Church Built in 1842
St. Felix Church was organized by Rev. Fr. John P. Gallagher, pastor of the St's. Peter and Paul's Church, Beaver, Pa., on the feast of St. Felix, January 14, 1906. A lot was purchased between Fourth and Fifth Avenues, near Thirteenth Street, from M. J. Harvey, for the sum of $3,400. The cornerstone was laid on October 7, 1906, by Rev. Fr. Ryan. The church building is made of stone and the cost of building was $12,000.
The church was remodeled in May, 1929 and again in the late 1960's under the direction of Rev. Fr. Guy Golden.
There were 250 members when the church was first organized. The membership has continued to grow, with the present membership of 1050. The parish's first priest was Rev. Fr. John Gallagher and the present leader priest is Rev. Fr. Phillip Freeland. All of the priests who have served at St. Felix have been from the Capuchin Order.
In 1915, under Rev. Fr. Francis X. Vogel, St. Felix School was built. However, the school was not used until 1924 and remained in use until 1967. Sisters from the Franciscan Order served the school during its entire existance.
The school was razed in 1971 and the St. Felix Church Center was erected on its site.
Oldest Members: Nilo Golletti and Mike Mandarino.
Within a short time of the settling of Freedom 1832, a society of Methodists was formed by the Rev. John Robinson, consisting of eight members. They meet in their homes, and slowly added to the flock. With the increase in the congregation, they then met in the public school building which stood at the corner of Virtue and Betz Streets, now known as Fourth Street and Fifth Avenue.
In 1842 the first church building was started, where they met in the basement until it was completed. The site is where the present First United Methodist Church of Freedom is now located. The ground being donated by Stephen Phillips and Jonathan Betz, lies midway between the block of Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Fourth and Fifth Streets.
Dedicated by Rev. Peter M. MGowan on November 20, 1843, the new church was completed with the appointment of the trustees.
There were one hundred members, and three prayer meetings every week.
In building the church, there were subscriptions to the church in the amount of $1,125.00 and a debt of $125.00.
A Charter of Incorporation was granted the Methodist Episcopal Church of the Borough of Freedom on October 17, 1843.
During the pastorate of Rev. Wm. Medley the present brick church was erected. Construction was begun in September 1907 and opening and dedicatory services were held during the week of November 28 and December 4, 1908.
During the pastorate of Rev. Joseph Trunzo the sanctuary was remodeled in 1969. New furnishings were donated by members in memory of their loved ones.
With the uniting of the Methodist Churches and the Evangelical United Brethren Churches of the Western Pennsylvania Conference on October 11, 1969, it is now known as the First United Methodist Church of Freedom.
Rev. June Lingler is the present minister.
The First Presbyterian Church of Freedom was organized on May 9, 1843. In the beginning, the services were held in private homes, and later in a private school building. A lot large enough for a church building and a burial place was purchased by the Board of Trustees in 1842 for the sum of $50.00. Work on the brick structure began immediately and was completed early in 1843. The Liberty School (the Old High School) now occupies the site of this first church and the buried have been removed to the Oak Grove Cemetery.
In 1894, the congregation voted to build a new church. This was under the pastorate of Rev. R. L. Smith. The Board of Trustees then purchased a lot cornering Fourth Avenue and Sixth Street from Alexander Bannerott for $1,000. The new church was completed in 1895 at the cost of $8,000.
The first pastor was Rev. D. C. Reed (1847-1849) and the present pastor is Rev. Harvey 0. Johnson, who come to the parish in 1966.
The church has grown considerably during recent years with the following adding to its history: The Mohr Memorial Room, a nursery school, a Healing Mission, and a Clothes Cupboard for the needy.
The present membership is 270 communicant members.
Lutheranism came to Freedom early in the last century when Conrad Brandt, a Hessian immigrant, joined with thirteen other Lutheran families to establish a congregation which by their original charter adhered closely to the historic Augsburg Confession and Apology of the 16th century.
The congregation grew in numbers but within twenty-five years the conservative confessional character of the congregation became diluted. One indication of this was the addition of the term "reformed" to the original name of the group which became "the Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Congregation." Under the leadership of Rev. C. A. Frank twelve of the original charter members withdrew and left all real estate and other holdings and established a separate congregation based on the original charter with only the term "Reformed" removed. This new congregation was called Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and was officially constituted on October 24, 1869.
No history of Trinity Parish could be complete without the mention of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in New Sewickley Township with which they have had a close association for over a century. In the mid-1870's the two congregations joined in a dual parish relationship which means that the congregations are independent but work closely together. Numerous problems confronted the dual parish and the result was that the pastor remained with the Ohio Synod and the congregation in Freedom chose to go with the Missouri Synod. Pastoral care until 1897 was supplied by Lutheran parishes in the Pittsburgh area. From that year until the present time Trinity and St. Peter's, although independent, have shared a called pastor in the dual relationship.
