Three historic Jamestown churches have been confirmed for the annual Fenton Church Tour on Saturday, August 8.
The Free Methodist Church, also known as Joy Fellowship, is at 515 E. 7th Street. The church was organized in 1871, and the current building was built in 1884.
The former First Congregational Church at 317 E. Third Street, now The Spire Theater of Jamestown, was the home of Jamestown’s oldest organized church. The Congregationalist community began meeting shortly after Jamestown was settled in 1811. The Gothic style building on Third Street was begun in 1867, and the church was finished and dedicated in the summer of 1869. Several years ago, the congregation merged with Pilgrim Memorial UCC on Forest Avenue, and The Spire Theater of Jamestown was opened by Angelo and Ylsa Guiffre. The Spire Theater hosts a number of theater and musical events throughout the year and is available for rental.
We will celebrate with the First Presbyterian Church in marking the present church building’s 100th anniversary. The Presbyterian church was organized in Jamestown in 1834. The church building at 509 Prendergast Avenue was opened in 1926 after their former church at West Third and Cherry Street, was dismantled when the prime real estate was sold for the building of the Hotel Jamestown.
The tour will begin at 10 a.m., meeting at the Free Methodist Church at 515 E. 7th Street. We will all learn many more fascinating facts as we tour these beautiful churches that are woven into the faith history of our City.
More information on reservations for this and other summer Saturday tours is now available at the Fenton History Center’s website fentonhistorycenter.org.
More information on these churches and others in Jamestown can be found in The Churches of Jamestown, New York, written by Thomas J. Goodwill with photos by Chad Ecklof. It is sold in the Fenton History Center bookstore.
