History of Homestead United Presbyterian Church
Homestead United Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of Ninth Avenue and Ann Street, was formed in 1964 as a result of a merger of the First Presbyterian Church of Homestead and the First United Presbyterian Church of Homestead. These Congregations trace their beginnings to Dr. John McMillan who founded Chartiers, Lebanon, and Bethel Churches in 1776. The First Presbyterian Church owes its early existence to the Lebanon Church, for of its twelve charter members, five were from the Lebanon congregation. The land on which the present building now stands was donated by one of those charter members, Abdiel McClure. It was here, in Mr. McClure's carpenter shop, that Sunday School and prayer meetings were held.
By the turn of the century, Andrew Carnegie's mill rose stark and black from the river bank. New business was flourishing; the population was growing. First Presbyterian Church found itself in the center of a fast-growing, multi-lingual mill town. During World War II, the mill expanded and business establishments increased. As residential areas were replaced by business and industry, Homestead's population declined. The church once again kept pace with the changes in order to serve that community. In 1958, the unification on a national level, of the Presbyterian and United Presbyterian Churches brought the First Presbyterian Church into closer fellowship with its sister church on Ninth Avenue. The official merger of the two congregations in 1964 brought together a rich heritage. When the mills closed in the early '80's, a survey indicated the congregations's choice to remain at Ninth and Ann, where today the church's members minister to a community striving to regain its identity and status as a desirable place to live, work, and worship. Dr. John H. MacLeod faithfully served the church from 1960 until his retirement in 1995.
As interim pastor, Reverend Dr. Donald Ewing opened the eyes of the congregation to new ways of worshiping and organizing itself. The Trustees and Session combined into a unicameral board. Reverend Ewing gave support and guidance to a Pastoral Nominating Committee which devised a mission statement and developed four ambitious goals for this congregation. In 1997, the congregation extended a call to Reverend Michael P. Rucker. Pastor Rucker and the congregation immediately turned all available resources toward the attainment of the recently-devised goals. Within two years, a large and effective youth ministry was well underway. An evening contemporary worship service was initiated in 2000.
Today, the congregation continues to foster creative ways to reach out to the surrounding community. With this history, our church echoes the words of Dr. MacLeod that the building is not the church. It is only a symbol of the people of God who constitutes His Church. We believe that God's mission for us in Homestead is to make known His love in Jesus Christ, through worship, education, stewardship, and outreach to our world.
By the turn of the century, Andrew Carnegie's mill rose stark and black from the river bank. New business was flourishing; the population was growing. First Presbyterian Church found itself in the center of a fast-growing, multi-lingual mill town. During World War II, the mill expanded and business establishments increased. As residential areas were replaced by business and industry, Homestead's population declined. The church once again kept pace with the changes in order to serve that community. In 1958, the unification on a national level, of the Presbyterian and United Presbyterian Churches brought the First Presbyterian Church into closer fellowship with its sister church on Ninth Avenue. The official merger of the two congregations in 1964 brought together a rich heritage. When the mills closed in the early '80's, a survey indicated the congregations's choice to remain at Ninth and Ann, where today the church's members minister to a community striving to regain its identity and status as a desirable place to live, work, and worship. Dr. John H. MacLeod faithfully served the church from 1960 until his retirement in 1995.
As interim pastor, Reverend Dr. Donald Ewing opened the eyes of the congregation to new ways of worshiping and organizing itself. The Trustees and Session combined into a unicameral board. Reverend Ewing gave support and guidance to a Pastoral Nominating Committee which devised a mission statement and developed four ambitious goals for this congregation. In 1997, the congregation extended a call to Reverend Michael P. Rucker. Pastor Rucker and the congregation immediately turned all available resources toward the attainment of the recently-devised goals. Within two years, a large and effective youth ministry was well underway. An evening contemporary worship service was initiated in 2000.
Today, the congregation continues to foster creative ways to reach out to the surrounding community. With this history, our church echoes the words of Dr. MacLeod that the building is not the church. It is only a symbol of the people of God who constitutes His Church. We believe that God's mission for us in Homestead is to make known His love in Jesus Christ, through worship, education, stewardship, and outreach to our world.
First Presbyterian Church:
June 19, 1872 - The first known record found in the Session Book and is therein called the "Mission Presbyterian Church of Homestead"
May 2, 1874 - Church organized
May 3, 1874 - First meeting of Session and first regular church service
September 12, 1874 - Second meeting of Session following Preparatory Services held in old schoolhouse at Fifth Avenue and Amity Street
November 29, 1874 - New frame church building occupied on site at present church offices
June 19, 1904 - Present church building dedicated
February 2, 1964 - Consolidated with First United Presbyterian Church to be known as Homestead United Presbyterian Church
First United Presbyterian Church:
February 20, 1887 - First sermon in McClure Hall by Rev. J.W. English as a mission church
March 15, 1888 - Church Organized
November 10, 1889 - Frame church building dedicated at Fourth Avenue and Amity Street
June 1, 1924 - Last service in old church
June 8, 1924 - Worship services in basement of new church at 131 East Ninth Avenue
November 16, 1924 - New church on Ninth Avenue dedicated
February 2, 1964 - Consolidated with First Presbyterian Church to be known as Homestead United Presbyterian Church
June 19, 1872 - The first known record found in the Session Book and is therein called the "Mission Presbyterian Church of Homestead"
May 2, 1874 - Church organized
May 3, 1874 - First meeting of Session and first regular church service
September 12, 1874 - Second meeting of Session following Preparatory Services held in old schoolhouse at Fifth Avenue and Amity Street
November 29, 1874 - New frame church building occupied on site at present church offices
June 19, 1904 - Present church building dedicated
February 2, 1964 - Consolidated with First United Presbyterian Church to be known as Homestead United Presbyterian Church
First United Presbyterian Church:
February 20, 1887 - First sermon in McClure Hall by Rev. J.W. English as a mission church
March 15, 1888 - Church Organized
November 10, 1889 - Frame church building dedicated at Fourth Avenue and Amity Street
June 1, 1924 - Last service in old church
June 8, 1924 - Worship services in basement of new church at 131 East Ninth Avenue
November 16, 1924 - New church on Ninth Avenue dedicated
February 2, 1964 - Consolidated with First Presbyterian Church to be known as Homestead United Presbyterian Church