Sylvanus C. Breyfogel Papers

Sylvanus C. Breyfogel (1851-1934), American Evangelical bishop, was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on July 20, 1851, the son of the Rev. and Mrs. Seneca Breyfogel.

Breyfogel was licensed in the East Pennsylvania Conference and ordained in 1877. He served in the pastorate and as district superintendent until 1891, when he was elected bishop at the General Conference in Indianapolis. He continued in this office for thirty-nine years until he retired at the General Conference in 1930.

Breyfogel helped to form the retirement program, known as the Superannuation Fund. He also was especially influential in the development of Albright College in Reading.

Breyfogel traveled throughout the United States and Canada, and also visited Europe, Japan and China. And worked with the Federal Council of Churches.

Breyfogel also served as president of the Evangelical School of Theology at Reading, and was the chief sponsor of the Evangelical Correspondence College, organized in 1885.

He wrote several books: Landmarks in the Evangelical Association, 1800-1877; Great Sermons by Great Preachers; The Preachers Assistant; and The Polity of the Evangelical Association. He was married in 1877 to Kate Boas, a member of a prominent Evangelical family. She died August 1, 1928. Breyfogel died at his home in Reading on November 24, 1934.