the history of bessemer presbyterian church

While the area of Bessemer was first settled by Scots-Irish immigrants in the early 1800's, the town itself was an unnamed rural crossroads until a century later. At that time, valuable limestone deposits were discovered on the farms in and around Bessemer. Soon, quarries opened to supply stone for the furnaces in Youngstown, the remnants of which are seen in the many lakes surrounding the town. To extract these minerals, immigrant laborers came from various parts Europe - Sweden, Austria, Finland, Croatia, and Italy - and the company established a settlement in the area. The company was established as the Bessemer Limestone Company, taking its name from Sir Henry Bessemer, the English inventor who invented the “Bessemer process” for using limestone in the melting process to make steel. This would lead to the area being called “Bessemer,” which would grew quickly and became a borough in 1913.

By the turn of the 20th century, there were several churches in the bustling community of Bessemer. At the time, though, not one of these churches offered worship services in the English language. In the spring of 1908, three men from New Wilmington -- George K. Fulkman, Sr., Howell T. Getty and T. S. McAnlis -- came to Bessemer and worked with some of these locals to organize an English-speaking Sunday school. They met in the one-room school house located where the Bessemer Fire Hall now stands. After disbanding for the winter months, classes resumed in the larger, four-room school house, in the summer of 1909. The Sunday school grew in membership over the next year and a half, until the need for a church building became evident.

In 1911, a committee from the Presbytery of Shenango was approached by these individuals to plant a church in Bessemer. Realizing the opportunity for ministry before them, the committee agreed, and on March 16, 1911, they met with the group at the Swedish (now First) Covenant Church, and organized a congregation of 28 members as the First Presbyterian Church of Bessemer: John Q. Adams, John B. Kerr, Daisy Kerr, Elmer B. Manewal, Kate Manewal, Lizzie Myers, Harriet Myers, P. W. Griffin, Frances Griffin, Joseph W. Mayne, Susan Mayne, Lottie Spangelhour Nord, A.M. Davidson, Mrs. A.M. Davidson, Wayne F. Davis, Roy Kerr, Reuben Lozier, Audle Johnson, Leo. Davidson, Wiley Stanley, Agens Stanley, William Glassel, Daisy Glassel, Oliver Kerr, Mrs. Esther Nord, Julia Davidson, J.M. Davidson and Mrs. J.M. Davidson. Four elders were elected to serve as the session: P. W. Griffin, J. W. Mayne, E. B. Manewal, J. Q. Adams. Additionally, they elected five trustees to oversee the finances and (eventually) the building: P.W. Griffin, E.B. Manewal, J. B. Kerr, W.F. Davis, and J.M. Davidson. The session's first task was to secure a supply pastor until a permanent installed pastor could be found. The Reverend G. W. McConnell, of the New Castle Fourth Presbyterian Church, was engaged as supply pastor. During this time, the Swedish Covenant Church offered the use of its building. But the Trustees set to work on planning for a building for the new congregation.

On April 14, 1911, the congregation voted to build a church building, utilizing the Savannah Methodist-Episcopal Church building in New Castle as a model. The site selected for the building was on North Main Street, on the edge of Bessemer, on land donated by the Limestone Company. The building was designed by Eckles architects of New Castle. It would feature a neat brick church with a bell tower and art glass windows. There would be a simple entryway with a coat room, which led to sanctuary (auditorium) that held rows of solid wood pews. The chancel at the front would feature a communion table at front, with a central wooden pulpit on a raised platform with brass railings and stairs from the left and right leading up to it. Behind this would have an apse added to the back that formed a half-octagon shape. There were to be two windows located on the left and right of this apse, and a choir would be located behind the pulpit. One interesting note is that the bell, which remains functional in the bell tower, was cast in 1832 by the J. Banks Company of Troy, NY. How it came to Bessemer is a mystery as the earliest Trustee minutes are missing; but it is a priceless part of our heritage and ministry to this day.

Ground was broken in early August, 1911, with much of the labor being done by the congregation and bricks being donated by the Bessemer Limestone Company, made of Bessemer-Youngstown brick. As the building neared completion, it was time for the congregation to call the first pastor; so on April 14, 1912, the Reverend Harry E. Woods, a Western Theological Seminary graduate, was selected as the first pastor of the Bessemer Church, and he assumed his duties in June . On June 30, 1912, a service of dedication was held for the new building, which was dedicated free of debt.

