A Brief History of Saint Peter's

Saint Peter's Episcopal Church is located in the west end of Huntington, West Virginia.  The congregation came into being in October of 1920 as a parish mission of Trinity Episcopal Church of Huntington.   Saint Peter's began with Sunday afternoon services in one of the local public schools.  The founder, Rev. S. Roger Tyler, believed the people in the west end were in need of their own faith community.               Three lots on the corner of West 23rd Street and Adams Avenue were purchased and a one-room church building was completed in August of 1922. The name "Saint Peter's" was selected, for this was the only apostle not represented in the list of congregation names in use in the Diocese at that time.   The Parish House was opened as a community center in January of 1923. The congregation elected its first vestry, registrar, and treasurer in April of 1923.  The congregation continued to grow so that in 1932, an addition had to be made to provide space for  classrooms for the burgeoning Church School.  In 1937, the great flood of the Ohio River struck the region, causing considerable damage and loss to the property. Saint Peter's achieved independent parish status on May 24, 1948.  Trustees were elected in June and on November 5, 1948, the vestry authorized the trustees to engage an architect to prepare drawings and specifications for a new church building.  Construction progress was slow and often interrupted due to the shortage of funds.  The new building was connected to the older facility by a corridor and completed in the spring of 1955.   Eight memorial windows and pews from the old building were moved into the church. The altar was free-standing with a rail surrounding.  The choir was located behind the altar facing toward the congregation and the organist was located on the south side.  The pulpit was located on the north side.  The consecration service was held on Whit Tuesday, June 3, 1952.  The Rt. Rev. Strider was the Officiant. Attendance seemed to have reached the highest point in the years between 1950 and 1954.   The founding of St. Andrew's in Barboursville and St. John's in east Huntington saw members transfer for the convenience of location. An arsonist set fire to the church in the early morning hours of February 3, 1976.  The sacristy and adjoining rooms were consumed by the fire for a loss of just over $90,000.  From funds collected and insurance benefits, as well as work done by members of the congregation, the damaged structure was rebuilt and some improvements made:  new air conditioning systems, choir and organist moved to the balcony, a speaker system, and new carpeting and floors being the main improvements.  A re-dedication and re-consecration was conducted by Bishop Atkinson on October 20, 1976.

The first worship services were held on October 17, 1920.  One of the interesting early anecdotes pertained to the "ritual" nature of worship at St. Peter's;  Rumors spread that the new "Sunday School" was Roman Catholic.  Thus, in an area with a strong Baptist influence, St. Peter's had to struggle for a time.  Within two years, however, attendance increased and the need for a church building became apparent.

St. Peter's first choir - circa 1924

St. Peter's during the great flood of 1937

St. Peter's Sanctuary before the fire of 1976

Most recently, throughout 1993 and 1994, a major renovation of the buildings was undertaken.  The undercroft area was completely refurbished.  Repairs to window frames, floors, and cracked walls, installation of new air conditioning units, and installation of a reconditioned pipe organ have all been accomplished.