Thank you to all who came to celebrate our 175th anniversary at the Advent Church and Cemetery!

  • Centre Gives Revised

    EVENTS:
    Centre Gives 2025

    05/14/2025 8:00 AM |

    Advent Historical Society is once again participating in Centre Gives, a yearly 36-hour online giving event to benefit nonprofits in Centre County.
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  • Advent Hisorical Society Event Graphic

    EVENTS:
    Music at the Advent: Memorial Day Patriotic Hymn Sing

    05/26/2025 9:00 AM |

    Following the Memorial Day observances at the Advent Cemetery (from 9 to 10 a.m.), all are invited to join and sing along with our program of traditional music, including patriotic songs and hymns.
    Learn More

History of the
Advent Church

The historic Advent Church was built in 1849 by followers of William Miller, a Vermont farmer who predicted the end of the world and second coming of Christ in the 1840s. The church was built on land donated by General Irvin and Colonel Gregg, owners of the Milesburg Iron Furnace. It continued under the auspices of the Evangelical Adventists until they disbanded in the early 1900s. The congregation later affiliated with God's Missionary Church in the 1940s.

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History
Family

Family History and Genealogy

The early families of the Yarnall and Marsh Creek areas associated with the  Advent Church and Cemetery tell important stories about Centre County, family connections, and everyday life in rural communities.

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Advent Cemetery

The cemetery was established in 1848 by the Marsh Creek Advent Church. It is now maintained by the Advent Cemetery Association and is an active and operating cemetery. Many of the burial records are available on line at Find A Grave and through the Centre County PAGenWeb Project.

Learn More About Advent Cemetery