The churches and cemeteries of Saint Clair Area

CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES

December 17, 2000 - Tour of Churches

Before the churches were built people worshiped in homes and then a building at the Saint Clair Borough Cemetery.

The first church to build in the borough was the Primitive Methodist Church. It is located on North Mill Street. Not only is this church the first in Saint Clair, but it is the oldest Primitive Methodist Church in America with a continuous history.

First Primitive Methodist Church as it stood in 1981 at the time of its 150th year Anniversary.

It looks very much the same today and the name has changed to the First Primitive Methodist Church.

North Mill Street

The is the only church in Saint Clair with a full-time minister.

Primitive Methodism was begun in America in 1829 by missionaries sent from England. A layman, Edmund Heapes, of Patterson, New Jersey, visited the area and is give credit for beginning the work in Saint Clair. Meetings were held in private homes until the fall of 1831 when the group secured the use of the school house located in the Saint Clair Borough Cemetery. This was the first organized Primitive Methodist Church in Schuylkill County, and the very first church in Saint Clair. Not only is it the oldest church in Saint Clair, but it is the only church that can boast having one of the founders of its denominational life among its former ministry.

Hugh Borne, founder of Primitive Methodism, visited America around the year 1845 and ministered from the pulpit in Saint Clair for quite a time. The first church building was planned for and erected in 1847.

(See Tour of Churches for detailed history)

Welsh Baptist Church, organized in 1862, was on South Front Street. This building was dedicated on December 31, 1871. An out-growth of the Welsh Baptist was the Sunday School of that met at the St . Clair Baptist Church. (now Bethlehem Baptist Church) which is located on the corner of Front and Carroll Streets. During the 1930's this Welsh church became the Baptist's social hall.

The Holy Apostle's Episcopal Church as the corner of Nicholas and Hancock Streets was dedicated in 1847 and Reverend D. Washburn was the first pastor.

This is a current picture of the church

Holy Apostle's Episcopal Church

1927 - Dec. 19-Rev. H. G. Mershon of St. Clair, and Rev. Allen H. Tongue of Frackville, were ordained as deacons of the Episcopal Church at the Holy Apostle's Church, St. Clair.

The Saint Clair-Wade Methodist Church (formerly the Methodist Episcopal Church) located on North Front Street was organized in 1848 by Rev. J. D. Bowen.

This is a current picture of the church

First United Methodist Church

(Photo by John Zamecnik)

Saint John's Reformed Was organized by Reverend Gautenbein in 1853.	Original Church

	- now the The United Church of Christ on South Front Street, formally Saint John's Reformed and Evangelical Congregation.
United Church of Christ

St. Boniface German Catholic Church on Lawton and Nicholas Streets was built in 1853 with Reverend Wincellaus Joames Repis as pastor.

Established by the German Catholics

This is a current picture of the church

St. Boniface German Catholic Church

ALTAR AT CHRISTMAS

Click for larger view

ALTAR AT EASTER

St. Boniface School which closed in June 1954, operated since 1855, the last school building was constructed in 18 93. Today the building has been remodeled and made into apartments by Ed Quirin.

	Saint Mary's Russian Orthodox Church, Lawton and Nicholas streets, was built in 1907. The first clergyman being Rev. Michael Fekula
Saint Mary's Orthodox Church	http://www.oca.org/OCA/pim/oca-ep-stcbvm.html

St. John's Slovak Lutheran Church on North Nicholas street was organized in 1907 by Rev. Sanjek. North Nicholas Street. This church was the former St. John's German Reformed & Lutheran church.
	St. John's Slovak Lutheran Church