Church of the Covenant is a Presbyterian Church located in Washington, Pennsylvania. It operates under the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. denomination under the Synod of the Trinity and the Presbytery of Washington. The church has historically maintained a strong relationship with the neighboring Washington & Jefferson College. The church was founded through the 1960 merger of the Second Presbyterian Church, which was itself a daughter work of the First Presbyterian Church 1793, and the Third Presbyterian Church.
| Church of the Covenant | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Presbyterian |
| Year consecrated | circa 1929[1] |
| Status | active |
| Location | |
| Location | Washington, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic Revival architecture |
| Materials | stone |
Congregational history
editSecond Presbyterian Church
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On March 12, 1861, the Presbytery of Washington organized the Second Presbyterian Church because the First Presbyterian Church of Washington had outgrown its facilities.[2] The split, which saw 36 members leave the First Presbyterian Church to join the Second, was reportedly "attended with expressions of the best Christian feeling" between the congregations.[1] Because of the American Civil War, the two congregations continued to worship together until 1864.[1] The Second Presbyterian Church leased a church building from a Methodist Protestant building on Beau Street.[2] In 1870, George P. Hays became "stated supply", while also serving as President of the neighboring Washington & Jefferson College.[1] He focused on preaching and left the administration of the church in the capable hands of the members.[1] Hays served until 1881, when he moved to take a pastorate in Colorado.[1]
The congregation stayed in that building for 14 years before beginning a construction project in 1884, with a fund of $25,000.[1] The new building at 65 East Beau Street was dedicated on March 6, 1887, with Hays returning to give the sermon.[1] The building featured a Johnson Pipe Organ and a 450-seat auditorium with a groined ceiling and bowled floor and an adjacent lecture room.[1]
The church outgrew that building by 1929 and constructed a new Gothic Revival style building on East Beau Street, the building that now houses the Church of the Covenant.[2]
Judge John Addison McIvaine was a prominent church member.[1] The church was home to three important revivals in its history.[1]
The church had a historically strong tie with the college, as a number of its men attended Wednesday evening prayer meetings and 75 to 100 attending Sunday service.[1] Many of these students eventually joined the ministry or became missionaries.[1]
Third Presbyterian Church and merger
editOn March 24, 1891, the Presbytery of Washington organized the Third Presbyterian Church, composed of members of the First and Second Presbyterian Church.[2] The new church constructed a facility on Jefferson Avenue.[2] In 1959, the Third Presbyterian Church's efforts to construct a new building were frustrated, which necessitated its merger with the Second Presbyterian Church.[2] A merger of the two church was agreed to by both congregations and the Church of the Covenant was formally established on September 11, 1960.[2]
See also
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References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Snowden, James H. (1889). "Washington, Second". History of the Presbytery of Washington: including a brief account of the planting of the Presbyterian church in Western Pennsylvania and parts adjacent, with sketches of pioneer ministers and ruling elders; also sketches of later ministers and ruling elders. J.B. Rodgers. pp. 367–373.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The heritage of The Church of the Covenant". Official Website. The Church of the Covenant. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2012-02-05.
Bibliography
edit- The Church of the Covenant, 1960: The Second Presbyterian Church, 1861-1961; The Third Presbyterian Church,1891-1961. The Church of the Covenant. 1961.
- Hays, George Price (1876). History of the Second Presbyterian Church, Washington, Penn'a. Swan & Ecker. p. 22.