The Bessemer Church grew rapidly and solidified into a strong Christian presence in the Bessemer community. Many attribute this to the good work of their early pastors in leading the congregation. The Bessemer Church was the first call for Rev. Woods, and he came to this young congregation, helping it to organize and grow. He was ordained and installed on July 11, 1912 at the church by the Presbytery of Shenango. From that moment, he set to work. Within a year, he was instrumental in creating a Boy Scout Troop that met at the Bessemer Church for many years. He encouraged evangelistic services and evening prayer gatherings at homes. One of the elders (Elmer Manewal) and two other members (Wayne Davis and Ruben Lozier) were two of the founding members of the Bessemer Borough Council that same year. The women of the church also established a Women’s Missionary Society chapter in 1913, which was a forerunner to the Presbyterian Women’s organization of today. Several new Sunday school classes for adults were formed, as well as youth organization allied with the Christian Endeavor Society. He was also instrumental in raising funds to purchase the first organ for worship services in 1917. However, Rev. Woods left Bessemer in November of 1917 to take charge of the Wampum Church, followed by the First Presbyterian Church of Sharpsville, where he was a long-time and well-respected pastor.

Bessemer then called Rev. Leo L. Tait, originally of Mercer, PA, to pastor the congregation. He and his new wife were very active in the work of ministry in the community, including helping to found the FD Campbell Memorial Library in 1920. The church continued to grow steadily such that by 1921, 140 persons were in worship to receive communion, and by 1925, there were 266 members of the congregation… adding 238 people in just 14 years! The congregation also saw its first daughter go into ministry work, as Mrs. Clara (Hedberg) Buren was called to foreign mission work in Korea, where she met and served alongside her husband for 40 years.

In 1926, the church welcomed her third pastor, Rev. William J. Engle. The church purchased the former manse, two doors down. Sunday school and worship attendance continued, and the church persevered through the years of the depression. In 1938, the Bessemer Rotary was begun, and with the meetings taking place in the Fellowship Hall of the church, the Women’s Association began serving dinners to them as a way of raising money for their mission work.

Rev. Engle took a new call to the Enon Valley Presbyterian Church in 1939, and he was followed by Rev. Raymond Touvell. Although pastoring the congregation during the time of the Second World War, Rev. Touvell also brought a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to the congregation, and membership swelled to over 300 persons. There were a number of changes to modernize the church for the time and continue the growth of the congregation, even during this difficult time where two sons of the congregation, Jack Glassel and James Moses, died in military service overseas. Besides placing a bronze plaque in the church to memorialize them and all who served, the two flags which still stand in the front of the sanctuary, were donated in their honor.

Finally, Rev. Touvell was succeeded by Rev. Chester Crabb, who came in March of 1945. His pastorate saw continued growth into the post-war era, with every conceivable space in the church being used for Sunday school classes. Additionally, adult classes even met across the street in the former Bessemer High School to provide space for other classes in the church. By 1949, a sizable gift had been given to the church from the C.A. Stewart estate to establish a building fund so that the church could be expanded; additionally, a set of Maas chimes were installed behind the choir loft, and were amplified so that they could be heard playing on speakers installed on top of the bell tower.

Rev. Crabb helped the session to begin a capital campaign to raise money for a new educational wing of the church building. However, in the midst of the planning, Rev. Crabb received a call from the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Jamestown, NY, for which he departed on December 31, 1953.

Within a couple of months, the Reverend Hoover L. Picklesimer was installed as pastor on May 14, 1954. The year 1955 saw a number of major changes as the church was growing in ministry. To assist with the growing ministry of the congregation, a Board of Deacons were established in 1955, as well as a Christian Education board. I had not mentioned this yesterday, but from at least the early 1920’s (and possibly earlier) there was also a Board of Trustees which oversaw the property, building and finances of the congregation.

