Holy Redeemer Church
(Formerly known as Purification of the
Blessed Virgin Mary Church)

The Italian immigrants who settled in Ellwood City began to contribute in many ways to the local community: professionally, commercially, socially, industrially, and financially. Included among their contributions, of course, were activities of a religious nature. Along with their families, life savings, and material possessions, they had brought with them to this country a profound, steadfast belief in the Catholic faith.

So when they arrived here in Ellwood City, they quite naturally attended Mass and became active in the St. Agatha Roman Catholic Church. Because of their strong faith and Italian ethnic bond that existed, the people were filled with an enthusiasm to build their own church. This admirable dream was dedicated in honor of the Virgin Mary in March of 1917.

Even as the B.V.M. Church was expanding, a mission church-- St. Joseph's Church in Ellport was established in 1926. The idea of the mission church was to care for the spiritual needs of the Hungarian immigrants of the area and to help ease the burden of the crowds who attended Mass in Ellwood City each week.

As it became increasingly difficult to seat the large crowds of people who attended Mass every Sunday it was soon realized that a new church was sorely needed. In January of 1967 a fundraising campaign with a goal of $500,000 was launched and work toward building a new church officially began. The new church was designed to reflect the church in the modern world by its beauty and simplicity. The church was to be fully air-conditioned and would have a seating capacity of 800 people. The rectory would be attached at the north side of the building. On April 19, 1970 the dedication of the beautiful new church took place.

On September 8, 2007, midnight, the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church was renamed Holy Redeemer Church.

St. Agatha Church

The first Catholic parish was founded because many of early settlers in the new town of Ellwood City were immigrants for whom religion was an important part of their lives. They had come from Ireland, Poland, France, Germany, Italy, and Hungary seeking a new life free from religious oppression.

Fr. Walsh led the Catholic families in organizing the parish. In April, 1895 The Pittsburgh Company donated land for the church, located on Spring Ave. Amazingly, the structure was completed by September at a cost of $1,000 (for materials) as men of the ten Catholic families of Ellwood City completed most of the work.

In September 1895, the Diocese of Pittsburgh formally established the Parish of St. Agatha. Father William Dwyer had succeeded Fr. Walsh and was appointed Pastor. The congregation increased from ten families in 1895 to more than 600 families in 1914. Soon a new church was needed. Construction on the $76,000 church began in 1915. Several parishioners, who workers in the stone quarries, cut stone for the new church.

The rectory was originally constructed in 1909 on land adjoining the first church building facing Spring Avenue. The Rectory was moved to its present location on Fifth Street in 1915 to make room for the new church building.

The dedication of the new church took place Sunday, July 28, 1918. Many of the parishioners were from Italy and communicated in their native language. For this reason, Fr. Wilkey, ever mindful of the needs of his flock, requested the Bishop to send an Italian-speaking priest to minister to these parishioners. In 1916, approximately 300 families from Saint Agatha's formed the mission parish of Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary lead by Fr. Salvatore Marino.

In the years since the founding of St. Agatha Parish in 1895, countless women, men, and children have received the pledge of new life in Baptism, the gifts and fruits of Holy Matrimony, the healing and consolation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick and , above all, the reception of Holy Eucharist. This has all happened because of its dedicated priests, religious, lay leaders and faithful women and men.

The merger of Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church and St. Agatha Church in February, 2000 created the new parish of Holy Redeemer.  On September 8, 2007, midnight, St. Agatha Church officially closed and Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church remained to then be known as Holy Redeemer Church.

St. Agatha Church and Rectory where sold in May, 2008.