Christian History of Erie, Pennsylvania
- James Collazo
- May 28, 2023
- 14 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Introduction
Today, every neighborhood in Erie, Pennsylvania, boasts at least one church building. But in 1795, when the city first arose from the wilderness, Christians were scarce. John Colby (1771–1851), a Baptist missionary from New Hampshire, sounded the alarm in 1810. This article traces the history of Protestantism in Erie. As Colby pressed from Ohio toward the Lake Erie frontier, he recorded the stark reality he encountered:
I was advised not to go to this place, as there is no religious society in the town [of Erie]—a noted place for wickedness. By some, by way of comparison, it was called Sodom. They likewise told me that the people there would not hear me, and I was credibly informed that the people had previously fallen into a frenzy, burnt the Bible, and sprinkled the ashes with whiskey! I, however, made an appointment, and the people had reasonable notice. At the hour the meeting began, I walked through the main street, nearly half a mile, with my hat off, singing the judgment hymn, hoping to excite their attention. I then went to the place appointed, and after waiting an hour and a half, I began service. My audience consisted of three men, three women, and four children. A few more also came in before I finished. The Lord have mercy on the people of Erie if there is any mercy for them.
An influential Quaker, William Penn (1611–1718), founded the colony of Pennsylvania in 1682 as a haven for religious freedom and democracy. However, his borders did not touch Presque Isle or the Erie region. In 1792, the United States sold the 300-square-mile Erie Triangle to Pennsylvania, opening a vital freshwater port on Lake Erie. Yet when Erie emerged in 1795, nearly two decades after the Declaration of Independence, Penn's vision of liberty and faith had little sway. John Colby saw the city's unbelief and the corruption of Scripture. He thundered against it, calling Erie "Sodom," echoing the judgment of God on lawless, sinful cities (Gen. 19). Colby preached in Erie three years before the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813—a flashpoint of the War of 1812—declaring the urgent need for repentance and faith.
A Most Extensive Work of Grace
Erie's heart toward Christ shifted as waves of new settlers arrived, many from the devout New England states. The wealthiest among them raised the first churches in the freshly opened lands of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Northeastern Ohio. In those early days, the original Erie County Courthouse, built in 1808 near West Perry Square, became a sanctuary, hosting worship for Episcopalians and Presbyterians alike. The city's first Christians gathered in a brick courthouse because no churches were yet built. Across Western Pennsylvania, a revival of faith ignited. Johnston Eaton (1776–1847), a Presbyterian minister in Franklin, observed:
From 1781 to 1787, a most extensive work of grace was experienced in the churches of Cross Creek, Upper Buffalo, Chartiers, Pigeon Creek, Bethel, Lebanon, Ten Mile, Cross Roads, and Millcreek, during which more than a thousand persons were brought into the kingdom of Christ. . . . From 1795 to 1799, another series of gracious visitations were enjoyed by the churches generally throughout Western Pennsylvania, extending to the new settlements north of Pittsburgh.
In 1802, the Presbyterian minister Elisha McCurdy (1763–1845) sparked a revival that swept through Western Pennsylvania, beginning at his former Three Springs Church. This movement surged across the United States, inspiring Sunday schools, missions campaigns, prayer meetings, the temperance movement, and the fight to abolish slavery. By 1808, God's "most extensive work of grace" had reached Erie, awakening hearts and transforming the city.
The Second Great Awakening (1795–1835) fueled a resurgence of Christianity across Western Pennsylvania, spreading from Western New York's "burned-over district," named for its fiery Pentecostal enthusiasm. Methodist and Baptist congregations expanded rapidly, and Erie followed suit. In 1797, Methodist settlers arrived in Erie County and founded the borough of Wesleyville in honor of John Wesley (1703–1791), the founder of Methodism. Wesleyville Methodist Episcopal Church began in 1810 and rebuilt its structures in 1828 and 1927. This parish—now Wesley United Methodist Church—served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, sheltering formerly enslaved African Americans in its rafters on their journey to freedom in Canada. Wesleyville was incorporated officially in 1912. Today, a shopping center occupies the original site at 3306 Buffalo Road, while the borough's founders rest in the old Wesleyville Cemetery behind it.
