About Us

Petersburg Presbyterian Church has a legacy of making disciples of Jesus Christ in the Petersburg and Springfield Township communities for over 150 years. We are a faith community that continues to feed body, mind and spirit in the love of

Jesus, the Bread of Life.

WE BEGAN WITH
A VISION

Petersburg Presbyterian Church was the brainchild of Mr. Samuel B. Wallace. Though the village of Petersburg had come into existence nearly 65 years before, by the 1870's the thriving agricultural community only had one church. Mr. Wallace, a plasterer and music teacher, had a vision for a new Presbyterian congregation within his hometown. It would gather people together to worship God and shape followers of Jesus Christ. So with the advice and assistance of his friend, Mr. Andrew Knesal, as well as the squire of the village, Mr. Jacob Musser, Mr. Wallace was able to secure a piece of land on the west side of the Youngstown-Pittsburgh Road, should the idea come to fruition.

After a few years of earnest prayer and conversation with a number of associates in the community, a band of nineteen souls met together on the evening of June 29, 1872. With the blessing of the Presbytery of Mahoning, they established the Presbyterian Church of Petersburg. By the end of that first year, they called their first pastor, and in 1874, the present building was finally completed.

THE VISION CONTINUES

Over the past 175+ years, the Petersburg Church has remained faithful to the spirit of those founding fathers and mothers. As long-time member Mr. George Knesal remembered them, so also we strive to be "men and women of sterling worth, high character and progressive spirit... unswerving in faith and devotion, enthusiastic in the work of the Kingdom, and a positive force." We strive to make Christ known in the our community, not only by the words we say, but the lives we live and the service we give to others and ultimately to God.

We remain a small congregation; but like them, we are a church with big hearts, filled to overflowing with the love, welcome and grace of Jesus Christ, which we seek to share with our community and the world.

We welcome all to our fellowship (and we genuinely mean all), and invite you to worship, grow and serve God alongside of us.

REV. NATHAN LESLIE

Pastor of Petersburg Presbyterian Church

OUR PASTOR

Our Pastor is Rev. Nathan Leslie. Pastor Nathan began serving the Petersburg Church on July 1, 2023. He also serves our sister congregation, Bessemer Presbyterian Church, where he has been the pastor for over a decade.

A native of nearby Enon Valley, PA, Nathan is a graduate of Mohawk High School, Grove City College and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He and his wife Mary Kay reside in Bessemer along with their two school-age boys. Nathan has been very active in the Bessemer community, and is also working toward greater involvement in the Springfield Township community as well.

For more on Pastor Nathan's story, you can visit his bio page from the Bessemer Church website.