Valley Presbyterian Church stands at 237 Main Street in Imperial, Pennsylvania, a community in the West Allegheny area south of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1840, Valley Church has gathered for worship and service on the same stretch of Main Street for nearly two centuries. The congregation describes itself as a thriving community of believers and lovers of the word of God, and it welcomes newcomers with a simple invitation: come for Sunday worship at 10:00 a.m. and experience for yourself the fellowship of Christ.
Sunday Morning at 10:00 on Main Street
Worship begins at 10:00 a.m. each Sunday morning at Valley Presbyterian. The congregation is a friendly, family-oriented church with a long tradition of reaching out to its members and the surrounding community. Visitors who feel nervous about stepping into a new church are reassured that Valley has been around for a long time and has its share of traditions, but that everyone is welcome. The offering is collected in plates at the front of the church, and the rest of the hour is given to prayer, music, Scripture, and the preached word.
Church office hours run Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The office can be reached at (724) 695-0300 or at officeadmin@valleychurchweb.com.
A Church Built on Faithful People Since 1840
Valley Presbyterian Church was founded in 1840 in Imperial. Looking back over the years, the congregation reflects that a church is not its building but its people: "it is not the colorful windows but the colorful people that make the church." The physical structures have changed and remodeled through the decades, but the faithful people and the love of Jesus Christ have remained at the heart of Valley.
The church frames itself as a testimony to the one who has called these people apart and generously gifted them for his service. Praise for God's blessings flows through Valley and, in turn, into the wider community. While the focus is on spiritual growth and discipleship, the church sees glimpses of its bright future lived out daily in God's hands.
Bearing Light and Witness Through Fellowship
The church's mission statement is short and direct: "Valley Presbyterian Church lives to glorify God by sharing the love of Christ." Its slogan, "Bearing light and witness through fellowship," is rooted in the two greatest commandments from Matthew 22:37-40: to love the Lord with all one's heart, soul, and mind, and to love one's neighbor as oneself.
Part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Valley Presbyterian is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a denomination of more than two million people worshiping in roughly 10,000 congregations across the United States. Locally, Valley belongs to the Pittsburgh Presbytery, the regional body that connects the church to the wider work of the denomination.
The PCUSA confesses that God comes to us in free and undeserved favor in the person of Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose for us that we might belong to God and serve Christ in the world. Following Jesus, Valley's members engage in the world and seek thoughtful solutions to the challenges of their time, joining a tradition that emphasizes teaching the truth, feeding the hungry, healing the broken, and welcoming strangers.
The West Allegheny Food Pantry
Outreach has long been part of Valley's identity. The congregation is committed to supporting the West Allegheny Food Pantry, a community resource that serves neighbors in need across the greater Imperial area. Anyone with questions about the pantry can call (724) 695-1305 or find it on Facebook. The partnership reflects Valley's broader commitment to ministries of personal and social healing in the community where it lives and bears witness.
Presbyterian Women
Valley Presbyterian hosts a local circle of Presbyterian Women, the women's organization of the PCUSA. The group gathers women of the church for Bible study, prayer, mission, and fellowship, and connects them with a national fellowship dedicated to spiritual growth, service, and mutual encouragement. Additional information is available through Presbyterian Women at the denominational level.
Music and the Sanctuary
Music is woven into every Sunday gathering at Valley. The music director, who also leads the praise team, supports the worship life of the church with both congregational singing and instrumental accompaniment. Anyone interested in learning more about the music ministry can reach the church office at officeadmin@valleychurchweb.com.
Valley Cemetery
Beyond the sanctuary, Valley has long been tied to a cemetery serving the Imperial community. The Valley Cemetery Imperial Association operates the grounds privately under the direction of its own board, separate from the church's governance. Inquiries about the cemetery can be directed to Superintendent Mark Trautman at (724) 695-2866.
Led by the Session, Elders, and Deacons
Valley Presbyterian is led through the historic Presbyterian model of shared governance. The Session, the governing body of the particular church, includes the pastor and the elders in active service and carries responsibility for the mission, government, worship, education, and property of the congregation.
Elders are chosen by the people. Together with the pastor, they exercise leadership, government, and discipline, and they bear special responsibility to visit, comfort, and care for the people, with attention to the poor, the sick, the lonely, and those who are oppressed. The elders meet monthly on Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m.
Deacons are called first of all to minister to those who are in need, the sick, the friendless, and anyone in distress both within and beyond the community of faith. They also lead the people in worship through prayers of intercession, reading of Scripture, presenting the gifts, and assisting with the Lord's Supper. The deacons meet on the third Sunday of every month after the worship service, except during the summer months of June, July, and August.
The church building is also available for community use. Groups wishing to reserve a portion of the facility can submit a request through the church office.