Oldest Known Church - Shenandoah, PA photo - Dave Perez photos at pbase.com

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28-JUN-2008	Dave Perez

Shenandoah's oldest known church was built around 1880

More information to follow as I research it's historic origin.

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Bob Thompson		14-Oct-2024 00:21
Would anyone know where the "Evangelical Church" and parsonage were located in 1891? I'm researching a family and this is where one couple was listed as having their marriage take place. St. John's Evangelical Church at 115 W. Cherry St. has a cornerstone that reads "1917", so this may or may not be the same congregation.

Bob Thompson		14-Oct-2024 00:19
Does anyone know where the "Evangelical Church" and parsonage were located in 1891. I'm researching a family and learned via a newspaper clipping that this was the location for their marriage? On Google Maps I found St. John Lutheran Church, located at 115 West Cherry Street. However, the cornerstone say "1917", so this might not be the same congregation.

Lou Ann Pleva		15-Feb-2023 22:16
Patrick O'Neill, thank you so much for that information. I remember that church. It was on the corner of Columbus and West Sts. I played in the ruins when I was a very small child. I found your comment as I was searching for info on behalf of a scholar who is writing a history of Rev. Barbara Slavinski. Please contact me.

Father Steve Tyminski		13-Jan-2017 10:41
I was ordained an American Orthodox Catholic priest here on August 18, 1990 at what was then our St. Jude the Apostle AOCC Pro-Cathedral. Before that it was the Our Lady of Mercy Syrian Catholic Church. The late Metropolitan Archbishop Paul Aftimios I (Mario G. Vieites) reposed ten days after ordaining me there. I served as the pastor there before the Archdiocese of PA, NJ & NY suppressed (closed) that AOCC parish shortly after due to a lack of support. – Mitered Archpriest Anthony Augustine (Rt. Rev. Stephen Tyminski), Chancellor

Patrick O'Neill		28-Aug-2015 17:23
unfortunately, the last time I passed by the site of Our Lady of Mercy, it was just a hole in the ground. I don't know when it was torn down. It had been deserted for years and I'm sure was NOT salvageable. It's a shame to see how the beautiful churches of Shenandoah have all but disappeared. Holy Ghost Russian Orthodox church was demolished years ago. ST Stanislaus, St Stephen, are closed, St George was torn down. (possible unnecessarily), Holy Ghost Polish National is closed. All the churches were combined into a new parish at the former Annunciation church, (The FIFTH church of that parish), which is a practical modern structure. St Casimir is still there but I don't know for how long, given the economic situation in Shenandoah and the declining population. It's a shame to see so many beautiful churches closed or demolished, even if it couldn't be helped.

Guest		30-Apr-2014 17:39
That minister from the oldest church. I THINK her name was Savitsty, but I'm not sure. Two priests who served for many years at the Syrian church above were Father Sayeed and Father Karim, (again, I'm not sure of the spellings , but the history of this and other churches in Shenandoah would be in the Shenandoah centennial book. I think the Shenandoah library would probably have a copy. Good luck with your research. Patrick O'Neill

Patrick O'Neill		25-Apr-2014 17:25
This was the former Our Lady of Mercy Syrian Catholic church. No , it is NOT the oldest church in Shenandoah. The oldest church was the Welsh Congregational church which was on West street up from the side of St Stanislaus, ( on the other side) It was torn down years ago. From the story I heard, the one pastor, Rev Barbara ? (can't remember last name), Her father was an orthodox priest who once was the personal chaplain of the grand duke Constantine, brother of Tsar Alexander II of Russia. This is in the Centennial book on Shenandoah, published in 1965 or thereabouts. The oldest CATHOLIC parish in Shenandoah is the Annunciation, although it's not the original building. I believe the oldest church BUILDING in Shenandoah is the Bapitst church on Chestnut(?) st.

Fr.John Tokarick,		30-Jan-2013 03:22
if you research,I think you will find this to be "Melkite",Greek Catholic

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