Museum Hours:
Saturday and Sunday 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Special tours can be arranged by calling:

George Rutherford at 814.382.7761

 Conneaut Lake has numerous churches of all denominations – Lutheran, United Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and independent – High Street Community and Victory Fellowship – and Mennonite (on the east side).

Presbyterian Church of Conneaut Lake

The presence of a small group of Presbyterians meeting for worship in what now is known as Conneaut Lake has been traced back to 1799. Two young missionary preachers, the Rev. Elisha McCurdy and the Rev. Joseph Stockton reported back to their Presbyterier on their survey of northwestern Pennsylvania that they had preached to a congregation in Conneaut Outlet, the name of the community before it was Evansburg.

Later, a small log cabin church was built by John McClure and his neighbors on land donated by Abner Evans behind Memorial Park on what is now Church Alley. This was the first church building to be erected in Crawford County. In 1801, the Rev. Stockton returned to dedicate the church and continue as its supply pastor. The log church was called “The Meeting House” and was shared with other denominations. These congregations were served by supply ministers, traveling from settlement to settlement, serving several churches via horseback for many years. Their tenure was often brief, as the life was difficult.

In 1832, a new Presbyterian Church was erected on the corner of Fifth Street and Strawberry Alley, on land donated by Adam Stewart. This new building was similar in style to other churches of that era, with a balcony on three sides and the pulpit facing west. The church was topped by an impressive octagonal steeple with a glided weather vane shaped like a fish.

Following a period of decline after 1862, the church was pretty much deserted and the building was unceremoniously used as a sheepfold for a time. It was reorganized in the early 1870s by Rev. William McMichael, who had been converted to Christ in the original log building.

The building was repaired and a tower with a bell replaced the deteriorated steeple. In 1881, a second floor replaced the balconies to provide classrooms for a new secondary school organized by Mrs. Anderson, wife of Rev. Thomas Anderson. The new school, called The Academy, became the predecessor of Conneaut Lake High School. The church building then became commonly referred to as “The Academy” and became a center for community activity where plays and meetings were held as well as basketball game son the second floor.

Of note was the complaints occasionally lodged by ministers that Saturday night games cause loose ceiling plaster to fall during Sunday morning worship.

The land on which Memorial Park is located once belonged to the Presbyterian Church, having been “sold” to trustees for $1.

In 1866, the land was dedicated as a Civil War Monument erect. It wasn’t until Memorial Day 1913 that the churched deeded memorial park to Conneaut Lake Borough for $1 with the stipulation that the cannon and cannon balls never be removed, that it was to be preserved as a public park and preserved as a memorial to Civil War veterans. And, that its appearance remain “pleasing.” If this conditions are not met, and after a year’s allowance, the church has the right to reclaim the park, even today.

In 1915, one year after the arrival of Rev. John Cleveland as pastor, the present day yellow-brick sanctuary was dedicated. Since then the church has been served by several pastors, including the beloved George Rutherford, who has the distinction of serving the longest, from 1934 to 1966.
In recent years, two major additions were made to the church building. In 1980, a west wing with classrooms and a fellowship was built. In 1999, to celebrate the church’s bicentennial, a new northwest addition of a vestibule with elevette, office space, and classrooms was dedicated.
Over the years, the name of the church has changed. In looking at old records, it has been referred to by several names, such as First Presbyterian Church, Conneaut Lake; Conneaut Lake Presbyterian Church; and Fifth Street Prebyterian Church.

The official incorporated name is The Presbyterian Church of Conneaut Lake. The church voted to revert back to its original name in 2008 and is in the process of publicizing it as such.

High Street Community Church

Meeting in the parlor of a member’s home in 1880, Rev. Daniel McClean was the first minister. During the last 208 years, the church name changed several times and three different buildings have been used for worship and service.

It was first known as Seceders (associate Presbyterian) and met in the meeting house on the common in Evansburg. In 1826, a frame log church was built by the congregation in the southwest corner of Lakeview Cemetery.

That building was in use until a piece of land was purchased at the corner of Fourth and High streets in the borough.

In 1858, it became part of the United Presbyterian Church and was known as High Street Presbyterian Church. It remained so until 1980, when with the help of pastor Rev. Charles Waugaman, it became a community church.

With continued growth and new ministries, it was found necessary to build a larger facility several miles south of town. The first service was held there Nov. 25, 2007.

The 144-year-old building on High Street continues to be maintained along with the new sanctuary for service to God and the community in the areas of Bible Study, Men’s and Women’s ministries, youth and children’s ministries, missions, a quilter’s ministry, youth band and several choirs and evangelical outreach.

