Henry's Bend Chapel

Our Chapel

1136 Henry's Bend Road, Oil City, Pennsylvania 16301

The village of Henry's Bend was developed as a quiet, riverfront fishing retreat for the Oil Industry aristocracy circa 1880. They reached "The Bend" by train and ferried across the Allegheny River until US Route 62 and the related Henry's Bend Road (Hasson Highway) was built in the 1920s. Today, the community has grown to approximately 100 dwellings with half being used as permanent residents and the other half being season cottage owners attracted by the same qualities that led to the original establishment of the community.

The Henry's Bend Community Chapel Association was founded in 1938 with the purpose of acquiring a suitable piece of land for the erection and maintenance of a chapel to be used for nondenominational religious services. Building costs were estimated to be $2500. including interior furnishings. Most of the expense was met through contributions of cash, donations of material & labor, bake sales, lawn socials and subsequent chapel service offerings. Part of the original fund raising was giving each Sunday School child a miniature church savings bank with the hopes that a penny each meal would be saved for the Building Fund. On Sunday, June 16, 1940, the Dedication Service of the new Henry's Bend Chapel was held. The chapel building is owned by ALL property owners of Henry's Bend. (The photo to the left shows the initial stages of construction of the chapel.)

Sunday School was last held in February 1988 as the chapel fell into disrepair, in need of a new roof, updated electrical system, a new heating source and upgraded water and plumbing service. In the spring of 2004, a group of dedicated residents with a shared vision of a revitalized Henry's Bend Chapel began raising funds to save the chapel. Through blood, sweat and tears, the chapel is again the center of this vibrant, close knit community. From May through September, one will find residents attending Saturday evening worship services, or a strawberry ice cream social, pancake breakfast, hot dog roast, potluck dinner and many other activities. Of course, the BIG EVENT of the summer is the annual Fourth of July Festival featuring raffles, auctions, HB chapel merchandise sale and lots of FUN, FOOD & FELLOWSHIP! Come and visit one of the Best Kept Secrets in Pennsylvania

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Andy Turner's Website