Community

Mingo church celebrates 150 years

MINGO JUNCTION -- The First United Presbyterian Church of Mingo Junction will celebrate its 150th anniversary, Sunday. The current church, located at 650 Mclister Ave., was formed when the Slovak Presbyterian Church and the Potter Memorial Presbyterian Church of Mingo Junction united on June 26, 1960.

The Potter Chapel of Mingo Junction had very humble beginnings, according to the Rev. Vaughn A. Foster Sr., who noted in 1873, it had 16 charter members. The church was built on land donated by early settlers, the Potter family. The building was dedicated Aug. 17, 1873.

Its first communion service was celebrated Sept. 21 of that year. The congregation's first pastor was the Rev. T.V. Milligan.

Foster explained membership was small. A total of 132 members attended but few came into the church prior to 1886. So in March of 1895, the Potter Memorial Chapel united with the Brilliant Presbyterian group. The Rev. William Houston served each congregation half of the time.

In 1901, the name of the church was changed to Potter Memorial Presbyterian Church and Houston became the full-time minister. Under his pastorate, membership greatly increased. In 1908, as members died or moved out of the area, membership decreased, Foster explained.

"It again became necessary to unite with Brilliant and share a part-time minister," he said. "The Rev. Orr served in this capacity from 1908-11. The Rev. W.G. Felmeth became pastor in 1912. Thanks to the Billy Sunday Evangelism Campaign, the church received many new members.

Felmeth became full-time pastor of Potter Memorial, a new manse was built on Murdock Avenue and the church calendar and envelope systems were adopted."

"Felmeth resigned and the Rev. O.S. McFarland was called in 1916," Foster said. "He served until 1918 and then the Rev. S.G. Dunning was called, serving until 1923. He was followed by the Rev. J.T. Alexander, under whose pastorate the church edifice was built and a complete basement with classrooms, a kitchen and new heating system was added. During the construction period, all classes and services were held in the Mingo High School auditorium."

In 1927, the Rev. H.A. Smith became pastor; the Rev. B. Frank White conducted revival services in the church in 1928; and in 1931, church enrollment was at 445, with 427 Sunday School students.

The Rev. H.L. Geddes was pastor from 1934-45. The Rev. Ralph Thompson served from 1946-50. The Rev. W.A. Martin served until 1956. The Rev. G. Robert Geyer led until 1961.

"The Slovak Presbyterian Church started between 1895 and 1900, when a number of Christian persons of the Calvinistic faith came to Mingo Junction and found employment," Foster stated. "They wanted to worship in the faith of their fathers. They first met together in the basement of the First Methodist Church, then were given permission to use the basement of the Potter Memorial Church in 1901," he said. "They worshiped in the basement until 1903 and called the Rev William Regnemer from the Redstone Presbytery of Pennsylvania to be their minister. He was their guiding light for 33 years."

The parish, led by Regnemer, bought the Risher homestead on Lincoln Avenue, which was used as church and manse combination. This congregation was chartered by Ohio as the First Slovak Church of Ohio. In 1910, a church building was erected. It served the congregation until Easter Sunday, 1960. At that time, it was razed for the purpose of building the new state Route 7.

Only four ministers had served this church: Regnemer, Rev. John Bartko, Rev. George P. Folta and the Rev. Andrew Slabey.

"The marriage of the Potter Memorial Presbyterian Church and the Slovak Presbyterian Church, under the leadership of Geyer, took place Sept. 11, 1960," Foster said. "The chosen name was the First United Presbyterian Church of Mingo Junction. Property was purchased on McLister Avenue and Legion Drive for the construction of a complete unit," he continued. "Geyer resigned in September, 1961 and the church was without a pastor until Feb. 1, 1962, when the Rev. Moss Rutan was called."

"Ground-breaking ceremonies were conducted on July 7, 1962, and the cornerstone was placed on April 5, 1963. On Oct. 27, 1963, the church dedicated the building to God and to the worship of him," Foster concluded.

Since 1970, the following ministers served the First United Presbyterian Church family: The Rev. Albert F. Kearney, George Van Leuven, Karl Ruthem, W. Wilson Brandburn, Robert B. Gustavson, Jeffery O. Sieman, the Rev. Michael E. Bongart, the Rev. Stan Fedyszyn, the Rev. Kenneth H. Sickle and Foster.