But the largest change came on January 11, 1955, when the congregation voted in favor of building the Christian Education wing of the church, complete with seven classrooms, a pastor’s study, choir room, and church office. Additionally, the chancel area would be expanded to provide a larger choir loft. At that time, the area immediately behind the front archway had a more triangular shaped feature known as an “apse” that was behind the pulpit. The choir was forced to cram in that area behind a central pulpit toward the front of the chancel. The front of the sanctuary would thus be expanded to the current rectangular shape, with a split chancel (pulpit to the left, lectern to the right) with a central communion table. The choir would be located in pews that faced toward the center. A dossal curtain would be hung to cover the Maas chimes, so that they could be played but would not form the focal point of the new space; rather, the small brass cross that adorns the back table of the sanctuary today would be purchased for this purpose. Additionally, four new pews for the choir, a new pulpit, table, lectern, and celebrants chairs would be purchased for the space.

The congregation managed to raise $35,000 of the over $80,000 it cost to build the education wing; the rest was paid with a loan, which the congregation managed to pay off quickly by 1961. To give some comparison, $80,000 in 1955 would equal nearly $785,000 today. The Eckles Firm of New Castle were the architects and Associated Contractors of Conneaut Lake were selected to build the building. While the construction was taking place, the congregation utilized the Bessemer High School auditorium for worship and Sunday school. The new building was finally dedicated on October 6, 1957.

Rev. Picklesimer had also established regular communicant classes again for youth and adults, as well as leadership training courses. The church was growing further, and by 1961, there were 210 members in the congregation. It was also during this time that Rev. Arthur (Sandy) Conner would be ordained to ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church. It would not be long after that a second son of the church, Rev. Bernard Nord, would also follow the Lord’s calling and be ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament.

In 1962, due to the merger of the United Presbyterian Church of North America and the Presbyterian Church in the USA, the church became known as the Bessemer United Presbyterian Church. Things looked quite wonderfully for the Bessemer Church; they were active in making disciples, involved heavily in the work of the local community and school. In fact, following the 1958 merger of local schools that eventually became known as Mohawk, the church even hosted High School classes in the new education wing until the present high school was completed in 1963.

In February 1966, a new organ was purchased for the congregation and the present spire was installed on the top of the bell tower. But by the fall of 1966, Rev. Picklesimer began having health issues, and requested a few weeks for sick leave in November. However, on October 29, he died unexpectedly at the manse. This was a very tragic day for the Bessemer Congregation, who mourned a great pastor and friend. However, the session met that same day with the help of Rev. John McClure of Westfield to appoint a pastor nominating committee, while comforting Mrs. Picklesimer and her children in their time of grief.

The bewildered congregation said goodbye to their beloved pastor of 12 years, and the pulpit was vacant for nine months. But the church continued on with her ministry, and called the Reverend James C. George, who was installed on October 15, 1967. During his brief pastorate, the Church involved itself in the Fifty Million Fund and surpassed its goal of $4,500. Yet, Rev. George felt led to resign as pastor on November 9, 1969. At that time, the Reverend Dr. David C. Osborn was installed as an interim pastor on October 11, 1970. This, too, was a short ministry as Dr. Osborn’s health deteriorated and on September 30, 1971, he not only resigned as interim but also retired from the active ministry.

A Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) was then established to locate a new pastor. This group would call a young man fresh from seminary to preach as a candidate on April 30, 1972. The vote was unanimous, and thus began the pastorate of Rev. Bruce G. Boak, who was installed on June 25, 1972. He was a young man whose enthusiasm and ability to relate to younger generations is still recalled by many long-time members of the congregation. Rev. Boak’s ministry also extended the outreach of the Church throughout the community. He served as Chaplain of the Youth Development Center and was on various civic boards and agencies.

In 1973, the session felt the time had come to update the sanctuary and add a new narthex (entrance) to the church building. Their first proposal, which would cost $62,560, was defeated by the congregation. In April of 1974, the session once again proposed the new entrance at the cost of $53,200. This too was defeated. After a bit more discussion and work, the session returned with another proposal, costing $61,675 for the construction and $11,490 for electrical work. This motion was accepted by the congregation on October 20, 1974, along with a proposal to add new carpet and new pews if the cost allowed so as to keep the whole project below $90,000. Again, for comparison, this would be roughly $480,000 today.

