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First United Methodist Church of McKeesport
McKeesport
PA
15132
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Who we are
We welcome you to the McKEESPORT AREA SHARED Ministry
We are a culturally, economically, and socially diverse community of faith. We are located about 13 miles east of the City of Pittsburgh, in the Mon-Valley.
What We Believe
We are Wesleyan in spirit and practice, which is to say that we lean on God’s grace. We value all people and believe that we all have been created in the image of God. All are welcomed and are invited to join with us as we nurture one another, outreach to the community, and to bear witness to the goodness of God as we live out our faith.
We are a culturally, economically, and socially diverse community of faith. We are located about 13 miles east of the City of Pittsburgh, in the Mon-Valley.
What We Believe
We are Wesleyan in spirit and practice, which is to say that we lean on God’s grace. We value all people and believe that we all have been created in the image of God. All are welcomed and are invited to join with us as we nurture one another, outreach to the community, and to bear witness to the goodness of God as we live out our faith.
Street Address
1406 Cornell Street
McKeesport,
PA
15132
United States
Phone: (412) 664-9349
Download First United Methodist Church of McKeesport vCard with Service Times
Church Pastor
Rev William Bright Meekins Jr
Pastor
1406 Cornell Street
McKeesport,
PA
15132
United States
Phone: (412) 664-9349
Download Pastor Rev William Bright Meekins Jr vCard with Bio
Quote of the Day
Jeremiah 29:13
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Denomination
United Methodist Church
United Methodist Churches in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, United States
United Methodist Churches in Pennsylvania, United States
United Methodist Churches in United States
All churches in McKeesport, PA
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Social Media
First United Methodist Church of McKeesport McKeesport on YouTube
Leadership
Leader Name:
Rev William Bright Meekins Jr
Leader Position:
Pastor
Formal Title:
Leader Address:
Tel:
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Leader Email:
Leader Bio:
Passionate about mission work and ministry to those in need, he has traveled extensively to learn, grow and share God’s love. He served eight years as pastor of the multi-ethnic Garden City UMC in Monroeville.
Pastor Meekins also served as a full-time chaplain for the Veterans’ Administration health care system for nearly 10 years, and earlier served at Calvary and Buena Vista UMCs on Pittsburgh’s North Side.
In Western PA, he is part of the Conference Connectional Network and previously chaired the Board of Ordained Ministry. He has been a leader in the Commission on Religion and Race and worked with the Ethnic Local Church Concerns committee.
The son of a pastor, he has always been involved in the church. But growing up in urban areas around Pittsburgh, he rejected people’s suggestions that he too would become a pastor.
“I thought I would never do that,” he explained. “They work long hours and at times, when they stand for justice, they stand alone. It was dangerous. I saw that as a PK.”
It wasn’t until he was working on a paper about the role of the church in the U.S. political system and read Jerry Falwell’s book Listen, America that he sought God’s direction for his life and received a distinct call to ministry.
Pastor Meekins also served as a full-time chaplain for the Veterans’ Administration health care system for nearly 10 years, and earlier served at Calvary and Buena Vista UMCs on Pittsburgh’s North Side.
In Western PA, he is part of the Conference Connectional Network and previously chaired the Board of Ordained Ministry. He has been a leader in the Commission on Religion and Race and worked with the Ethnic Local Church Concerns committee.
The son of a pastor, he has always been involved in the church. But growing up in urban areas around Pittsburgh, he rejected people’s suggestions that he too would become a pastor.
“I thought I would never do that,” he explained. “They work long hours and at times, when they stand for justice, they stand alone. It was dangerous. I saw that as a PK.”
It wasn’t until he was working on a paper about the role of the church in the U.S. political system and read Jerry Falwell’s book Listen, America that he sought God’s direction for his life and received a distinct call to ministry.
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First United Methodist Church of McKeesport Leadership Photos
Administration
Admin Name:
Nancy Stotler
Admin Position:
Administrative Assistant
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Mailing Address
Driving Directions to First United Methodist Church of McKeesport
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First United Methodist Church of McKeesport McKeesport Service Times
Sunday at 9:00 AM Traditional Worship
Service Times last updated on the 20th of January, 2024
Service Times last updated on the 20th of January, 2024
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First United Methodist Church of McKeesport Photo Gallery
First United Methodist Church of McKeesport History
Calvary-First Campus
History of Calvary
In 1920 Bishop W. F. McDowell called Reverend Dr. C. Y. Trigg, pastor of Warren Church in Pittsburgh; Reverend J. E. Dotson, pastor of John Wesley Church in Washington, PA. and Dr. W. A. C. Hughes, Secretary of the Bureau of Negro work to meet him in Pittsburgh to devise plans for the better spiritual nurture of Negro Methodists moving to Allegheny County.
A new Pittsburgh District of the Washington District was created with Dr. C. Y. Trigg as Superintendent. Dr. Trigg located a group of Methodists without spiritual care in McKeesport and on December 2, 1920 organized seventeen persons into the Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church. The meeting was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Salley at 1807 River Street.
The newly organized group secured the use of the basement of the Pentecostal Church at Locust Street where they worshipped during the winter. During 1921 the group raised $2,000, which, together with a donation of $4,500 from the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension, was used to purchase a church building at 822 Jenny Lind Street on November 4, 1921. This building was condemned in October 1968 and in the summer of 1969 the congregation moved into the former Ballentyne building.
At the dissolving of the Washington Conference of the Central Jurisdiction in 1964 this congregation and pastor became members of the Western Pennsylvania Conference. Transferred from Pittsburgh East District in 2004. February 2021 Calvary merged with First United Methodist Church of McKeesport.
