Latrobe Presbyterian Church

In 1833 a man by the name of Noah H. Gillette was traveling to either Indiana or Ohio by horse and he fell off his horse and it fell right on top of his leg. In 1852 he was called ''Father Gillette." The Latrobe Presbyterian Church began as a mission in 1852 but was officially authorized to form as a church on March 1, 1869, after the application to the Presbytery of Blairsville was approved. The first elected pastor at the newly established church was the Reverend S.M. Davis from Saltsburg Presbytery.

In 1868 Reverand Gillette retired from the church and moved into the town. He said to the people they should start their own church. Reverand Gillette died on January 21st. 1869. Committee met to try and organize a church. In May 1893 a permanent pastor Rev. H.B. Hummell's salary was 120,000,000 per year. He served until 1901.

April 1894 Presbytery hired first missionary name was William B Carr his assignment was to establish some more new churches. In 1901 the church starts its own missionary work Rev. Frank Svacha was a student at Western Theological Seminary and Bohemian by birth he was asked to come to loyalhanna as a missionary to work under sponsorship. In June 1903 Rev. Ebenezer Flack and Rev.William B Carr both took part in a chapel being dedicated. In 1920 through 1952 missions were under leadership of Miss Mary Jo Barnett. After 85 years of serving people mission was closed in 1988.

Under Leadership of Rev George C Fisher (September 11th-June 24th, 1921) was first additions of the church was being made. As years went through the church went through more pastors. Rev Robert R Vogelsang served the church for 26 years which is the longest of any pastor. The rest of the pastors from 1982 through 2003 changed and then new ones came in. Their former pastor now is the director of music and the organist.

History of the Latrobe Presbyterian Church – Latrobe Presbyterian Church (latrobepc.org)