During the winter of 1974-1975, worship was held in the fellowship hall downstairs while remodeling continued upstairs and in front of the church. At that time, new pews, new carpet, new woodwork, and new lighting were installed in the sanctuary. One key addition to note is that the Maas chimes were removed from the front wall, and in its place came the large wooden cross that stands today. The design of the cross was chosen based on the then-current symbol of the United Presbyterian Church in the USA. The new narthex was also constructed, offering a larger greeting and reception area. The additions and renovations were completed in the summer of 1975, and the dedication service was held on September 7, 1975. Around this time, the membership of the congregation peaked at 373 persons.

In November of 1977, Rev. Boak announced his resignation as the pastor of the Bessemer Congregation to take a charge at the Central United Presbyterian Church in Downingtown, PA. He was released from the pastorate of the Bessemer Church on January 5, 1978.

Another Pastor Nominating Committee was soon-after established and charged with the task of finding another minister. From the recollection of church members, it was decided the church should seek another young man to fill the pulpit of the congregation. On June 25, 1978, the congregation called Rev. Dr. Donald Aull, a 24-year-old graduate of St. Joseph’s College and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, to serve as pastor. He was ordained at his home congregation in September, and then installed as the pastor of the Bessemer Church on October 1, 1978.

Rev. Aull would be the Bessemer Congregation’s longest serving minister, ministering nearly twenty years as the pastor. During Rev. Aull's pastorate, the Church celebrated many events, including 56 marriages, 80 baptisms and 93 funerals.

In 1979, the Bessemer Senior Citizens group was formed, meeting weekly at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church for many years. About this time, the congregation also began a long-standing tradition of making Apple Butter, which was sold to raise funds for the congregation. Also in that time, the congregation participated in the United Presbyterian Major Mission Fund Drive, pledging $6,890. It was also discovered that sufficient funds were in place to completely payoff the mortgage for renovations to the church building. On May 31, 1980 the $75,000 mortgage was then officially burned in a ceremony on the Church lawn. A fire was kindled for the “burning,” for which each person contributed a bundle of wood.

In 1983, the Evangelism committee of the session began a project to build a new church sign on the corner of our Roosevelt Ave. and N. Main Street. The sign was completed in June of that year. This was also the year the United Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.) reunited to become the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the congregation’s name was changed to be “Bessemer Presbyterian Church.”

Also during Rev. Aull’s pastorate, the “Tribes of Caring” were formed. This was a program which divided the church membership into small tribes with sessions members leading each tribe. Often, the tribes would meet in each other’s homes for meals and fellowship. The purpose was to build a greater sense of spiritual community through smaller, more intimate gatherings.

In 1984, a pre-school began in the church under the direction of Mrs. Anne Kephart, home-economics teacher Mohawk High School. This program would continue in the church well into the 1990s, although under different teachers.

In 1986, the Bessemer Presbyterian Church celebrated her 75th Anniversary. The momentous year kicked off with a celebration and dedication of a time-capsule on March 13, 1986. In June, a homecoming weekend was celebrated, including the return of several former pastors, as well as a special communion service to mark the event. Commemorative plates, photo directories, and church-shaped ornaments were created as mementoes.

That same year, a new hymnal, Hymns for the Family of God, was approved for use in the congregation, and copies were purchased for every pew. They replaced the former red Hymnbook published by the United Presbyterian Church in 1955.

The mid-1980‘s were a time of celebration for our congregation, but they also proved to be a difficult time for our church and community, as the economy of Western Pennsylvania began a great downward spiral. Around this time, the Bessemer Cement Company also fell into hard times, laying off a number of church members and community residents. Also, several steel mills and industrial plants in New Castle and the Beaver Valley closed their doors, leaving many area residents out of work. Soon, college and high school graduates were having a harder time finding work in the area and moved on to other places for better opportunities. This problem, coupled with the tremendous changes that were taking place in American society, would lead to devastating consequences for many area congregations, like our own.