History of First
A Class was organized by Reverend Jacob Keiss Miller on the Braddock field Mission Circuit in 1832. In 1840 Ephraim Shannon and John Walker held prayer meetings and a class of twelve members were related to the Miller Circuit. First building was erected at Market and Fifth Avenue in Greensburg District 400 1843. In 1846 a larger two-story brick structure was erected on the same site.
McKeesport first appears in the lists of appointments in 1847. A larger building was constructed in 1876 at the corner of Walnut and Penney Street. Reverend William Brown Watkins was the pastor. In the early morning of July 11, 1924 this high steepled church burned down. Congregation worship in First Baptist Church and then the YMCA. On July 28, 1924 approval was given to purchase the YMCA athletic field and to build a new structure. The corner stone was laid October 4, 1925. This stone, gothic structure was opened for services September 12, 1926 and dedicated November 21, 1926.
Reverend Lemon Dorsey Spaugy was pastor at the time. During the depression years heavy indebtedness placed extra burdens on the people. Dr. Thomas R. Courtice served ably as the pastor and leader from 1931-1940. Under the long effective pastorate of Reverend Dr. Joseph Dushane Piper from 1940-1959 the mortgage was paid, and the membership reached in the year of 1958 a total of 1872. In 1950 bus transportation to and from the Green Valley area won some 65 families. They in turn desired to establish their own Church. On May 24, 1964, a charter was granted to the Green Valley Methodist (Community) Church with 125 members transferring from First Church. A similar release of First Church members was made to Central Highland Methodist Church and also to the Coulter Methodist Church within recent years. When the Coursin Street Church of McKeesport faced redevelopment, plans projected by the city of McKeesport, the building was sold, and the congregation carried on its work for six months in First Church.
It finally voted to merge with Ballantyne Church, McKeesport in December 1965. When the building of Calvary Church, McKeesport was condemned in June 1967 the congregation carried on its work in First Church through August 1968. Renovation of the Chapel of the church took place in 1965. First Church has been host several times to the meeting of the Pittsburgh Annual Conference. McKeesport: First became a two-point Charge with McKeesport: Kephart in 2003.
History of Calvary
In 1920 Bishop W. F. McDowell called Reverend Dr. C. Y. Trigg, pastor of Warren Church in Pittsburgh; Reverend J. E. Dotson, pastor of John Wesley Church in Washington, PA. and Dr. W. A. C. Hughes, Secretary of the Bureau of Negro work to meet him in Pittsburgh to devise plans for the better spiritual nurture of Negro Methodists moving to Allegheny County.
A new Pittsburgh District of the Washington District was created with Dr. C. Y. Trigg as Superintendent. Dr. Trigg located a group of Methodists without spiritual care in McKeesport and on December 2, 1920 organized seventeen persons into the Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church. The meeting was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Salley at 1807 River Street.
The newly organized group secured the use of the basement of the Pentecostal Church at Locust Street where they worshipped during the winter. During 1921 the group raised $2,000, which, together with a donation of $4,500 from the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension, was used to purchase a church building at 822 Jenny Lind Street on November 4, 1921. This building was condemned in October 1968 and in the summer of 1969 the congregation moved into the former Ballentyne building.
At the dissolving of the Washington Conference of the Central Jurisdiction in 1964 this congregation and pastor became members of the Western Pennsylvania Conference. Transferred from Pittsburgh East District in 2004. February 2021 Calvary merged with First United Methodist Church of McKeesport.
History of First
A Class was organized by Reverend Jacob Keiss Miller on the Braddock field Mission Circuit in 1832. In 1840 Ephraim Shannon and John Walker held prayer meetings and a class of twelve members were related to the Miller Circuit. First building was erected at Market and Fifth Avenue in Greensburg District 400 1843. In 1846 a larger two-story brick structure was erected on the same site.
McKeesport first appears in the lists of appointments in 1847. A larger building was constructed in 1876 at the corner of Walnut and Penney Street. Reverend William Brown Watkins was the pastor. In the early morning of July 11, 1924 this high steepled church burned down. Congregation worship in First Baptist Church and then the YMCA. On July 28, 1924 approval was given to purchase the YMCA athletic field and to build a new structure. The corner stone was laid October 4, 1925. This stone, gothic structure was opened for services September 12, 1926 and dedicated November 21, 1926.
Reverend Lemon Dorsey Spaugy was pastor at the time. During the depression years heavy indebtedness placed extra burdens on the people. Dr. Thomas R. Courtice served ably as the pastor and leader from 1931-1940. Under the long effective pastorate of Reverend Dr. Joseph Dushane Piper from 1940-1959 the mortgage was paid, and the membership reached in the year of 1958 a total of 1872. In 1950 bus transportation to and from the Green Valley area won some 65 families. They in turn desired to establish their own Church. On May 24, 1964, a charter was granted to the Green Valley Methodist (Community) Church with 125 members transferring from First Church. A similar release of First Church members was made to Central Highland Methodist Church and also to the Coulter Methodist Church within recent years. When the Coursin Street Church of McKeesport faced redevelopment, plans projected by the city of McKeesport, the building was sold, and the congregation carried on its work for six months in First Church.
It finally voted to merge with Ballantyne Church, McKeesport in December 1965. When the building of Calvary Church, McKeesport was condemned in June 1967 the congregation carried on its work in First Church through August 1968. Renovation of the Chapel of the church took place in 1965. First Church has been host several times to the meeting of the Pittsburgh Annual Conference. McKeesport: First became a two-point Charge with McKeesport: Kephart in 2003.
First United Methodist Church of McKeesport Historical Photos
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