Celebration of 175th year at Slippery Rock church includes descendants of founders
SLIPPERY ROCK — When Highland Presbyterian Church was formed, Slippery Rock was not yet the name of the town that hosted it.
Fast forward to 2023, and the congregation is celebrating its 175th anniversary celebration.
The church, now on Franklin Street in the borough, was formed on Sept. 18, 1848 by the Rev. William Findley as the Centreville Congregation of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. The new church had 13 members.
According to historical records compiled on the occasion of the church’s 150th birthday, John Hays, John Balph and Phillip Kiester signed a trust for three lots in Centreville, which was the former name of Slippery Rock.
A small church was built by local carpenters, but when membership swelled to 135 in 1882, church elders decided to build a larger church at its current location at Franklin and Highland streets.
The name was later changed to Highland Presbyterian Church.
Bill Martin, 90, is the oldest attending member at Highland. He was baptized there as an infant and became an official member at age 11.
He said he and his wife, Shirley, are among the six generations of their families to belong to the church.
“We stayed because we love it,” Bill said.
He recalls the sizable addition being completed on the rear of the church in 1949, and treasures a picture of his grandfather on the street with the Highland Presbyterian Church steeple in the background.
Bill was Master of Ceremonies at the 150th anniversary celebration in 1998.
Shirley came to Highland when she married her sweetheart in 1955, and joined as Mrs. Martin in 1956.
She said she and Bill have served as elders, sung in the choir, taught Sunday school, and served in any capacity in which they were needed as members of Highland.
“I’m a current deacon,” Shirley said.
The couple laments that few young families with children attend as they have in decades past, which they partially blame on the coronavirus pandemic.
Bob Steele’s family has attended Highland for seven generations, starting with his great-great grandfather, P.W. Steele.
“He gave $100 a year to the church, and that was in the 1800s,” Steele said.
He and his wife, Mary Sue, who joined the church after marrying in 1966, also regret that more people don’t attend the church these days.
“On Christmas and Easter, we had to add chairs because the sanctuary was full,” Bob said.
Bob was installed as an elder at age 23, which makes him the youngest elder in the history of the church.
He also was responsible in years past for opening exercises at the Highland House, which was a building next door used for Sunday school, youth parties and other activities for kids.
The building was torn down some years ago, Bob said.
The Rev. Jeffrey Curtis spent 4 years as pastor at Highland before taking leave to care for his wife. He returned as pastor upon the death of his wife in May.
“The people here are extremely welcoming,” Curtis said of Highland’s members.
He said such impressive milestones as a 175th anniversary are not uncommon in the Presbyterian Church, which tends to keep members for many generations.
“I came from a church where we celebrated a 250th anniversary,” Curtis said.
Curtis, who is the church’s 28th pastor, said a celebration was held Sunday, Sept. 10, that was attended by local officials and United Presbyterian hierarchy.
Marcia Connell, church secretary at Highland, said historical photos of the church and its activities have been posted on Facebook along with photos of members from years past asking for identifications of those appearing in the pictures.
“That has generated a lot of interest in the anniversary,” Connell said.
She said Highland’s caring congregation is special, as everyone jumps in when a member has a need or prayer request.
“It’s a family here,” Connell said. “Everyone cares for one another. We are a very giving group of people.”
