FAITH COMMUNITY COVENANT CHURCH A look back

Dozens of parishioners attended a special worship service and luncheon Sunday to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the church on Youngstown’s South Side, which resulted from the merger of Pilgrim Collegiate Church and Bethlehem United Church of Christ. A brief history of Faith Community Covenant:

1817: A log chapel was built on property now known as Lake Park Cemetery off East Midlothian Boulevard. In 1845, a frame chapel was constructed in the same area.

1856: Pilgrim Collegiate began as the First Reformed Church on Front Street in downtown Youngstown.

1887: A new church building was dedicated on a piece of property on Wood Street.

1910: Land at Wick and Lincoln avenues was bought with the intent to build a larger church, though because of delays caused by World War I, ground was not broken for another 11 years.

1925: The current church at East Midlothian Boulevard and Sheridan Road was erected.

1999: Pilgrim Collegiate and Bethlehem United voted to consolidate, resulting in Faith Community Church in 2000.

2006: The congregation voted to become a nondenominational church.

Source: Faith Community Covenant Church