
In 1997, Fr Greg Brewer became rector of Good Samaritan and fostered new relationships with urban parishes in Philadelphia and Coatesville, while deepening connections in Africa and South America. In the fall of 1999, worship at Good Sam took a new, contemporary direction under the creative leadership of Fr Geof Morin, with the launch of New Chapel—a bold expression of fresh music, creative elements, and Gospel proclamation.
Fr Richard Morgan followed Fr Brewer in 2012. The much-loved practice of sharing a luncheon after New Chapel was introduced by Fr Morgan soon after his arrival. He went on to guide the church through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2023, Fr Phillip Ellsworth was elected rector, bringing fresh energy to the renewal of Good Samaritan in the wake of the pandemic. He expanded clergy and staff, introduced residents and teaching fellows, and set a clear vision for visual communication. Alongside this, the parish has seen growing engagement and increased attendance, reflecting a vibrant and strengthening community. Entering its sesquicentennial year as a strong and growing parish, we give thanks for the past, remain faithful in the present, and move forward with purpose—continuing the call of the Parable of the Good Samaritan to “go and do likewise.”
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