In 1826, Episcopal liturgies began at the Erie County Courthouse, drawing Presbyterians to change their membership and bringing new converts by word of mouth. In Harborcreek Township, local Methodists organized the Old Erie Circuit of the Baltimore Conference in 1827, now South Harborcreek United Methodist Church. In 1834, the Protestant Episcopal Church established St. Paul's parish on Myrtle Street between West 7th and 8th Streets, complete with a brick church and graveyard. Its current Gothic structure, built in 1866 for $60,000 (roughly $1 million today), still stands. In 1915, St. Paul's became Pennsylvania's first Protestant Episcopal cathedral.
Don't Give Up the Ship
Today, the Erie Maritime Museum preserves the Brig Niagara, the flagship on which United States Navy commander Oliver Hazard Perry (1785–1834) defeated the Royal Navy. Perry's influence still shapes Erie—from Perry Square downtown to the Perry Monument at Presque Isle State Park, and along Perry Highway, which parallels PA-97 and US-19. Yet few recognize Perry's faith. He joined Trinity Church in Newport, Rhode Island, was baptized at age nine, and confirmed immediately by the first Episcopal bishop in the United States, Samuel Seabury (1729–1796). Perry looked to the parson Theodore Dehon (1776–1817) as a model, emulating his sense of duty, decorum, tradition, and commanding presence. Today, Perry's motto, "Don't Give Up the Ship," inspires Erieites to stand firm in the face of hardship. Likewise, Jesus said, "You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary" (Rev. 2:3). Keeping with the maritime theme, the Bible reminds us, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Heb. 6:19). Don't Give Up the Fellowship (Heb. 10:25).
New Jerusalem
In 1827, Christian abolitionist William Himrod (1791–1873) founded a neighborhood called "New Jerusalem" for African Americans who had escaped slavery in the South, as well as local poor white laborers. Its boundaries ran from the Bayfront to the north, 6th Street to the south, Cherry Street to the west, and Sassafras Street to the east. Locals also called it "New Jerusalem," noting the ravine that made it difficult to reach from other parts of the city, much as heaven is said to be difficult to access. The name evoked the new Jerusalem described in Revelation, especially as testified by the apostle John:
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' [cf. Isa. 25:8] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Rev. 21:3–4).
Himrod sought to wipe away the tears of oppressed African Americans. In 1824, he opened the French Street School for Colored Children in Erie. This school later became the Himrod Mission and a station on the Underground Railroad. By 1836, Himrod joined the Erie County Anti-Slavery Society. He also founded Erie's first ironworks and helped incorporate Erie Cemetery. For twenty years, Himrod lived at the corner of French and 2nd Streets, teaching African-American children from his home.
The black community in New Jerusalem carried forward Himrod's legacy for the next century. The Lawrence family rose to prominence: Earl Lawrence became the first black musician to perform with the Erie Philharmonic and mentored the composer Harry T. Burleigh. In contrast, his daughter Ada became one of the first black teachers in Erie Public Schools. For more on New Jerusalem, see Journey from Jerusalem: An Illustrated Introduction to Erie's African-American History, 1795–1995 (Erie County Historical Society, 1996) by Sarah S. Thompson.
In November 2023, the Harry T. Burleigh Society, Our West Bayfront, and several other Erie nonprofits installed a historical marker at the corner of Sassafras and West 5th Streets to honor the New Jerusalem neighborhood. The marker reads:
Erie's first African-American neighborhood, this nearly 30-block area located north of West 6th Street and west of Sassafras Street offered lots for early residents, welcomed freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad, housed important small businesses, and provided a home field for the Pontiacs baseball team.
What Death More Glorious!
St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Waterford, the oldest house of worship in Erie County, has held regular services since 1827, its exterior nearly unchanged save for a white tower. In 1833, Edward Buchanan (1811–1895), brother of future president James Buchanan, served as rector, guiding the congregation in faith. Strong Vincent (1837–1863), baptized there in 1835, carried this spiritual foundation with him before his family moved to Erie in 1843; a Bible given by his mother now rests in the church archives. Vincent pursued Trinity College and Harvard, yet he answered a higher call, joining the Union army in the Civil War. At Gettysburg, he commanded 1,300 infantrymen at Little Round Top, declaring, "What death more glorious can any man desire than to die on the soil of old Pennsylvania fighting for that flag!" Though struck by mortal wounds, he faced death with unwavering courage, departing seven days later in a nearby farmhouse while praying the Lord's Prayer, sealing his faith in sacrifice and glory.
