Covenant United Presbyterian Church, one of Butler’s oldest churches and a former stop on the Underground Railroad, is for sale for $325,000.

While 500 faithful Presbyterians likely filled the pews on Sunday mornings during its mid-century heyday, the current Covenant U.P. flock has dwindled to 33, according to the Rev. John C.R. Silbert, the church’s pastor since February 2018.

“We’re a much smaller congregation than we were in 1950, when churches were filled to brimming,” Silbert said.

The original building was constructed in 1815, according to the Coldwell Banker Realty listing. It was then “rebuilt in 1832, reconstructed in 1862 and then expanded in 1874,” per the listing. The (attached) ‘Sarver Building’ was built around 1940.

According to Silbert, the 230 E. Jefferson St. property was put up for sale in July.

“It’s too much for us to handle anymore,” Silbert said of the large sanctuary and adjoining Sarver Hall.

He said the congregation retained its identity and charter with the Beaver-Butler Presbytery, and will continue forward in faith.

“The inevitable conclusion was that we have to put the building up for sale,” Silbert said.

He admitted all involved found it difficult for the congregation to turn its back on the rich history and legacy of the city’s oldest congregation, plus the building’s status as a stop on the Underground Railroad in the 1800s.

“But that legacy also propels us forward,” Silbert said. “All those decades of history were about moving forward.”

He said the Covenant sanctuary also has excellent acoustics among the churches in the county.

“We really value music at Covenant, and we are going to continue doing that moving forward,” Silbert said. “We are not letting anything go that we can’t reprise going forward. It’s just that we’ve gotta do it on a smaller scale.”

In a unique collaboration, the Covenant United Presbyterian congregation will move to the former sanctuary at Trinity United Presbyterian Church on Staley Avenue off South Duffy Road in Butler Township.

Silbert stressed that the two congregations are not merging, but worshipping in two different sanctuaries.

He said the larger Trinity congregation will use the newer sanctuary, while Covenant will worship in the older sanctuary.

“It’s empty, so we are going to rent from them,” Silbert said. “We’re still going to be Covenant Presbyterian, but in a new location.”

The longtime pastor calls the practice “nesting,” and he does not know of any other church in the Beaver-Butler Presbytery that has done so.

While Covenant members appreciate the more traditional service, Trinity has a more contemporary service, Silbert said.

“They do what they do at different times than us,” he said. “We are both there, but we are offering a couple different possibilities for those who come.”

Silbert said Sarver Hall is rented by a Montessori school, Kindermusik and Breakthrough Butler, which aims to provide a safe space with an uplifting atmosphere for youth to come hang out and take part in a variety of activities.

The church will break its leases with the groups when the church building is sold.

“They’ve been great tenants,” Silbert said.

The Trinity space also offers more parking on a flat surface for worshippers, and many Trinity congregants know Silbert from when he pastored there before being called to Covenant.

“There is a nice set of connections there that are really a blessing,” he said.

Silbert said although the move is a positive one, he will miss the grandeur of the Covenant U.P. building.

“The space is not the church,” Silbert said. “The people are the church.”

Carmen Shullo, Trinity pastor, agreed that his congregation is more laid-back than Covenant.

For example, Shullo doesn’t dress in a robe or formal attire for services.

“We just show up for church,” Shullo said. “Not in bluejeans, but I’m certainly not in a suit and tie every Sunday.”

He said his job is to introduce people to Jesus, not himself.

“As a result, people here are going to smile at you and shake your hand,” Shullo said. “If you’re not careful, they’ll hug you.”

The two congregations also use very different music during their services, with Covenant enjoying traditional hymns and Trinity worshipping to contemporary Christian tunes.

Shullo said the nesting of the two churches will provide worship opportunities for everyone.

“We will continue to have a relationship with each other, and grow,” he said. “We trust each other.”

He said congregants from the two churches also could collaborate to help out with events like a soup sale, men’s breakfast, ladies gathering or other activity.

“We just have more of us to get together,” Shullo said.

Silbert said the Covenant property has a potential buyer, but he could not discuss any details.

He hopes to lead his first service at Trinity in June.