Olimpo Guglielmo ('Olympus') Angelelli

Olimpo Guglielmo Angelelli was born in Manziana on 31 January 1893, on the outskirts of Rome, the son of Francesco 'Frank' Angelelli, stone mason, and Adelaide Agrestini. He had four brothers, Archimede (15 Sep 1884 Manziana-9 Mar 1963), Evandro ('Evander', b. 2 Sep 1887; m. Clara, - 8 Jul 1956, Los Angeles, CA); Virgilio, and Munitore; and a sister (Adelina, 'Adelaide', m. Carmine D'Ippolito, 1886-1965), all of whom (along with their cousin Pietro Maggagini) also followed their father to the USA (where he was working 1897-1904), where they settled in Pittsburgh. The brothers all emigrated to the United States aboard the SS Tartar Prince (arriving in November 1899). He was naturalized in 1913.

Olimpo was converted after being evangelized by his brother Archimede (b. 1894) in 1907 in Erie, NY. Some while later, he was baptized in water, and then he was baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Angelleli married Amabile nee Dallimonti ('Emma', b. Masserano, prov. Biella) (b. 22 March 1889; migr. 1906). Emma migrated in 1906 with her sister Corinna and her niece Aurora, landing in New York to stay with her brother-in-law Giovanni Costa (1868-1943; then living at 420 West 35th St, NY). Children included Esther (b. 1909; m. DeGaetano), Francesca 'Francis' (b. 1911; m. Moschetta), Theodore (7 Feb 1914-1993), and Virginio. In 1920, he was working as a bricklayer in Pittsburgh, and his brother, Archimede (a steam engineer working in local Pittsburgh factories) was living with them.

Angelelli learned how to preach by giving oral testimonies on the streets of Pittsburgh and the surrounding town. Despite little education, he went on to study at the Pittsburgh Bible Institute, which at the time included Italian language classes. Both he and his brother Archimede would be ordained in the CCNA. When the CCNA Council was formed, Angelelli was one of the five 'overseers' selected to help churches solve problems. (The other elders were Francescon, Michele Palma, Massimiliano Tosetto, and Francesco Emma).

In 1928 he formally organized the Italian Christian Church of Pittsburgh, though there had been preaching points and a 'mission' in the city for some years. Within a few years the congregation acquired an imposing Presbyterian Church building at 211 Shady Avenue, East Liberty. In 1934, the CCNA national conference took place in the Church.

Angelelli took on responsibilities beyond his local congregation, assisting other Italian churches in western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. He also served as superintendent of the Christian Church of North America (CCNA). In 1950, when the 'unorganized Italian Christian Churches of the United States of America' incorporated as the CCNA, Angelelli was once again one of the five overseers.

Emma died on 15 June 1956 in South Fayette, Allegheny.

Olimpo died in on 15 August 1962, Sunset View Cemetery, Penn Hills, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Sources:

Bongiovanni, Guy, Pioneers of the Faith, (Farell PA: Sound Ministries)