New owners plan renovations to Leechburg B&B, eye former church as rental venue

A Chicago couple have traded in their big-city lifestyle for small-town living.

“I wanted to buy an old church or house — and I got both,” said co-owner Jason Fitzpatrick, who originally was from Butler County.

Fitzpatrick, 48, and husband Thomas Murphy, 32, who married seven years, began their search for a new business opportunity and home because Fitzpatrick wanted to move close to his mother.

“I moved away from Western Pennsylvania 25 years ago. I wanted to live in a big city then. I did. Now it’s time to return,” Fitzpatrick said. “My mother is thrilled.”

They found Leechburg’s only bed-and-breakfast was on the market and paid about $150,000 for the two buildings, closing on the property in early June.

The sale included most of the furnishings, including original church pews, a claw-foot tub, custom woodwork and original stained-glass windows in the former church sanctuary.

The Old Parsonage Bed & Breakfast and church is located at 156 and 158 Siberian Ave.

The former Holy Innocents Episcopal Church opened in 1889, and the B&B was constructed in 1914.

It’s designated as a historic landmark by the Leechburg Area Historical Society.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

The historic Old Parsonage Bed & Breakfast at 156 Siberian Ave. in Leechburg recently sold after being on the market off-and-on since 2020.

Guests can choose from three themed rooms, including the Jacobian Room, which features an oversized, hand-carved wooden bed that was purchased for $3,000 at an antique store in Orlando by former Old Parsonage owner John Truett.

The other two rooms are named The Egyptian and The Olympus.

All bookings are completed online.

Truett decided to sell his business turnkey- ready and relocate to his home state of Florida after owning and operating the B&B for 14 years.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone for your support and friendship. It’s been a pleasure and quite an experience. Now, join me and welcome Tom and Jason as your new innkeepers. They’re both very excited and anxious to serve,” Truett said.

The couple are both ordained ministers, so they have the ability to marry people.

They plan to renovate the existing Enchanted Abbey section of the church, transforming it into a multipurpose rental venue, complete with a bar and kitchenette.

“We’ve booked a woman who is hosting a dinner party here,” Fitzpatrick said.

Room rates per night range from $100 to $175. The church rental rate is $400 per day.

The atmosphere of the church, complete with multiple oversized original stained-glass windows, helped to seal the deal on deciding to buy.

“I just love a big open space, the woodwork and the stained glass,” Fitzpatrick said. “As soon as I walked in here, I wanted it.”

The couple checked out properties around Pittsburgh, but found Leechburg to be affordable — and welcoming.

“Everything we looked at in Pittsburgh was, like, a million dollars,” said Murphy, a professional painter.

After the bustle of Chicago, the couple praised their newly found laid-back lifestyle.

“It’s only been a week, but everyone here is super friendly,” Fitzpatrick said. The couple plans to live in a portion of the church.

“The character of it — it’s all awesome,” Murphy said. “I’m so used to city life from Chicago. I’m just driving around seeing all of the forests and greenery. I’m in awe.”

They plan to add another full bathroom at the B&B, a need, they said, from fielding comments from previous guests.

A full made-to-order breakfast is offered to each guest.

Guests order from the menu and dine at a handmade wooden table featuring a large pew original to the property.

A kitchen available 24/7 to guests is stocked with a microwave, coffee/tea station and self-serve items.

Upstairs, a tourist information rack is stocked with brochures on area attractions, restaurants and historic points of interest.

Fitzpatrick cooked up a small feast the first morning after moving in.

“We had guests here our first day moving in,” he said. “I have more than 30 years in the hospitality business, so this is a dream come true.”

“This is home now,” he said. “We’re super excited to be in Leechburg and run our fabulous business.”