Rehoboth Lutheran Church History
Sometime near the middle of the nineteenth century, the Rehoboth United Presbyterian Church was organized and a building was erected on the hill about three miles east of Remington, now known as Conway. This church was one of a charge consisting of the Remington United Presbyterian Church and the Oakland United Presbyterian Church in New Sewickley Township near Sunflower Corners. The Trustees named on the old deeds (John Cummins, William Dunlap and G. C. Minis) purchased several pieces of ground; one from Simon and Naomi Cottom, 53 perches for $1.00; one from William and Catherine Dunlap, 40 perches for $1.00 and one from Thomas and Mary Whipple, 90 perches for $40.00.
In the early 1870’s the congregation of this church, because of dissension, became inactive and the church building was used as a sheep shelter. In 1875 this property was purchased by Dr. William A. Passavant and Dr. George Y. Boal from the Sessions of the Oakland and Remington United Presbyterian Churches and was held in trust for a Lutheran congregation. Kind and willing hands thoroughly cleaned the old structure. In 1876 a congregation was organized and a Sunday School of 80 students began. For a number of years previous to this time, Dr. Passavant served as a missionary among the hills and valleys of Beaver County. In connection with his work at Rochester, he began preaching in a car shop. He visited the village of Baden on Sunday afternoons where he preached, at first in a schoolhouse and afterwards built a neat frame church. After Dr. Passavant gathered a sizable congregation and built a church in Rochester, he resigned that congregation and devoted his Sundays to Baden and the surrounding region. Congregations and churches were established at Logstown, Rehoboth and Crows Run.
Dr. Passavant's life covers a most important period of American Lutheran Church history. It was a formative period and the threw his heart and soul into the life and development of that part of his church which God, in His Providence, had planted first on our shores.
Dr. Passavant was born on October 9, 1821. His mother’s name was Zelie, daughter of the founder of the city of Zelienople. He was a rare man, being the founder of 34 charitable and educational institutions including the Zelienople Children’s Home, Rochester Epileptic Home, Thiel College, Chicago Seminary and other hospitals and orphanages. He also introduced the deaconess work into America. With all this, he was unassuming, plain and modest. A lawyer expressed in London, England, “why his face is a benediction.” Altogether, he was a great gift from God to the world and a most signal blessing to our church. He passed away June 7, 1894 and was buried near Zelienople.
Dr. Passavant’s duties were taken over by his son, William Alfred Passavant, Jr., who served the church from 1879 to 1885. Tradition has it that in the absence of the Passavant’s, Mr. A. F. Forsyth or Dr. Boal would conduct the services. The old church looked so beautiful at Christmas time with rope festoons of evergreens hanging from the large beams and evergreen stars between the windows and a very large decorated tree. Folks spent three days decorating for this special occasion.
In the early 1870’s the congregation of this church, because of dissension, became inactive and the church building was used as a sheep shelter. In 1875 this property was purchased by Dr. William A. Passavant and Dr. George Y. Boal from the Sessions of the Oakland and Remington United Presbyterian Churches and was held in trust for a Lutheran congregation. Kind and willing hands thoroughly cleaned the old structure. In 1876 a congregation was organized and a Sunday School of 80 students began. For a number of years previous to this time, Dr. Passavant served as a missionary among the hills and valleys of Beaver County. In connection with his work at Rochester, he began preaching in a car shop. He visited the village of Baden on Sunday afternoons where he preached, at first in a schoolhouse and afterwards built a neat frame church. After Dr. Passavant gathered a sizable congregation and built a church in Rochester, he resigned that congregation and devoted his Sundays to Baden and the surrounding region. Congregations and churches were established at Logstown, Rehoboth and Crows Run.
Dr. Passavant's life covers a most important period of American Lutheran Church history. It was a formative period and the threw his heart and soul into the life and development of that part of his church which God, in His Providence, had planted first on our shores.
Dr. Passavant was born on October 9, 1821. His mother’s name was Zelie, daughter of the founder of the city of Zelienople. He was a rare man, being the founder of 34 charitable and educational institutions including the Zelienople Children’s Home, Rochester Epileptic Home, Thiel College, Chicago Seminary and other hospitals and orphanages. He also introduced the deaconess work into America. With all this, he was unassuming, plain and modest. A lawyer expressed in London, England, “why his face is a benediction.” Altogether, he was a great gift from God to the world and a most signal blessing to our church. He passed away June 7, 1894 and was buried near Zelienople.
Dr. Passavant’s duties were taken over by his son, William Alfred Passavant, Jr., who served the church from 1879 to 1885. Tradition has it that in the absence of the Passavant’s, Mr. A. F. Forsyth or Dr. Boal would conduct the services. The old church looked so beautiful at Christmas time with rope festoons of evergreens hanging from the large beams and evergreen stars between the windows and a very large decorated tree. Folks spent three days decorating for this special occasion.
