A Brief Church History

Celebrating the Past – Building for the Future

Liberty Street Church of God –- Trinity Point Church of God

A Brief history

The need for a Church of God congregation in Clarion prompted the L.W. Foust family to invite Rev. J.E. DeGarmo and Rev. G.E. Sample to hold special services in Clarion. The meetings started on July 15, 1934 in a large tent erected on the corner of Main and Fourth Ave. and continued for several weeks with good success. The Jim Smith family, the O.E. Traister family, along with the Foust family, formed the nucleus of this new work.

With fall and winter coming on, the founders was the necessity of larger and permanent facilities, so in September of 1934 they purchased a lot on Liberty Street and began construction of a frame tabernacle. Rev. Thomas Steenbergen and volunteer help from Parker, PA assisted the young congregation to erect the building which was dedicated February 10, 1935 as the Clarion Gospel Tabernacle. At the same time J.E. DeGarmo was installed as the first pastor.

Other progress over the years include:

1940’s Remodel the sanctuary by bricking the framed tabernacle.

1950’s The parsonage was built (current offices) for the pastor and family.

1970’s A CFC raised $25,000.00 for the fellowship hall and classroom addition that was dedicated April 27, 1975.

1980’s A ranch style house was bought, 200 Liberty Street as a new parsonage after a building project connected the original parsonage to the main church structure for classrooms, offices and Counseling Center. Clarion First Church of God was renamed to Liberty Street Church of God.

Extensive renovation was done to the sanctuary and the lot in the back, the old “Moose Lodge” was purchased and razed for the rear parking.

1982 The Board of Church Extension from Anderson did a consultation to advise the congregation on future growth.  

1990’s The Narthex addition was build and the “Seidle House” was purchased and is now the parsonage.

1998 The Board of Church Extension from Anderson did another consultation with recommendations for future growth.

Pastors that served the church are J.E. DeGarmo (1935-36), N.K. Powell (1937-45), Thurman Hall (1946-48), Virgil Johnson (1949-50), Brooks Lynn (1951-56), William Dudgeon (1957-59), Eugene Brys (1960-62), Roger Allen (1963-68), Daniel Frost (1969-70), Brooks Lynn (1971-77), Lonny Wolford (1977-85), Greg Smith (1985-92), Bill Phillips (1993-00), Dean Meyer (2000-05), Bruce Wilson (2006 – present).