Learn more about
The Little Church on the Hill

The Little Church on the Hill was founded in Wellsburg in 1855. Money to build the structure was raised by selling certificates at $5 each. The cost to build was $1500.00. Building was started in 1854, but before completion, a tornado severely damaged the building. It was finally completed and dedicated in 1855. 

In 1871 major renovations were undertaken at the church. A balcony was incorporated into the structure, as well as the addition of the bell. The original name was “Church of Our Father, Universalist” it has gone under several names over the years but the last was the same or similar to the first. 

In 1936, a celebration was held to celebrate the anniversary of the Formation of the congregation at Wellsburg. Modern lighting, offering plates, and a communion set were added, along with pew cushions. The communion set is still available for viewing.

The church had its final closing in 1957. In 1981, the Universalist Convention signed the building over to the Elk Creek Township, requesting that it be used as a community center. Again, the building stood mostly unused and unattended.

In 1989, a group of interested residents of the township organized to prevent the building from demolished. The group began holding events to fund the preservations projects, some that still continue to this day. The Historical Committee is now the Elk Creek Township Historical Society and includes both residents and non-residents of the township, with members ranging across West County and across the world to other countries. 

The Elk Creek Historical Society now partners with groups such as local churches and small business to hold family and community events, and groups such as Erie Yesterday to apply for grants to fund preservation projects. ECGRA Grants and donations from the Mikovich Foundation have assisted in ongoing repairs to the church, along with the help of local volunteers.

The church has truly become a community treasure. The Elk Creek Township Historical Society is grateful to all those that help make this possible! 

The Bell

If you have ever sat upstairs in the balcony during a Coffee House or other event, you may have noticed a small trap door in the ceiling.  Sometimes, you may even see a rope hanging down.

The door leads up to the steeple of the church, which houses our bell.  The bell is rang during the December Coffee House, the Christmas Eve Service, and has been run on New Year's Eve in past years.  

Few people have been able to actually go UP into the steeple to actually see this piece of history.  In order to be sure that this important part of the church is not forgotten, Josh Keefer sent us these pictures in the summer of 2016.  Thank you Josh!

Inside and around The Little Church on the Hill

There are MANY more photos of The Little Church on the Hill on our Facebook Page.  Be sure to visit and look over ALL of our albums of Coffee Houses, holidays, and other important pieces of history HERE from 2013 to today.  You do NOT need a Facebook account to view the pictures.  Simply click "Not Now" when asked to log in.

Grant Work - 2018

In the fall of 2017, the Elk Creek Township Historical Society was awarded money from the Kostkan Foundation and ECGRA (Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority) to complete necessary roof repairs around the steeple and on the roof of the church and storage shed. 

In August of 2018, those repairs began.  See pictures below taken of the steeple work completed by Mosie Yoder.  Mid September 2018, roof repairs will begin courtesy of Strait Enterprises. 

THANK YOU to EVERYONE that helped make this a reality! 

Our NEXT projects will focus on foundation concerns, window replacement, bathroom upgrades, and repainting the shed, stage, as well as inside and outside of the church.

ECGRA Grant Money works here!