Fells United Methodist Church sits on a ridge above the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers in Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania, where it has been known for more than two centuries as the Lighthouse on the Hill. The congregation was founded in 1785 and still gathers in a 1967 sanctuary that carries that nickname, serving the Belle Vernon and Rostraver area as part of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church.
A Lighthouse on the Hill Since 1785
The Fells story begins in 1785, when the church first met in the home of Edward Teal and later in the homes of the Beazell, Fell, and other local families. In 1792 a log church was built, and the congregation became part of the Redstone Circuit. By 1834 the Methodists had grown large enough to raise a stone church on the dividing ridge between the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers. That stone building still stands and is now home to the Rostraver Township Historical Society, while an educational wing was added to the property in 1950.
In 1967 the Fells congregation moved into the present building, the white-sided sanctuary that locals call the Lighthouse on the Hill. Two years later, in 1969, the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged to form the United Methodist Church, and the congregation became Fells United Methodist Church. The current parsonage was built on church property in 1986. More than two centuries on, the congregation sees itself as still faithfully sharing the love and grace of God with its surrounding community.
Sunday Mornings in the Sanctuary
The Sunday service is traditional Methodist, with hymns and readings carrying the worship. People gather at 10:45 a.m. in the sanctuary, and the service is also shared through a weekly sermon video online for those who cannot attend in person.
Visitors are welcomed just as they are. Most people dress somewhere between casual and Sunday Best, and the church invites anyone to come in whatever feels right. Children and babies are welcomed and adored in the service, with no worry about noise or restless little ones. A quieter cry room is open at the back of the sanctuary for parents who want a calmer space during the service.
Adult Sunday School meets in the Fireplace Room at 9:30 a.m., giving worshipers a chance to study and fellowship before the service begins.
Tuesday Mornings in the Fireplace Room
Beyond Sunday worship, Fells United Methodist Church gathers for Bible Study on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. in the Fireplace Room. The study is a regular weekly rhythm of conversation around Scripture and is open to anyone who wants to join.
Pastor Kim and the Music Team
The church is led by Pastor Kimberly Foos, who writes a regular newsletter letter to the congregation about the season of the church year, recent sermon series, and the life of the church. Worship is shaped musically by Choir Director Barb Barthels and Organist Joyce Cline, who anchor the traditional style of the Sunday service. Amy Dewitt serves as the church's administrative assistant, helping with communications and the One Call Now phone updates that keep the congregation informed about church news and prayer requests.
The Preschool at Fells
Inside the church building, The Preschool at Fells offers early childhood education for families in the Rostraver area. Operating out of the church's educational wing, the preschool shares space with the congregation and extends the building's role beyond Sunday morning into the weekday life of the community.
Feeding the Hungry Through the Rostraver Food Bank
Fells United Methodist Church is also a gathering place for the Rostraver Food Bank, helping provide food for neighbors who are hungry in the surrounding community. The church opens its doors to several other community groups that use the building for meetings and civic life, making the property a busy center of activity across the week.
Beliefs and Mission
Fells United Methodist Church describes itself as part of a global denomination that opens hearts, opens minds and opens doors through active engagement with the world. Rooted in the tradition of John Wesley and the early Methodists, the church places primary emphasis on Christian living, on putting faith and love into action, what Wesley called practical divinity.
The church's own mission is to provide leadership, connection, and resources to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Its vision is to ignite and sustain a passionate, spiritual connection with Christ among all people.
Finding the Lighthouse on the Hill
The church sits at 1268 Fells Church Road, Rostraver, PA 15012, with three well-marked routes into the driveway on Chickee Lane. From Pittsburgh, drivers take Route 51 South, make a slight right turn onto Fells Church Road, continue straight through the light, turn right onto Chickee Lane, and then make an immediate left up the driveway. From the north and east, I-70 West to exit 46B leads to Route 51 North, then a left onto Fellsburg Road at Sheetz, a left at the next light onto Fells Church Road, a right onto Chickee Lane, and an immediate left up the driveway. From the west, I-70 East to exit 43 at Donora brings drivers onto Route 201 North (Rostraver Road), through the stop sign onto Fells Church Road, and after passing Belle Vernon High School, a first left onto Chickee Lane and an immediate left up the driveway.
Tithes and offerings can be made online through Tithe.ly, weekly sermon video is posted for those who want to worship from home, and the church office can be reached at 724-379-4502 or fellschurch@comcast.net. From its 1785 beginnings in Edward Teal's parlor to its 1967 sanctuary on the hill, Fells United Methodist Church continues to gather as the Lighthouse on the Hill, a faithful witness to the presence of God in Rostraver.