Welcome to our Third Annual Architectural and Historical Tour of Ambridge Churches, or more simply, the Ambridge Church Tour, which takes place on Saturday, October 6th, 2007.  We are proud of our churches, and are pleased to be able to present this tour.  It is our hope that you enjoy our churches, and gain an appreciation of the town of Ambridge.

From its earliest beginnings, the Ambridge region was built on a bed-rock of faith that continues to this day.  The Harmonist Society, under leader George Rapp, established their third, and last home here in 1824.  They called their new home Economy, and it existed until 1894. This area still exists today, and is the historical site known as Old Economy.  One of the churches we will be touring is  St. John's Lutheran Church. It was built by the Harmonist Society, and is one of the oldest churches in southwestern Pennsylvania, and the oldest church in Ambridge.

The four other churches on our tour are Saints Peter and Paul (a Centennial Church), Holy Ghost Russian Orthodox Church (a Centennial Church), St. Mary's Coptic Church, and St. Mary's Byzantine Church. The modern age of Ambridge began in 1900, when the American Bridge Company was formed.  Immigrants poured in from all over Europe - Poland, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Russia, Yugoslavia, Scotland, Austria, Germany, England, and Romania.  They came to fill the plentiful laborers' jobs and hoped to find a better life.  Their faith and customs are exemplified by the building of churches, most of which are still here today. It is interesting to note that in an age of declining church attendance,  Ambridge still has 23 active places of worship, as well as an Epsicopalian Seminary School.