May 9 Today in OPC History

George Cottenden married his college sweetheart, Barbara Benson, the daughter of the Pastor Wilson and Mildred Benson, on May 9, 1964. They met as freshmen, became engaged as sophomores, and married after graduating from Gordon College in 1964.

At the time, George was United Presbyterian, but worshipped with Barbara in an Orthodox Presbyterian Church that began in the home of Dr. Burton Goddard. They headed to Westminster Theological Seminary, where George became convinced of his need to leave the UPCUSA and joined Calvary OPC in Glenside, Pennsylvania.

After graduating in 1967, George was ordained and installed as pastor of Good Shepherd OPC in Neptune, New Jersey. In 1975 he was elected moderator of the forty-second General Assembly.

OP missionary Harvie Conn first approached George about going to Egypt as an exploratory missionary. He became convinced that the need was greater in Egypt than in New Jersey so he and Barbara took their two children, David and Susan, to Egypt in 1977. After serving in Egypt for three years, they returned stateside on furlough to address family medical needs.

Unable to return to Egypt as they had planned, George resigned from missionary service in 1981 and began his twenty-six years as pastor of Trinity OPC in Hatboro, Pennsylvania. Barbara earned her master’s in early childhood education and taught for many years at the Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy. She also revised a quarter’s worth of Sunday school materials for Great Commission Publications.

George was chairman of the Committee on Revisions to the Directory for Public Worship for twenty years. He has continued to serve as a trustee at Westminster Theological Seminary for more than thirty-two years.

After a brief retirement in 2008, George was called to serve as stated clerk of the General Assembly from 2010 until his second retirement in 2014. Now they look forward to having time to enjoy their grandchildren.

Picture: George and Barbara Cottenden on their wedding day.