First United Methodist Church celebrates 100 years in McKeesport.
A CENTURY of Faith
First United Methodist Church celebrates 100 years in McKeesport.
BY NICOLE TAFE
Photo credit: Nancy Stotler, Administrative Assistant for Calvary-First UMC
For 100 years, the Gothic-style building at the corner of Cornell Street and Versailles Avenue has stood as a familiar landmark in McKeesport. But the history of First United Methodist Church of McKeesport stretches back much farther than the building itself.
The congregation was founded in 1841 as the Methodist Episcopal Church of McKeesport. After meeting in several temporary locations, the congregation constructed a colonial-style church at Walnut and Penny streets in 1876. Nearly five decades later, disaster struck when the building was destroyed by fire in 1924. Rather than let the loss bring the congregation to a halt, church leaders began searching for a new home. After months of looking, the congregation purchased property at Cornell Street and Versailles Avenue, and construction began in 1925.
The result was the stately Gothic-style church that remains today.
The new house of worship was officially dedicated in November 1926 and quickly became a prominent part of the
McKeesport community. This year, the congregation is celebrating the building’ s 100th anniversary with an opportunity for the public to step inside and learn more about its history.
Over the decades, First United Methodist Church became a place of worship for many of McKeesport’ s prominent residents. But its influence extended well beyond Sunday services.
During the Great Depression, the church faced significant financial challenges and needed to repay interest on its mortgage. Members responded by
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