Forever faithful
Standing in the sanctuary at Langeloth Community Presbyterian Church are longtime members, from left, Nancy Pienkosky and Peg and Bill Buxton. The cross above the pulpit was erected in memory of Bill Buxton’s parents, Frank and Olive Buxton, who were instrumental in growing the original church.
A group photo of children who attended summer Bible school at Langeloth Community Church in 1937
Among the church’s founders were Mr. Buxton, left, and Mr. Critchlow
LANGELOTH – The congregation at Langeloth Community Presbyterian Church is quite a faithful bunch – and one that takes pride in the community it serves.
Despite a declining membership, the church remains viable and will celebrate its 100 years of service to God at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 18. The Rev. William Roemer will present the sermon, and special music will be provided. Light refreshments will be served after the service in fellowship hall.
“We serve wherever we are needed,” said longtime member Nancy Pienkosky, who is a deacon and an elder.
The church has just 25 members, and it hasn’t employed a full-time pastor in four years, relying on a rotating group of ministers provided by the Presbytery to conduct Sunday services.
Not even a fire in November 2007 that heavily damaged the church could destroy the members’ spirit. Other congregations, youth groups and community members rallied around them with monetary donations. Less than a year later, in August 2008, the congregation celebrated the completion of repairs and rededicated the building to God.
“People really do care. We’re like a family,” said Peg Buxton, who was among the first of four generations of her family to be baptized in the church.
The first organized church service was conducted by the Rev. C.L. McKee of Washington, a representative of the American Sunday School Unikon. Services were originally held in what was the Langeloth post office, then switched to the “moving picture theater” and later to the Langeloth Center.
Ground for the current church was broken on July 15, 1926, on a lot provided by the American Zinc and Chemical Co., which established the company town of Langeloth in 1913. The cornerstone was laid on Aug. 29, 1926, and the building was incorporated as Langeloth Community Church, United Presbyterian, for which the charter was received from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on May 15, 1927.
Frank and Olive Buxton were among the church’s founding families, and to this day, their son, Bill, 88, remains an active member. He sings in the choir and serves as an elder. He previously served as the superintendent of Sunday school and as treasurer.
Bill and his wife, Peg, were married in the church, and their three children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren have been baptized in the church.
And when the church organist left, the Buxtons’ daughter, Debbie Mioduski, took over – after taking a few lessons. Debbie’s family continues to clean the church, and Peg sometimes will find a touching memento on “her pew” from one of Debbie’s young children.
“We grew up here,” Peg said. “It’s really like a family affair.”
And when Peg had surgery to remove a brain tumor, her church family was an absolute blessing.
“I could feel the prayers going out,” she said.
Pienkosky, 77, started attending the church when she was 10 years old.
“I came to the church because my friends were coming, and you got a box of candy at Christmas,” she said. “I was so impressed with the big Sunday school. Our church was really going strong when I came here.”
In its heyday, the church had a very active youth group and fielded a bowling team. The church served as the center for the food bank and a meeting place for Alcoholics Anonymous, and its members often volunteered at the City Mission.
About the only holdover from those days is a dartball team, which won the 2015 Panhandle Dartball League championship.
“We used to be very active; now, it’s to the point where it’s minimal,” she said. “But it’s not just the little churches where attendance is down.
“We’re trying to get larger. We’re still working together.”
Reservations are not required for the Oct. 18 anniversary celebration, but those who would like more information can call Nancy Pienkosky at 724-947-4743.