Since 1802, the Poland Presbyterian Church has been located at the Village Green in Poland, the same location for two hundred consecutive years of ministry in Christian service. Throughout eastern United States there are churches with longer tenures of service, but not many who've remained at the same site for two centuries.

Once the Constitution of the United States was ratified in 1789, the westward movement of people began. The State of Connecticut claimed the northeast section of Ohio and opened the territory for settlement in 1796. Town One-Range One is Poland, founded that year. Turhand Kirtland from Wallingford, Connecticut served as agent for the Connecticut Land Company who surveyed the territory. He made provisions for the Green, cemetery, and church in Poland, named in honor of generals from the country of Poland who assisted the Connecticut Army during the Revolutionary War. Seven Veterans of the American Revolution are buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church.

Four different church buildings have been at the site over the years. The current stone church building celebrated its centennial in 1997. The Parish House was purchased in 1947 and in 1958 the two buildings were linked by the construction of the three level Christian education building.

A commitment to ministries of Christian education for children, youth and adults has been a hallmark of the congregation throughout its history. In the early 1800s the congregation organized a Presbyterian seminary for higher learning of young men and women. In 1870 the seminary was sold to the Poland Public School District for use as a High School, but with the express provision that the High School‘s name be "The Poland Seminary High School," which is the school‘s name to the present day.

Though an old church, the congregation, today, is relatively new. The church family of over 800 members is a balanced blend of the generations. There are many "Grand Adults" who value their long association with the church, but the active involvement of many young parents and their children gives witness as well to the church‘s passion to reach new generations with the good news of Jesus Christ.

CONGREGATION "A Seven Day a Week Church-A Full Service Ministry" -We Love Kids-

As mentioned, commitment to ministries of Christian education for children, youth and adults has been a hallmark of the congregation over the years. The involvement of children and youth in the matriculation process of Christian education, today, is a marvel to behold, resulting from the zeal that the adult church community has for maintaining an excellent Sunday School, identified as Sunday PLUS ministries, featuring the Workshop Rotation Model, and in being Logos System Associates for preschool and K-6 on Wednesday afternoons and on Sunday evenings for teenagers.

Not only are there excellent ministries for children and youth, but for everyone. Each day of the week something is going on for someone, though it is impossible for anyone to participate in every ministry that goes on day by day. Whereas no one can do everything, the hope is that everyone will do something meaningful in Christian service, for each person to have a ministry. The Poland Presbyterian Church is a model for participatory ministry. The church's full-service ministry provides a balance in program ministry with pastoral ministry. No one is left out! Though the congregation is fairly large, the personal touch in ministry prevails.

The Poland Presbyterian Church upholds the historic sacred music of the Christian Church in Poland as evidenced by the installation of a custom-made Holtkamp Pipe Organ which was installed and dedicated in 1999. It is a two manual instrument with 24 stops and 1,744 pipes. The various choirs for children, youth, and adults involve 175 members of the church family.

Nothing goes hand in hand at Christmas as Poland and the Poland Presbyterian Church. The place to be on Christmas Eve is the Poland Presbyterian Church with identical services at 4:00, 7:00 and 10:00. The beauty of the sanctuary and the exquisite music with instrumentalists and choirs lends itself to an occasion to experience the meaning of Christmas. Each year over 1000 people attend the services, featuring a candle-lighting ceremony at each service in the custom of Connecticut Western Reserve and the Ringing of the 1850 Tower Bell with the singing of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."

Excellence in ministry prevails at Easter, too with identical services at 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00.

PPC seeks to make a positive difference in the community and world. In addition to its active support of the shared mission program of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the congregation supports a wide variety of mission enterprises in the Youngstown area and beyond. Members are actively involved in a number of these ministries, working to share in visible and tangible ways the love and light of Christ. Some of these ministries are listed here: Protestant Campus Ministry, Interfaith Home Maintenance, Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, Ursuline Sisters HIV/ AIDS Ministry, Protestant Family Service, The Needle‘s Eye, Mission of Love, Poland Interfaith Food Pantry, Park Vista Life Care Fund, Hospice of the Valley, Operation Learning Community Program, and the Youngstown Area Crop Walk.

Poland Presbyterian Church is a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). As part of Eastminster Presbytery (the fifty-six PCUSA congregations in the greater Akron/Youngstown metropolitan area), and the Synod of the Covenant (Ohio and Michigan PCUSA presbyteries and congregations), it works connectionally to further the ministry of Christ in the world, More information about the PCUSA, Eastminster Presbytery, and the Synod of the Covenant can be obtained by accessing the website links below.