In late 1986, session records indicate that membership had been declining since the late-1970’s, as it has been in many other mainline Protestant congregations since the early 1960‘s. Also, the church was having tremendous financial difficulties - several session meetings revealed that the general fund was empty, with the benevolence (mission) fund also containing a minuscule amount of funds. The elders and trustees alerted the congregation, and began a stewardship campaign, calling all members to support the work of Christ through the Bessemer Church. The members of the congregation dug deep to support the church, and overcame yet another hurdle in her life. By 1987, the general fund amounts had increased, and the benevolence giving totaled $7,700. Attendance on communion Sundays was around 100 persons. Fellowship activities, such as New Year’s Eve services with fellowship following at the manse, Easter egg hunts, strawberry socials, Halloween parties, church picnics, and Christmas programs flourished. An evangelism campaign was undertaken, and appeared to be particularly successful, and membership increased again to 289 persons.

Session minutes also reveal some rather interesting tidbits here and there. For one, there is mention of the congregation taking a stand against dog racing in the community, as well as against other forms of gambling. Also of interest is that in 1987, computer training was given to the pastor and the secretary so that they could make use of the latest technology in ministry. There were also mentions of the persistent leak in the bell-tower (which has only recently been resolved, we pray!), as well as creatures such as squirrels, bats, and other unnamed “rodents” taking up residency in our church from time to time.

In an effort to bring the building into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, in 1991 two ultra-glide chair lifts were purchased and installed for $10,904. But these are also difficult times for the congregation financially. The session minutes of this time then a great deal of concern about the future of the congregation. Membership also fell to 264 persons. Because of the decline of able members to serve in church offices, the congregation voted on July 26, 1992 to amend the bylaws and merge the board of trustees into the board of elders. The session would now include twelve elders, with 4 elders elected each year to serve a three-year term. The elders would also be trustees for the congregation.

Any recollection of history is replete with moments of good and bad. The history of this congregation is no different, just as the history of God’s people in Scripture unfolds in much the same way. Yet, the message remains the same: the Lord Jesus protects his holy Church and shepherds His holy people. Certainly, the Lord continued to uphold this small congregation through some very tense and uneasy moments during the mid- to late-1990s. The congregation was clearly struggling with finances, attendance and membership. By 1996, membership dropped below 200 for the first time in over seventy years. Nevertheless, the people of the church rallied and continued the ministry of the church.

In 1996, the former grand-piano in the sanctuary was no longer able to hold a tune. Through the efforts of the session and committee members, a Kurzweil electric piano was purchased for the congregation and dedicated in the summer of 1997. Also that year, the former partition behind the organ was removed and the pews for the choir loft were turned to face the congregation, with the hope of making the choir more audible to the congregation and creating more visible unity between the congregation and the choir. A gable roof was installed over the Christian education wing, and the interior ceilings were lowered and new lighting was installed. In October of that year, the Quilting Circle. was formed, meeting weekly to quilt and raise money for the congregation.

Rev. Aull announced in April of 1998 that he would resign as pastor of Bessemer Church to lead the former Second Presbyterian Church in New Castle. This would come just shy of his 20th anniversary, and the congregation was sad to see him and his family go.

After Rev. Dr. Aull’s departure in the spring of 1998, Rev. Dr. Ray Brugler was called an an interim pastor in August 1998. During this time, steps were taken to invite members of the community around the church to worship. Also, an agreement was made between the congregation and the borough that the church be given continued use of the parking lot across the street as long as the church would pay for improvements and paving, which were completed that year. Rev. Dr. Brugler chose at this time to fully retire from ministry, so the Rev. John Borter, former long-time pastor of Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church in Ellwood City, was called as the interim pastor. Rev. Borter is remembered for his sense of humor and his kind pastoral spirit. During his time, the Pastor Nominating Committee faced a difficult process in finding a new minister, as the congregation was growing increasingly older and smaller in size. This was and remains a common problem facing many Presbyterian congregations across the United States. The denomination itself has lost nearly two-million members since its peak in 1964. Because of this, it took time to find a minister willing to serve the congregation. Financial difficulties also crept up on the congregation, and with the rising costs to keep up a manse for a pastor, the former manse was sold in 2000.

