David Victor Yeaworth arrived at Ardmore in 1981 as the fifth pastor of the Ardmore Presbyterian Church.  Born in 1929, he was the son of a Philadelphia minister and attended West Philadelphia High School. After graduating from Whitworth College and Princeton Seminary, he received a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.  Before coming to Ardmore, Dr. Yeaworth served as pastor of churches in Spokane and Bellevue, both in the State of Washington.

Upon taking the pulpit Dr. Yeaworth made an immediate impression through his challenging, biblically-based sermons which evidenced his high level of scholarship in church history and theology.  Called during a time of membership decline, Dr. Yeaworth’s considerable talents in programming revitalized the church and established many of the events that define our church’s life today.  KeenAgers, Advent Family Night, Wednesday Plus, and the midnight Christmas Eve Service, are just a few of the traditions established during his tenure.

Dr. Yeaworth’s ministry was also characterized by his interest in youth and children’s ministry. Working as a team with his wife, Grace, the Yeaworths personally led the youth fellowship groups, overseeing weekly recreational and devotional events, and establishing life-long relationships with the young people they led.  Under their leadership, the Vacation Bible School was reinstituted and grew in popularity with over 200 in attendance.  As part of the Vacation Bible School program, the Yeaworths trained the youth as teachers, then organized Youth Mission trips in which the youth would use their training to lead Bible Schools at churches throughout the country. 

Dr. Yeaworth’s foresight would help the church equip itself for the future.  Building on the church’s musical tradition, he saw the need to establish a full-time, volunteer choir to help lead weekly worship.  Because our chancel area would not accommodate such a choir, Dr. Yeaworth recommended a major renovation of the sanctuary which included the extension of the chancel and pulpit, relocation of the organ, and creation of the full sized choir loft.  Financed by the congregation through the 85^th Anniversary Campaign, the renovations also included the creation of the cross-aisle by Walker Chapel, and a comprehensive restoration of the building’s exterior surfaces.

Since his retirement in 1993, Dr. Yeaworth has continued to be active in ministry. He has served four churches as interim pastor and is a regular supply preacher at other churches throughout the Presbytery.  Dr. Yeaworth is an expert in the Middle East, and has led a number of tours to the Holy Land.  He helped create the General Assembly’s Israel/Palestine Mission Network, and currently serves as co-chair of the Presbytery’s Peacemaking Committee.  David and Grace still live in Bryn Mawr, though they make frequent trips to the West Coast to visit their children and grandchildren.  When not in leadership, they attend Llanerch Presbyterian Church, where David sings in the choir.