The present minister is Rev. John Frey.

Sunday school meets at 8:30 a.m. and church service at 10 a.m.

Trinity United Methodist Church

Land was purchased for $90 on what is now North Third Street on March 4, 1836, for the construction of a Methodist church.

The Methodist people had previously met in the loft over Vroom’s Wagon Factory.

The church was completed around 1839.

About 1839-40, a “Great Revival” as held with more than 100 conversions at one time. A new church was considered in 1897 and completed in 1902.

More land was purchased in 1954 for an educational wing, a parking lot and for future expansion. Construction began and was consecrated in 1958.

Plans were laid for a new sanctuary to be erected and a consecration service held in 1978. A sound system was put in place and a church has since been upgraded and now has multi-media capability.

In 2002, an elevator was installed and housed an addition to allow handicapped accessibility to all floors of the church. Other remodeling included a youth room.

Present pastor is Rev. William “Skip” Green with Pastor Dave Brumagin as associate and Mariah Shannon as youth pastor.

Church services are a blended service at 8:15 a.m. and a more traditional service at 11 a.m. Sunday school is at 9:45. Youth programs are held Wednesday nights, but also additional activities are scheduled continually.

To reach their website, click here.

Our Lady Queen of the Americas Roman Catholic Church

Catholic masses had been celebrated in the area since the late 1800s, in private homes, the auditorium at Exposition Park (now Conneaut Lake Park), the community building at Conneaut Lake, Dreamland Ballroom at Conneaut Lake Park and in the ballroom of Hotel Conneaut at Conneaut Lake Park.

However, on Sunday, Sept. 26, 1954, ground was officially broken for the present-day church building and added complexes. Masses then were celebrated in the basement of the structure from 1955 until 1957.

In 1956, the name Our Lady Queen of the Americas was given to the church. It was a mission of St. Peter’s in Conneautville and had originally been called Our Lady of the Lake. In May of 1958, the church community was raised to the status of an independent parish by Pope Pius XII and the present church was dedicated in 1959.

There have been five pastors who have served the parish: Msgr. Robert Toland, Fr. John Murray, Msgr. Edward Zeitler, Msgr. John Lucas and the present pastor, Fr. Stephen Anderson.

To reach their website, click here.

Sunnyside Mennonite

Mission churches for the Mennonites were established by early settlers in the Meadville area.  In 1935, those doing missionary work in the Meadville area felt there was a need for more workers. Nelson King wrote a letter to the Gospel Herald. In the letter, he told of the economic opportunities in the farming community.

Ira Miller of Manson, Iowa, became one of the first to become interest. This became the movement of Mennonites into this area.

The Ohio Mission Board came over and helped the Sunnyside Congregation.

The building was started in 1938 and dedicated Sept. 17, 1944. At the services, S. E. Allgyer, Stanford Mumau and D. D. Miller were here with Brother Allgyer preaching at the first service.

The church is located on the east side of Conneaut Lake.

Lake Lutheran Church

Interest in a Lutheran ministry in the Conneaut Lake area developed in 1970. After numerous meetings with the Lutheran Synod and a survey of the area, a public meeting was held in 1973 at the community hall.

A decision was made to form Lake Lutheran Chapel, which would be under the umbrella of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Meadville.

The first service was held Nov. 25, 1973, in the dining room of Fassett’s Restaurant.

The chapel soon outgrew that space and the High Street Community Church offered to share its space. That arrangement continued until March of 1975 when the congregation moved to the vacated building formerly used by the Conneaut Lake School Administration at 195 North Third Street.

In April of 1980, the current facility was purchased from the Fifth Street Presbyterian Church.
Sunday services are at 9 a.m. and Bible Study is Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Victory Family Worship Center

Victory Family Worship Center, on the east side of Conneaut Lake, began in January of 1988 and was co-founded by the current pastors, Bruce and Aricka Ladebu.

The first meeting was at the YMCA of Meadville. The church later moved to the former Church of God building on Upper North Main Street in Meadville.

In 2000, the church acquired property on Route 18, on the east side of Conneaut Lake, where it is located today.

The property was originally farmland, but then became the popular Boonsboro Campground and then purchased by Conneaut Bay Resorts before being acquired by Victory Family Worship Center.

The vision of the church is summed up by “Loving God, loving people, living free.” It is a non-denominational, multi-ethnic, Spirit-filled fellowship. It is a family-oriented ministry, committed to seeing families strengthened and prosperous in every area. It has ministries for all ages and needs.

To reach their website, click here.