After three years of searching, in June of 2001, the Rev. Robin P. Dill was called to the Bessemer Church. Rev. Dill worked hard with the congregation to reach out to the community. One such ministry was the community computer classes formed with the help of Larry Magnone. Youth work was also emphasized among the remaining youth of the congregation. On several occasions, members “canvased” the community by going through the streets of town inviting people to worship at the church. The Lord’s Supper was celebrated with more frequency during worship, moving from six times a year to monthly celebration, as has become the custom in many Presbyterian congregations. Rev. Dill also took the congregation into international waters as he welcomed foreign exchange students into his home during the years he served the Bessemer Church. The congregation became acquainted with Germany, Russia, and the Ukraine through Matthias, Tobias, Vlad, and Pasha.

Yet, despite the best efforts of the congregation, Bessemer Presbyterian Church once again found herself in a major dilemma. Attendance in worship had dropped to around thirty persons, and membership was hovering around 100. Many of the long-time leaders of the congregation had died, leaving only a few to carry on the ministry of the congregation. There was great concern that perhaps the time had come to dissolve the congregation or merge with another congregation. Although informal discussions took place, these conversations never went beyond that. There was desperate need for some renewal and even resurrection in the church.

With the help of the presbytery, the congregation determined that their next course of action would be to step down to a part-time pastor. Thus, in 2006, the congregation voted to make the pastoral position a part-time status. Consequently, Rev. Dill’s pastorate was terminated on December 24, 2006. This was perhaps the lowest point in the history of the congregation, a time filled with despair and concern for the future.

Had God indeed abandoned this congregation? Yet the faithful saints of the congregation banned together, worked with presbytery, prayed for an answer and waited. The presbytery and the congregation’s leaders became aware that there was a definite need for ministry in the Bessemer community which a strengthened and impassioned congregation could provide.

While there were a number of brain-storming sessions about how to make it happen, a few of the session members got an idea one Sunday morning in September 2006. Mr. Nathan Leslie was a twenty-one year old senior at Grove City College, who was preparing to head to Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in the fall and had already begun the process of ordination to the ministry of Word and Sacrament through the Shenango Presbytery. Nathan , who had been called upon as a substitute organist periodically since 2005 and had spoken once to the Presbyterian Women’s group, was asked to preach as pulpit supply that day.

These members of the session asked Nathan to pray with them before worship. When they were done, they asked him to consider accepting the position of Student Pastor of the Bessemer Church. After prayer and consideration, Nathan agreed to this if the way be clear with the presbytery, and also agreed to serve as temporary pulpit supply to the congregation from January through June of 2007. The session worked to convince the presbytery’s Committee of Ministry to allow them to call Nathan as their Student Pastor while in seminary. After much discussion and prayer, the session was given permission by the presbytery to call Nathan as a part-time supply pastor, with the understanding that another minister would be secured for moderating session meetings, for celebrating the sacraments and marriages, and to mentor and support Nathan so that his education and ordination would remain top priorities.

Thus, on July 1, 2007, Mr. Leslie began his tenure as Student Pastor. The relationship between the congregation and Nathan seemed to come naturally. In August, 2007, the session members met informally with Nathan to pray about and discuss the future of the congregation. That evening, members of the session came to believe that God was still about the purpose of using the congregation to serve the Bessemer community, and that the first calling was to reach out to the children who wait for the bus outside our church each morning. After all, they knew these kids because a few had broken the glass in the church sign, and when the trouble making led some to want the school to move the bus stop, others wanted to use the opportunity to build relationships with them instead of punishing them. The latter approach prevailed.

Thus, beginning on the first day of school in 2007, the church began opening its doors to almost 20 high school and elementary students while catching their buses in the early mornings for shelter and a light snack. This ministry, called the Bus Stop Ministry, strived to build relationships between the congregation and the youth of the community. What happened was truly amazing: these older adults built relationships with the youth of the community, and those relationships had very profound effects for good, even 14 years later. The ministry continued for about seven or eight years before the kids all grew up and the bus stop moved. Still this was the start of a beautiful new thing.

Pastor Nathan, with the help of then moderator Rev. David Lingle, helped to reorganize the session to make it more suitable for the size of the congregation. In January, 2008, the board of elders was officially reduced to six, matching the number of deacons in service. The goal was then to help session members whose terms had “frozen” because no replacement was found for them to finally rotate off the board of elders. Members of the session and the deacons increased their visitation of the sick and homebound, and worked to fill gaps in the leadership of the congregation.

