Rev. Paul T. Bahner (1908-1992)
1949-1958

 16TH PASTOR OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON

Rev. Bahner received a call to the First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton in August 1949, and preached his first sermon on Nov 6th.  The following Sunday he was installed as the 16th Minister of the First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton at 4pm on a Sunday afternoon, November 13, 1949.  The East Hampton Star reported the church was so full, rows of seats needed to be added at the back of the church.  Not since a community-wide service celebration at the end of WWII, had there been such a crowd in the church.  In his charge to Rev. Bahner, Rev. Arthur Limouse, from the Presbyterian Church General Council, “extolled the beauty of eastern Long Island and congratulated Mr. Bahner upon his good taste in choosing East Hampton for a pastorate; and humorously warned him that this is a very old community, and that eastern Long Islanders are slow in welcoming newcomers, but once you are accepted (and it might take ten, twenty or even thirty years) there’s not enough they can do for you.”  As Pastor, Rev. Bahner provided sermons at 8am in East Hampton (summers only) and 11 am, and then would lead a service at the Springs Chapel on Sundays at 8pm. 

Rev. Bahner was a graduate of Albright College in Reading, Pa.  He acted as Pastor at Albright College from 1930-1933 and served the Evangelical Congregational Church in Pottsville, Pa from 1930-1932.  In 1933, he graduated from the Bible Seminary, now known as the New York Theological Seminary, in New York City.  Rev. Bahner also obtained a Master’s Degree in Education from New York University.  During his time at NYU, he was an Assistant Pastor at the Central Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn.  In 1934, he was a student pastor at Zion Evangelical Congregational Church in Allentown, Pa.  In 1936, he became the Pastor at the Trinity Evangelical Congregational Church, in Palmerton, PA.  In 1940, he became Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of East Williamsburg, now known as the United Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood, Ridgewood, Queens, New York.  The Ridgewood Church credits Rev. Bahner with reorganizing the church from top to bottom. His missionary outreach during World War II resulted in sponsoring the Rev. Robert Urquhart in Korea and the beginning of Great Commission Associates Family night programs. He built up the church membership to over 500 members and corresponded with the 120 men in wartime service around the world. He departed Ridgewood in 1949 for East Hampton.

Rev. Bahner, was the son of Rev. Jonathan Bahner (1874-1921) and Mary Lyter (1880-1933).  Born in Palmyra, Pennsylvania on March 13, 1908, he was one of 9 children:  Ruth M. Bahner (1903-1969), Mabel Bahner (1904-1968), John L. Bahner (1907-1966), Paul V. Bahner (1908-1993), Sarah C. Bahner (1911-1918, age 6, who died during the height of the Flu Epidemic of 1918), Bertha A. Bahner- Hoffman (1912-1956, who died at age 44 of complications  from Type 1 or juvenile diabetes, leaving five daughters and five sons), Grace M. Bahner- Behrens (1913 -July 1951, age 38 years, she left a husband and three sons), Infant Girl Bahner (stillborn-1915), and Ralph V. Bahner (1917 - 1993). Rev. Bahners sisters, Bertha and Grace, died while he was serving in East Hampton.

In 1935, Rev. Bahner married Mary Bourquin, (1908-1992).  Born in Kentucky, Mary was the daughter of Rev. William E. Bourquin (1877-1940) and his wife Meta L. Fehrenbach (1876 -1959).   Rev. Bahner and Mary had two daughters, both born in Pennsylvania.   Mary Bahner-Maxwell, became a nurse, who married a minister, Rev. Farley Maxwell.   Daughter Elizabeth “Betty” L.  Bahner-Kang married plastic surgeon Dr. Young Kang. When the Bahner girls arrived in East Hampton in 1949, Mary was 12 and Betty was nine.  The family made their home in the manse.  Rev. Bahner’s, mother-in-law, Meta Bourquin, a widow since 1940, also lived with the family. 

During their time in East Hampton, Rev. Bahner was the Stated Clerk of the Long Island Presbytery for six years, as well as Chairman of Stewardship & Promotion.   In 1956, Rev Bahner worked closely with the Migrant Committee of the Suffolk County Council of Churches supporting agricultural migrant workers on the South Fork of Long Island.

Rev. Bahner’s wife, Mary, was a graduate of the Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City.  While in East Hampton, she taught Sunday School at the Church, Pre-K thru Kindergaten, with an assist by Mrs. Maion Edwards. She was a Secretary in the Home Bureau, a member of the local women’s group-Ramblers, and involved at Guild Hall. 

Rev. Bahner left the East Hampton Presbyterian Church in April 1958, during the town’s 300th year celebration. Rev. Bahner would serve at the Deer Park Community Presbyterian Church in Babylon, Long Island, from 1958 until his retirement in 1970.  During his time in Deer Park, he served as Moderator for the Long Island Presbytery in 1969.

The Bahner’s kept ties in East Hampton.  In the early 1960’s, they purchased the E. T Dayton (Edward T. Dayton) house, from the late Mary Tillinghast Dayton (1871-1961). The house is located at 21 Buckskill, south of the highway. Considerable renovations were made to the home 1966. The Bahner’s and their children and grandchildren enjoyed visiting their home in East Hampton for weekends and vacations.  The Star reported Capt. Ralph Pitts on the Margaret, landed three white marlins off Montauk while trolling with Rev Bahner in July 1966.

Rev. Bahner retired full time to East Hampton in 1970. He would fill in as Guest Pastor at area churches: Montauk, Springs, Amagansett, Sag Harbor and East Hampton, through 1977.  He was hired as interim Pastor of the Montauk Community church for three months in 1973. He would also preside over weddings and funerals in the area during his retirement. Rev. Bahner and his wife were avid travelers through a Presbyterian Travel group.  He would give slide shows at community dinners and talk of their travels. They visited many countries: Africa, India, Nepal, South America, Russia, Greece, Iran, and a six week trip through the Far East, visiting Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, to name a few.   

Rev. and Mrs. Bahner eventually relocated to Virginia to be near their daughter.  Mrs. Bahner died in 1992, and Rev. Paul Troutman 85, died in Salem, VA on October 20, 1993. He was the last of his nine siblings.