Independent Baptist Church
Morton, PA
At Calvary Independent Baptist Church, our passion is
To KNOW Christ and to Make Him KNOWN!
Church History
Calvary Independent Baptist Church was founded in the summer of 1977 by Pastor John B. Cartwright, who gave his life to the Lord as a young man and followed God's leading to plant Calvary Independent Baptist Church in 1977. To do so, he had to move his family from Lynchburg, VA back to their home area of Delaware County, PA. After founding the church, he faithfully served the Lord, giving his life to serve the people God brought to Calvary and striving to reach this community with the gospel for 48 years. Over the years, hundreds of souls have been saved, many churches have been started, pastors have been trained, addictions have been broken, marriages have been restored, and countless lives have been transformed— all by the power of God working through the faithful prayers and service of Pastor Cartwright. We are so thankful for him and his wife Thelma, and their faithfulness in serving the Lord for so many years.
On June 29, 2025, Pastor Cartwright passed the torch of leadership over to Pastor Jonathan Hartkopf, who was officially installed as Senior Pastor of Calvary Independent Baptist Church. We believe that CHRIST is the Head of the Church, and we are excited to see what God will continue to do as we follow His lead and make His name known. Truly, "One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts!" Psalm 145:4-6. To God be the glory!​​
​
Pastor Cartwright's Story
John Cartwright graduated from Sharon Hill High School in 1964. He was a scholar-athlete, earning ten varsity letters in football, baseball, and basketball. John received offers from over thirty colleges and universities, and from the then Kansas City (Oakland) Athletics. He chose to further his education, and his athletic career, at the U.S. Naval Academy. In his sophomore year, John succeeded Roger Staubach as quarterback. He went on to break 13 of Staubach's records, and set 7 other records of his own. In 1968, John was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy. That same year, he married his childhood sweetheart, Thelma Themens, and began his tour of duty, which included a long deployment in Vietnam.
​
In the early days of Liberty University's existence, John became assistant football coach under Lee "Rock" Royer, and succeeded him as head coach at Liberty in 1973, after Rock's sudden death in a plane crash. He graduated from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in 1976. He returned to his native Delaware County in 1977, and founded Calvary Independent Baptist Church.
Unshackled: Testimony of John Cartwright
Each episode dramatizes the true life testimony of people that have been Unshackled by God’s grace. Radio episodes include the life stories of baseball great turned evangelist, Billy Sunday, international banker turned homeless vagabond overnight, Dominic Mance and Navy football great turned pastor, John Cartwright.