In the fall of 2008, Rev. Bud Green, former pastor of Shenango Presbyterian Church, began his relationship with the congregation, being called upon to regularly attend worship for communion services and moderate meetings. Bud was then formally hired as the “Pastoral Assistant” to provide support to Pastor Nathan. Following Pastor Nathan’s ordination, Bud was hired as the “Parish Associate” in the fall of 2010. He served in this role until his death in 2016.

Worship in the congregation was modified some during this time to both honor the traditions of the congregation, as well as the traditions of the larger church, and the need for relevance to modern-day worshippers. The use of contemporary music along with traditional hymns, the use of a projector for the hymns, the liturgy, and visual aids during the sermon, and the use of ancient rituals within the traditional Presbyterian worship service have all come into play during this time.

The congregation also spent much time thinking about what it meant to be a “missional” congregation; that is, one sent out into the community and the world to share the message of Jesus Christ by being visible and making relationships with the people right around the church. Many of the members, including Pastor Nathan, became involved with events in the Bessemer community events, as well as other community functions. The church hosted Halloween parties following Trick-or-Treating, Community Movie Nights, Christmas plays, and a youth program called Builders Club for children. Sunday school, which had mostly disbanded, was resumed for adults in 2008, and youth by 2009. Adult Bible studies were formed in the fall of 2008. In November of 2009, the church began a youth group for teens in grades 6 through 12, and offered many opportunities for the youth to be involved in the life of the church. Also in 2009, Bessemer Presbyterian launched a website for the congregation at http://www.bessemerpresbyterian.org, as well as a page on the increasingly popular social network site, Facebook.

Yet, after three years of service, Pastor Nathan completed his seminary education in June, 2010. At this time, the church was again faced with a major decision: Should Nathan be asked to stay and thus return to having a full-time minister, or should the congregation seek another part-time minister? After several months of deliberation, prayer, attention to finances, and work with Nathan, it was agreed unanimously by the session to pursue calling Nathan as a "Designated Pastor," who would begin at 3/4 time and gradually work toward a full-time position over the course of three years. With great excitement, Nathan was officially and unanimously called by the congregation as their next pastor on June 13, 2010.

On July 11, 2010, Rev. Nathan R. Leslie was ordained and installed as the next pastor of the Bessemer Presbyterian Church in a very meaningful service of worship and celebration. It was a very warm night, and the church was packed with people; and yet it was a proud and joyous moment for the people of the Bessemer Church, one after many years of both trials and triumphs. Ironically, it was also ninety-eight years to the day that the church’s first pastor, Rev. Woods, was also ordained and installed within these walls.

Rev. Leslie understood his approach to ministry as leading the congregation to extend the ministry of the church beyond the walls, an approach that’s often been termed “missional ministry.” In order to support himself and expand that mission beyond the church, he took a part-time job with the FD Campbell Library in Bessemer, working as an assistant to the librarian and leading the children’s programming. He held that position until 2013.

In July of 2010, members of the congregation, along with others from the Mohawk community, embarked on a mission trip to Scott County, Tennessee with the Appalachia Service Project. The congregation and community raised nearly $7,000 to send these fourteen men and women to serve God’s people in one of the poorer parts of our nation. In 2011, they worked with the Pittsburgh Project in the city’s North Side.

In January 2011, the monthly Young Adult Bible Study began, bringing together the younger adults of the congregation for fellowship and study. Also, the Mission/Evangelism and Discipleship committees were officially gathered together and re-established for the work of further renewing and revitalizing the church. The Mission & Evangelism committee worked on outreach programs and making the church more welcoming for visitors, even taking welcome baskets to new members of the community, organizing annual community picnics, and bringing greater awareness to international mission support, particularly to South Sudan The Discipleship committee relaunched a new Christian Education program as a way of overhauling our former Sunday School program in the fall of 2011, which had been running rather successfully (until the pandemic, but it will of course resume).

On March 16, 2011, the congregation gathered to mark her 100th anniversary with a dinner and the opening of the time-capsule, which was sealed at the 75th anniversary in 1986. Vivian Cunningham, who was the oldest church member present, did the honors of opening the capsule. That summer, on July 28, the congregation had a service of worship and celebration for the 100th anniversary, where several past pastors, including Rev. Dr. Aull, Rev. Boak, and Rev. Brugler, returned to lead the service.

