A portion of the historic First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem’s property, which includes the main building, is being sold.

It is part of the 32-acre campus at 2344 Center St. The decision to sell by church leaders and congregants comes after a years-long exploration of alternatives.

“Our mission and ministry are calling us in a new direction. Deferred maintenance and operational costs for a facility of this size — over 100,000 square feet — have also made continued operations in our current space untenable,” said Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton, First Presbyterian associate pastor, in a press release.

Last year, First Presbyterian hired Florida commercial real estate broker Foundry Commercial to find a redevelopment partner.

Carlin Beekman, senior vice president with Foundry Commercial, told The Morning Call on Friday morning that there has been a call for offers on the site and “the church has now selected who they will be moving forward with.”

She did not give any other details.

A call to the church’s office was not immediately returned Friday.

Clifton said the congregation will continue its work from a temporary location before returning to a newly built, right-size facility on the existing campus alongside affordable housing built to “positively impact a critical need in our community.”

First proposed in 2023, the affordable housing plan has pitched three concepts ranging from 220 to 320 units.

Auction underway

First Presbyterian also has chosen Richard L. Dotta Auction of Bushkill Township to sell their daily business operations items and other church accessories.

Dotta is managing the current online auction via HiBid Auctions which is now open for bidding. It will begin closing at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15. The catalog includes art, instruments, audio equipment, office furniture and living room furniture.

A second online auction of the church’s items may be held in spring 2027. That catalog would include sanctuary furniture, antique weathervane, kitchen appliances, street lamps, sterling and more, Dotta said in a statement.

“We are honored to be helping the historic First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem during their transition,” said Richard Dotta.

Beginning in January 2027, First Presbyterian’s worship and other activities will be held at Christ United Church of Christ at 75 E. Market St., Bethlehem. The church’s preschool program is planning to relocate to a new, permanent location at the end of the 2026-27 school year, the church said.

First Presbyterian was established on Nov. 14, 1875, and met at a number of locations before establishing a long-term home at Center and North streets in 1878. The congregation moved to 2344 Center St. in 1957. The various buildings that make up the current campus were constructed over time with the most recent having been completed in 1994.

This story will be updated.

Morning Call reporter Evan Jones can be reached at ejones@mcall.com.