This information was taken from a book called the "Church Messenger" It was given to Rev. Marlin Collingwood by Frank Shutt on April 30, 1957 in memory of John E. Shellhammer. Additions have been made to update the history as it becomes available:
Realizing that many members and friends of the Vandergrift and North Apollo congregations of the First Church of God may be interested in the background of the work here. We have sought to bring in this booklet a short, concise narrative of events which formed the beginning of these congregations. Since there are very few written records available, much of the material has been garnered from the oldest folks who have labored with those responsible for this work. Mrs. Maggie M. Shellhammer, widow of John E. Shellhammer tells of some of the first meetings held in the Kiski Valley. She had formerly lived in Nebraska and while there had heard D.S. Warner and Company preach and sing. If any names of workers responsible for this work have been omitted it is due to the inability to contact individuals who could give information and not of deliberate intent to slight anyone or any effort.
While meetings have been held in the old Shellhammer church and settlement near Mateer, Pennsylvania, the first meeting to be held in the immediate vicinity was conducted in a chapel rented for the occasion. This was in Apollo on the corner of North Eleventh Street and Warren Avenue in 1892. This meeting was held by G.W. Clayton, Jerry Stowe and a blind minister F.N. Jacobson who used a Braille Bible. These folks rented a vacant house in Pegtown and friends supplied them with beds, food and other necessities. Later a hall was rented in the Uncapher Building on the corner of North Fourth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Apollo now the home of Radio Station WVAL. Sunday School was held and laymen conducted services with occasional night meetings held by preachers obtainable. Among the latter were: H.M. Riggle, Mrs. Anna Cheathem, Emma J. Billig, and others. Early in the new century tent meetings were held in Vandergrift heights which terminated in an established congregation held in the Heights Fire Hall. James S. McCreary and wife from Pittsburgh were there for a short while but the congregation was so small they could not support a full time pastor. John E. Shellhammer preached most of the time. After the McCreary's left and the Shellhammer family maintained headquarters for most of the visiting evangelists for many years. (Charles E. Brown, I.S. McCoy, Pyes, J.G. Anderson and Boyer, J.L. Williams and H.M. Riggle.) His brother Jacob and wife, parents of Mrs. Effie Held and Mrs. H.M. Riggle, were prominent pioneers and enthusiastic in the new reformation and helped in many ways. Church was held in this hall until late in 1912. John E., as he was known to all, purchased a small plot of ground in North Vandergrift and as carpenter built a small chapel. He did the regular preaching and assumed much of the financial responsibility. Evangelist who helped were I.S. McCoy and J. Grant Anderson. The work grew slowly but steadily. John L. Williams was engaged as the first full time pastor and he and his family moved here in 1916. In 1919 the Chapel in North Vandergrift was sold and the Walnut Street lot (Franklin Avenue), where the present Church of God now stands, was purchased. The building was erected in 1920 and the Reverend A.T. Rowe was the speaker at the service of dedication. Reverend Williams and family left Vandergrift in July 1922 and Reverend Herman Ast a young graduate of Anderson College came to us as pastor. During his ministry here he married Lena Rosensteel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T.E. Rosensteel. Before he left in 1926 the note on the church was paid off. Reverend M.A. Monday was the following minister and remained until 1927 when Reverend E.C. Grice and family came to be with us. It was during his ministry that the Church of God in North Apollo, Pennsylvania, was started. The parsonage and lot adjoining our local church was purchased at this time. In 1929 Reverend and Mrs. I.S. McCoy, pioneer ministers of the Church of God, accepted the duties as our leaders. They remained until 1932. June of 1932 Reverend and Mrs. J.T. Lackey graduates of Anderson College were called to minister here. During his ministry many changes were made, one of which was the Unified Service. It was through the efforts of Reverend Lackey and two other ministers of our town, Reverend Brudder of the United Presbyterian Church and Reverend Shulis of the First Lutheran Church that the Ministerial Association was organized in Vandergrift of which Reverend Lackey served as president. Under our pastor's guidance the First Church of God Youth Camp of Pennsylvania was organized and held at the Grimm farm at Rearick's Fording. The camp was held there for several years until it out-grew the facilities. It is now held at the White Hall Camp Ground at Emlenton, Pennsylvania. In the early part of 1938 the Church Extension Board, at Anderson, Indiana felt that Reverend Lackey was needed in the Church at Hickory, North Carolina and requested to go there as pastor. Reverend and Mrs. W. Albert Donaldson and daughter then came to serve this church. During this time the debt on the parsonage was paid and the new chancel furniture was installed. He also served as pastor of the Vandergrift Ministerial Association. Mrs. Donaldson was outstanding in her work with the youth and organized the first dramatic club of the church. The Donaldson's left Vandergrift in June 1943 for Boston, Massachusetts where they became pastors. In September of 1943 Reverend and Mrs. W.I. Plough of Ohio came to Vandergrift. During their stay the robed All - Girl Choir came into existence. The Ploughs left our church in 1945 to take up duties in Ravenna, Ohio. Reverend and Mrs. George S. Cooper were with us from January 1946 to the early part of 1947. He was followed by Reverend and Mrs. H.B. Wallace and family. The Junior Choir was organized at this time. The Wallace's moved to Jamestown, New York in December 1950. Reverend and Mrs. Myron O. Gilbert and family came to be with us in December of 1950. During their time here a number of improvements were made on the church entrance, new front steps and walk and the bulletin board was built; new church doors were also purchased. A variety of musical combinations were organized and the group provided musical programs for various churches in the surrounding vicinity and a hospital in Pittsburgh. The Gilbert family moved to Miami, Florida in June 1954. Our present pastor is the Reverend Donald A. Courtney, a graduate of the School of Theology at Anderson, Indiana with the class of 1954. Reverend and Mrs. Courtney and family came to us the 27th day of June, 1954. Under his direction the Youth Fellowship has been reorganized, an active Board of Christian Education organized and plans made for an extensive Sunday School program. We have chosen what we think are outstanding accomplishments made during the time of our minister's stay with us. There are many more fine things we could say but space will not permit this. We as a congregation would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have labored to make our church a place where we can truly worship God and enjoy the fellowship of other Christians, with one goal and one purpose, to live lives that will lead others to the experience of salvation and a life dedicated to our Master.
The End of the "Church Messenger" Book.
The years to follow have brought many more pastors and their families to our Church in Vandergrift.
Reverend Marlin Collingwood
Reverend David Bailey
Reverend Gale Winning - 2006
Reverend Kathleen Y. Taylor - Oct 2006 - Present
