Clarksville Methodist Church

The structure built in 1830 was finally sold for a machine shop, and a frame structure costing $2,000 was erected in 1858 on the church's present (1959) site.  William Budd and  John Patterson of Sharon were the contractors.  

Abraham Clark was the last survivor of the original members of the first class, having reached the age of eighty-eight years on the 21st May, 1888. In his possession was the class book of 1821, which contained some very interesting information. At that time  William Swayze  was the presiding elder, and  Charles Elliott, Dennis Gladden  and  John Crawford were preachers in charge.  

Dr. J. N. Fradenburgh, in his “History of Erie Conference” writes about the early Clarksville record book as follows: 

“I have before me the ‘class papers’ of Clarksville appointment from 1821 to 1836. From 1833 the title ‘class book’ came into use. These ‘class papers’ were made up by the preacher, by folding one or two large sheets of paper, forming sixteen or thirty-two pages of the size of those of our Discipline. The pages are ruled for names and dates, and squares for marking attendance. Sometimes the sheets are not folded in book form. Attendance is carefully marked, and the average is perhaps a little above one-half the membership. Cases of expulsion are not infrequent. On the first page are the names of the presiding elder, circuit preacher, class-leader—and sometimes ‘assistant’—and some words of exhortation; as, for instance, on the first ‘class paper’ is written ‘Watch and pray. Remember the quarterly fast’; on the second page, ‘Every Friday preceding each quarterly meeting is to be kept as a day of fasting and prayer for the prosperity of Zion. Watch much, pray much, mark your paper, and keep it clean.’   

“Samuel Clark  was the class-leader until 1833, when we find also the name of  Samuel ‘Campfield’—the class having been divided; and in 1835 that of  William G. McKnight. On the last page of the first ‘class paper,’ 1821, we read: Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.’ Sometimes the usual first page writing is transferred to the last page—on this page of the ‘class paper’ for 1827-8 we read: ‘Watch and pray. Pray for us brethren. Love one another.’  

“In 1833 Clarksville appointment belonged to Salem Circuit, of which Cornelius Jones and G. D. Kinnear were preachers in charge. 

“The class-book for 1835-6 gives the name of Caleb Foster as one the circuit preachers on Salem Circuit, with Ensign B. Hill and Reuben Peck.”  

The society continued to prosper and in 1899 the church building was altered to meet the growing needs of both Sunday School and Church.  

New pews were installed during the pastorate of Rev. A. G. Neal 1944. 

Under the leadership of Rev. E. L. Porterfield in 1948-50, a major program for extensive repairs and improvements was planned and put into execution. The basement was excavated to provide rest rooms, a large room for social activities and additional space for Sunday School rooms, and a modern gas burning heating system. When the finishing work was being done on the ceiling the heavy hand-hewn oak beams were left uncovered thus lending their rustic beauty to the general appearance of the rooms. Most of the labor of this project was donated by men and women of the congregation.  

During the pastorate of  Rev. John Snyder in 1953 the congregation purchased and installed an electric organ. Later the interior of the church was renovated and the Sanctuary redecorated. The parsonage was not overlooked or forgotten and at this writing (1959) the church and parsonage are in excellent condition and the congregation free of debt.  

The church enrollment is 290. The Sunday School enrollment is 200. Mr. Richard Fleet is the Sunday School superintendent. 

(Source: 150 Years of Methodism, The Story of the First Methodist Church, Sharon, PA, compiled by Roscoe C. Wilson, 1959)