Coming for to Carry Me Home
The African-American composer Harry T. Burleigh (1866–1949) sang in the choir at St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church before performing at other local churches, until he left Erie for New York in 1892. The grandson of a formerly enslaved person, he became renowned for his classical adaptations of African-American spirituals, especially "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," whose refrain—"coming for to carry me home"—resonates with enduring hope. He collaborated with Czech composer Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904), bringing these spirituals into the classical repertoire. Today, Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School, dedicated May 4, 1980, on East 11th Street, bears his name. In 1894, Burleigh became a soloist at St. George's Episcopal Church in New York, with the deciding vote cast by financier J. P. Morgan (1837–1913). In 1994, Burleigh was "reinterred with an appropriate ceremony in the Erie Cemetery."
Christian Demographics of Erie
Erie County hosts roughly 227 Protestant congregations, with 142 holding theologically conservative views and 105 taking a more liberal stance. In 2020, 104,751 residents—about 39 percent of the county's 270,876 population—identified as religious. Mainline Protestants accounted for around 24,481 people, Evangelical Protestants 27,608, and Black Protestants 2,652, bringing the total number of Protestants in the county to approximately 48,694. These figures reflect the enduring presence and diversity of Protestant faith across Erie ("ARDA, 2020").
Christian Education in the Tri-State Area
The 2025 list of "Top 10 Best Erie County Private Schools" features several Christian academies, including Bethel Christian School (1781 W 38th St), Corry Alliance Academy (721 Hatch St, Corry), Erie First Christian Academy (8150 Oliver Rd), Leadership Christian Academy (5900 Sterrettania Rd, Fairview), Luther Memorial Academy (220 W 11th St), Open Door Christian Academy (11238 Route 8, Wattsburg), and Triumphant Life Christian Academy (5651 Perry Hwy). On August 29, 2023, Erie Preparatory Academy opened on the Erie Sports Center campus (8161 Oliver Rd). This private Christian school maintains an affiliation with Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy, located in West Mifflin, near Pittsburgh.
Grace Leadership Institute (701 Holland St), a ministry of Grace Church in McKean, trains and equips Christian leaders across Northwestern Pennsylvania. The institute occupies the former Swedish Baptist Church, built in 1906. Before Grace Leadership Institute moved in, Lake Erie Ballet used the building. Erie Insurance Company gifted the property to Grace Church in 2019 after two years of renovations. Jeff Brinling, a senior executive at Erie Insurance Company, said, "Grace Ministries has brought this building back to life and will be putting it to great use as the Grace Leadership Institute."
The Association of Theological Schools, based in Pittsburgh, oversees accredited seminaries in the United States and Canada. In the Erie tri-state area, these Christian seminaries and liberal arts schools provide rigorous theological education and ministry training:
Pennsylvania
BLI School of Ministry—Kairos University (United Methodist Church) in Freeport
Geneva College (Reformed Presbyterian Church) in Beaver Falls
Grove City College (Nondenominational) in Grove City
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (Presbyterian Church USA) in Pittsburgh
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Reformed Presbyterian) in Pittsburgh
Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry (Anglican Church in North America) in Ambridge
Ohio
Allegheny Wesleyan College (Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection) in Salem
Ashland Theological Seminary (Brethren Church) in Ashland
Malone University (Evangelical Friends Church) in Canton
New York
Houghton University (Wesleyan Church USA) in Houghton
Erie's Christian Businesses
The Erie Christian Business Leaders Association (ECBLA) began in 2014 through a coalition of over 100 local churches and small businesses, organized by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for the Rock the Lakes concert at Erie Insurance Arena on September 27–28, 2014, which drew about 14,000 attendees. ECBLA unites Christian business owners and managers to meet regularly with community leaders to pray for societal reformation. They host a prayer breakfast each month at the Eden Center (2910 Sterrettania Rd).
In the Erie–Meadville area, three Christian organizations operate with distinct missions. Erie City Mission (1017 French St), founded in 1911, declares it is "rooted in Jesus Christ. We go the second mile. We lay down our stones. In the city, for the city. We run to win the prize," with a vision of "cultivating a community of new life; breaking the cycle of hopelessness; building the kingdom of God!" The Bethany Outreach Center (254 E 10th St) operates as a Christian nonprofit, serving the community through a food pantry, clothing closet, free fitness sessions, and a Saturday story reading program.