The middle 1960's was a time of searching and questioning by the committed people of both Trinity and St. Peter's congregations. Having been served by the same pastors for many decades and after having their constitutions standardized to conform to the parent church, the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, the two congregations moved closer to the idea of merging and forming one larger congregation.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation did much to spur the idea of merger into reality by planning extensive road re-construction in the Freedom area along the Ohio River which forced Trinity congregation to give up their church facility and parsonage. After much delay, the merger of Trinity and St. Peter's congregations was formally ratified on April 4, 1973 and the two parishes became Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. These historic congregations now occupy four and a half acres on Rochester Road in New Sewickley Township. Out of two old churches is formed a new, young and vigorous congregation to serve the community and its spiritual needs.
The first pastor was Rev. C. A. Frank a--I the present pastor is Rev. Thomas Milke.
The First Baptist Church was organized in 1927 under Rev. Oursley. In 1938, under the leadership of Rev. Arthur L. Waldron, the parishioners purchased the lot and the building at 520 Third Avenue. It was renovated and made into a house of worship with the parsonage on the top floor. Rev. Waldron served faithfully and continued to help the church until the time of his death in 1963. He was succeeded by the following pastors: Rev. Arthur Stevens, Rev. Steven H. Wiley, Rev. George F. Mitchell. The present pastor is Rev. David E. Webb, Sr. He and his family are residents of West Bridgewater at present and will move to Freedom upon the completion of the remodeling of their home. Rev. Webb is married and the father of four children.
Due to the construction of the new highway, a new church was built in 1970 at 101 First Street, under the direction of Rev. Wiley.
OLDEST LIVING MEMBERS: Mrs. Allie Martin and Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson.
St. John's Lutheran Church had its organization a few years after the founding of Freedom. Among the workmen who first came to Freedom were a group of German boatbuilders who had a Lutheran background. These men were minstered to by Pastor Jacob Hoelsche.
In 1852, under Rev. H. C. Kaehler, a frame church building was erected. From 1870 to the present, St. John's has been served by pastors connected with the Pittsburgh Synod, which is now known as The Western Pennsylvania-West Virginia Synod. In 1907 English services were introduced and alternated weekly with German until 1912 when the services in German were abandoned.
A parsonage was erected in 1909 and the present church building was erected in 1914 at a cost of $15,263. A new parsonage built in 1971 is located on Harvey Drive in New Sewickley Township.
The congregation was incorporated and received its charter on June 3, 1909. With its new constitution, the auxiliaries of the congregation were organized as: The Lutheran Church Men, The Lutheran Church Women, and the Luther League.
The membership of the congregation is 361 baptized members and 193 communing members.
Present pastor is Rev. George Bones.
Formerly the Salem Evangelical United Brethern Church, it was founded over 133 years ago. The Freedom congregation was a part of the Rochester Mission Field until 1905 when the church became a seperate mission. In 1936, under the pastorate of Rev. James K. Hughes, the congregation became self-sustaining and attained the status of a full church.
The first church property, on the corner of Fourth avenue and Fifth Street, was purchased from the Freedom Borough School Board in November, 1856. A second building church, built on this sight in 1890, still stands. After renting a residence for the pastor's family for many years, in 1920, the congregation purchased the present parsonage at 362 Fifth Street.
The present church, at Third Avenue and Fifth Street, was built and dedicated in 1955, under the pastorate of Rev. Francis E. Stetler. The total cost was $54,000. The mortgage of $20,000 was paid within a few years by the generous contributions of the congregation.
The merger of the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist denominations was consummated in Johnstown on April 28, 1968, giving the church its present name.
The Freedom Church of the Nazarene was born out of a tent meeting held in June, 1942, being conducted by the Pittsburgh District Nazarenes under the auspices of the New Castle Zone. Rev. rloyd Wycoff, zone chairman was the preacher. At the close of this meeting, ten persons professed the desire to organize the Freedom Church of the Nazarene. Rev. Harold Mills was pastor and worshipping was done in a building on Third Avenue.
In May, 1944 the congregation purchased property on Fourth Avenue for use for the church and parsonage. Then in 1955, a church building located on the corner of Fifth Street and Fourth Avenue was purchased and renovated before moving into it.
The congregation purchased property located at 1475 Harvey Run Road. Ground was broken in 1972 and on October 7, 1973 the present church was dedicated. Rev. Arthur T. Roxby, Jr. is the present pastor, leading a membership of 29.
Out of the church has come three pastors: Rev. David Hamilton, deceased, Rev. Donald Holsinger, Archibald, Ohio, and Rev. B. Ward, New Galilee.
The Free Holiness Church of Deliverance of Freedom was founded by Pastor George and Pastoress Thelma Mitchell in 1974. The church has eight associated ministers along with the personal workers of Young Adults, youth missionaries. Brother Ronald Jarret is chairman of the Deacon's Board. Brother James Carter serves as chairman of the Trustees Board. The Sunday School for both young and old is growing spiritually under the direction of Superintendent Minister Frederick Knight. Pastoress Thelma Mitchell is the Minister of Music for our church choirs and ensemble.
The Holiness Church of Deliverence is independent, interdenominational and interracial. The services are to God, the individual, families and the community; they are held Sunday morning at 11:30 A.M., and 7:30 Sunday evening. On Wednesday at 7:30 in the evening are prayer services, and Bible study and Evangelistic Services are held on Friday evenings. The Prayer Band meets each Saturday at 9:00 A.M.
The Pastors and Congregation extend a warm
welcome to everyone to visit them in their services.