The congregation continued to grow and change. In 2012, Rev. Leslie joined efforts with two other area pastors to start a coffee house ministry in the former Bessemer Diner called Mohawk Coffee House, or “MoCo House” for short. A board made up of members from BPC from four other area churches worked to open that ministry in December 2014. The ministry continues in to this day. Not only was Rev. Leslie very involved with the space, but the church held many committee meetings, gatherings with mission speakers, and other events like Christmas Caroling in the space.

In 2014, the congregation launched a new youth ministry for the rapidly growing group of children in the church called “CLICK” (Christ Living in Christian Kids), which continued to host monthly youth meetings, as well as an annual Easter egg hunt and Trunk or Treat. CLICK eventually gave way to BYG (Bessemer Youth Group) in 2019.

Also in 2014, Rev. Leslie and his wife Mary Kay began fostering children, bringing an awareness to another area of ministry in the congregation. Over the five years they did this, they welcomed 10 placements into their home and the life of the church, including two boys whom they adopted as their own in 2017 and 2019. Congregation members were present for both adoptions.

In 2016, a few changes occurred in the building. A baby grand piano was donated/purchased for the sanctuary in memory of the previous owner’s wife, Sally Dankovich. It was dedicated in January 2017. Also that year, a new sound system was installed in the sanctuary; but the greatest project was a new roof, which was placed on the church for $54,000 raised entirely by the congregation.

Pastor Nathan also became very involved in local civic affairs, being appointed by borough council as chaplain to the police department; later, the fire department appointed him to be the same for them. He was later elected to serve as a member of borough council, and finally in 2021 was appointed to the office of mayor following a vacancy.

In 2018, several members of the session, along with others from the church, began a preschool ministry of the church called the Bessemer Presbyterian Preschool. Directed by Mrs. Mary Kay Leslie, with the assistance of Mrs. Lindsey Henry, the preschool program expanded from one 3/4 year old class and one 4/5 year old class to two 4/5 classes in 2020. Currently, there is enough enrollment that there will be two of each age classes starting in the fall of 2021, along with two assistants working five days a week.

Since around 2015, it had been noticed that a number of the benches on the pews were wearing out. They would sometimes crack very loudly on unsuspecting congregants, creating an uncomfortable situation. They were often repaired, but by 2019, it was evident this was no longer suitable. The cost of new pews was more than the church could bear, but a company with used pews was located. The church received a donation to purchase used, but new-to-us, pews for $11,000. At this time, others stepped in to donate for new carpeting (which had not been changed since 1975), repainting the sanctuary and narthex, and updated lighting. The congregation in total raised over $34,000 to make these necessary repairs to the congregation, which took place in the summer and fall of 2020. The remodeled sanctuary and narthex were re-dedicated to the glory of God on All Saints Day, November 1, 2020.

As it was for everyone, the year 2020 was one of great disruption for the congregation. The last in-person worship service before the Coronavirus pandemic was held on March 15, 2020. For the next two weeks, Rev. Leslie joined with Rev. Dr. Aull to produce online worship services for the Bessemer and Mt. Jackson congregations. Following this, Rev. Leslie, along with accompanist Mr. Nathan Parrott, pre-recorded services and streamed them to Facebook and YouTube so members could watch from home. The weekly bulletins were created, and mailed or emailed each week to members. The Deacons worked to keep in touch with everyone in the membership, and the church did as much ministry as possible remotely. The congregation returned to in-person/live streamed worship on Sunday, July 5, 2020 and maintained that hybrid status throughout the summer (even during the remodeling), fall and winter of 2020-2021. However, as vaccinations are becoming more commonplace among members, the weekly attendance has increased. Although it hasn’t exactly been an easy time, and much of the ministries of the church were put on hold, the church continued to maintain and even expand her ministries, and look forward to returning to some semblance of “normal” in the coming year.

Today, the Bessemer Presbyterian Church is the spiritual home to 93 members, with an average weekly attendance (pre-pandemic) around 50. With in-person and online participation, that number may have actually grown in the past year. The congregation is small, but remains mightily committed to the mission of Jesus Christ in the Bessemer-Mohawk community.