Loyal Christian Benefits Association (LCBA), a life insurance company "with a conscience," directs its profits to philanthropic work rather than capitalistic gain. Founded in 1890 as the Ladies Catholic Benevolent Association in Titusville, it rebranded in 1969 as Loyal Christian Benefits Association, keeping the LCBA initials while opening membership to all who believe in Jesus. Today, it serves over 33,000 Christians across thirty-five states and the District of Columbia and has operated from its current location at 8811 Peach St since 2012.
Christian Faith Publishing, an independent publisher in Meadville, operates under the motto, "Telling HIS Stories." Their mission is "to discover and publish Christian authors who desire to make the greatest impact possible through the written word." The company maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, reflecting its commitment to integrity and customer satisfaction, and operates from its location at 832 Park Avenue.
Christian Camps in Northwestern Pennsylvania
Northwestern Pennsylvania hosts a total of eight Christian summer camps:
Erie County
Camp Judson (American Baptist Churches) in North Springfield
WLD Ranch (Federated Church of East Springfield) in Girard
Crawford County
Mystic Mountain Training Center (Nondenominational) in Cambridge Springs
Warren County
Miracle Mountain Ranch Missions (Nondenominational) in Spring Creek Township
Wesley Woods Christian Camp (United Methodist Church) in Grand Valley
Venango County
Seneca Hills Bible Camp & Retreat Center (Nondenominational) in Polk
Whitehall Camp & Conference Center (Church of God Ministries) in Emlenton
Lawrence County
Pine Valley Camp (Nondenominational) in Ellwood City
Christian Music in the Tri-State Area
Christian music plays a central role in the cultural and spiritual life of Erie through both radio and live performances. WCTL (106.3 FM) in Waterford has been a key presence since 1967, broadcasting contemporary Christian programming—worship music, teaching, and community news—to listeners across the region, and its growing signal continues to strengthen Christian radio’s local influence. The Dove FM network (88.5 Warren, 90.5 Olean, 98.7 Jamestown, 89.1 Tidioute, 92.1 Buffalo) also serves Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York with contemporary Christian music and Bible teaching programs. Together, WCTL and Dove FM enrich the region’s faith-based airwaves.
Artists from the area have helped shape this movement. In 2002, brothers Anthony and Randy Armstrong formed RED ("Redemption") in Linesville and launched a hard rock project that quickly gained national attention. In 2014, RED energized thousands at Rock the Lakes Erie, a festival organized by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. That same event also featured Lacey Sturm, the original voice of Flyleaf, who later pursued a solo career. After moving to Pittsburgh with her husband, guitarist Joshua Sturm, she remains influential through her vocal intensity and Christian testimony. Local artists also contribute to this growth: The Band 814 in Erie released its debut work in 2023, StillWaiting from Corry joined the Extreme Tour in 2024, and David Kambowa introduced African Gospel to a wider audience at the Erie Blues & Jazz Festival in 2020.
Christian musicians from the region continue to shape the scene in meaningful ways. Shadow of the Statue from Meadville released a full-length album in 2019, offering songs that speak honestly about sorrow and hope. Uncut Stones, based in Buffalo, travels throughout the tri-state area and blends rock energy with worship. Pennsylvania also produces nationally recognized artists, including ApologetiX from Pittsburgh, known for turning mainstream hits into biblical parodies, and The Letter Black from Uniontown, a significant name in hard rock. Churches across Erie provide essential spaces for artists to grow—Trinity Lutheran Church through its weekly Holy Grounds Coffeehaus and Adventure Church through The Well, which brings together performers from many genres. Erie also launched its own annual Christian music festival, Sonsets Free, in 2024; its second festival took place on September 6, 2025, at Wayne Park Baptist Church and featured The Band 814, Ashes to Crowns, Saved by Grace, the LifeThruMusic worship band, and rapper JK.A ("Jesus Knocking? Answer).
Prayer
Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of heaven and earth. Look with favor on the city of Erie and the Northwestern Pennsylvania region. Anchor us in hope and save us from storms. Grant our leaders wisdom and guide us in justice and peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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