Church History

The parish dates back to the early history of Catholicism in Butler County and was organized in 1821 by the Rev. Charles Ferry of St. Patrick's, Sugar Creek. The few scattered Catholic families were visited by missionaries traveling about, and especially on their way north, stopping at Freeport, Butler Slippery Rock, Meadville, Greenville and other settlements, on their way to Erie. Later the Catholics of Butler were visited periodically and ministered to by priests from Sugar Creek and Pittsburgh. A priest from Sugar Creek came to Butler occasionally and the people, when weather permitted, journeyed to Sugar Creek t6 worship in St. Patrick's church.

In time, the group made up of Irish and German immigrants grew to such numbers that it was deemed advisable that they have a house of worship of their own. In 1821, the Rev. Charles Ferry came from Sugar Creek to Butler to organize a parish under the patronage of St. Peter. The following year, 1822, a little stone church was erected on a property at which is now known as First and Jefferson Streets. Butler was a very small community. The Catholic families numbered only six or eight in 1829. The predominant Catholic nationality outside the town of Butler before 1829 was Irish immigrants from Donegal Township. However, after 1829, a large number of German Catholics began to settle in the neighborhood.

In 1848, property was secured on Franklin Street and plans were made to erect a new church. The Hon. James Buchanan, later President of the United States, was present at the cornerstone laying in 1848. Bishop Michael O'Connor of Pittsburgh dedicated St. Peter's during 1849. Sometime between 1855 and 1857 the first parochial school was erected in Butler, a small two-room building built to the front of the parish house. Although it had only elementary grades, it was known by many as St. Peter's Academy. The teachers were laity until it was taken over the Sisters of St. Francis of Pittsburgh. After several years, the Sisters of St. Francis resigned in order to supply teachers in their larger schools in Pittsburgh.

The Sisters of Mercy from Cresson then assumed charge of the school and remained until the Sisters of St. Francis returned in 1931. This small frame school facing on Franklin Street at times removed its partitions so that social affairs might be conducted. Plays and minstrels were produced, and the small building was the first Catholic Cultural Center of Butler. In the year 1890, a four-room school was erected on a spacious plot in the rear of the church. The increase in church membership necessitated adding four schoolrooms in 1911. A large auditorium was added at this time to the modem and well-quipped school, and after the erection of the first unit, the original two-room school on Franklin Street was razed.

In 1969, St. Peter's School was incorporated with St. Paul's and St. Michael's into Butler Catholic School, the largest in the Diocese, with approximately 1200 students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. In 1990, St. Peter's school building became outdated and was razed to make room for a much needed parking lot. In 1994 St. Peter's Parish Family built a Parish Hall, located next to the church, it has provided St. Peter's Parish Family with needed space for a variety of parish social gatherings and other parish meetings and needs.

Rev. Charles Ferry had served St. Peter's from 1821 until 1825. His successor was Rev. Father Patrick O'Neil (1826-1834). Father O'Neil was replaced by Rev. Patrick Rafferty in the summer of 1834 and remained until April of 1837. Then came Rev. Hugh Gallagher for only a few months. On July 10, 1837, the newly ordained Father Joseph Cody, stationed at Sugar Creek, visited St. Peter's. The early pastors of St. Peter's were missionary priests stationed at Sugar Creek. They visited the three churches located in Sugar Creek, Butler and Freeport.

In June of 1840, St. Peter's received its first resident pastor, Father Francis Kuehr who remained until the autumn of 1841. From the autumn of 1841 until the early part of 1844, Rev. Hugh P. Gallagher was pastor, succeeded by Rev. Michael J. Mitchell.

In May 1847, Rev. Michael Creedon arrived as pastor. One of his immediate problems was to prove 'de a new church, for the old St. Peter's could no longer hold the rapidly growing congregation. Land purchased from Charles Duffy in one portion on May 27, 1841 and another on April 22, 1848 was located on Franklin Street. This was to be used as the site of the new church. Succeeding Rev. Creedon were Rev. John Larkin (May 1850-May 185 1), Rev. J. R. Tamchina (June 1851 -September 1852), Rev. George Gostencnik (September 1852-February 1853) and Rev. Joseph T. Gezowsky. In 1854, because of the scarcity of priests in the Pittsburgh Diocese, the Benedictine Monks of St. Vincent's Abbey took charge of St. Peter's. The Benedictines remained at St. Peter's until 1872. The parish was turned over to the Fathers of the Carmelite Order until 1880.

In 1880 Father Jacob Romelfanger was appointed pastor of St. Peter's followed by Father Rev. John P. Shields. Rev. Shields took charge of the administration of the parish from November 1906 to January 1907.

Father Leonard Stenger took over the reins of St. Peter's on January 13, 1907 until 1930. In October 1929, the American dream became a nightmare with the crash of the stock market and the beginning of the "Great Depression." It was in the midst of this financial crisis that Father Aloysius J. Weisenberger arrived at St. Peter's. Father Eloy I. Grundler succeeded Father Weisenberger in 1963.

Father Grundler was succeeded by Rev. Rudolph Silvers in 1986. Fr. Silvers served the Parish until he was transferred to St. Ann's Church in Bulger, PA in February of 1994. Fr. Jack Nanz succeeded Fr. Silvers until he was name the first Diocesan Pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Millvale, PA taking over from the Spiritan Fathers. With Fr. Jack's departure, Fr. Pierre "Bud" Falkenhan was appointed as Pastor in July of 2005. He served our parish until May of 2009. Fr. James Dolan was named Pastor in May of 2009 and he also serves as Pastor of St. Michael Parish.

In all these years, St. Peter's has never ceased functioning, has never lost her identity as a unit. She stands as the first Catholic parish in the Butler County, the mother church of Butler reminding all who come her way of how special they are and how much they are loved.

As of February 2010, our regional vicar: Very Rev. Philip Farrell, VE, Region 4, will soon be settled in with a home and offices. He will be living in St. Peter’s Rectory and his office and staff office will be in the rectory. Since he is responsible for 52 parishes and has an extensive job description, his vicariate position is full time. Father Farrell has no responsibilities in any ministerial way for St. Peter’s Parish. The diocese will handle fiscal responsibilities for him, his living, his office and expenses in the rectory. Our pastor Fr. James Dolan now resides full time at S. Michael Church.