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 United
Presbyterian Church.
The inception of the movement toward
establishing an Associate Reformed Presbyterian congregation at Sharon
was brought about through a passing visit of Rev.
M. M. Brown now of New Wilmington, Penn., who at the next
meeting of the Lawrence Presbytery recommended that a committee be sent
to look over the field. This was accordingly done, and in June, 1858, Rev. William Findley, D. D.,
acting under the direction of that presbytery, organized a congregation
in Sharon. The following comprised the first members: David T. Porter, Mrs. Ann Porter, John
Titus, Mrs. Mary Titus, Miss Ann Eliza Titus, Miss Rosanna Titus, Mrs.
Mordock, Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Duncan, Miss Mary McHenry, James Raney, Mrs.
Mary Raney, Miss Margaret Raney, John Raney, Mrs. Tirza Love and Miss
Mary McClelland. The building at present occupied was
erected in 1865 at a cost of $11,000. It is a brick, and is commodious
and convenient for the purposes to which it is devoted. The pastors of
the congregation have been Rev. B.
K. Ormond, its first minister, who began preaching in
Sharon in April, 1858, before the organization of the flock into a
regular congregation, and who was installed regular pastor shortly
afterward, at first dividing his time between the Sharon and
Clarksville charges, and afterward serving the former church
exclusively until December 31, 1880; and the present pastor, Rev. John A. Bailey, who
entered upon his ministry in January, 1883. In the opening part of the
year 1881 the congregation, through unfortunate occurrences, became
disorganized. April 19, the same year, a reorganization was, however,
effected through the instrumentality of Rev.
Robert McWatty, D. D., acting under the direction of the
United Presbyterian Presbytery of Mercer. The membership at that time
was fifty; now it is 140. Following is a list of ruling elders: John Titus, David T. Porter, Robert Strain,
William L. Thompson, William J. Hamilton, Robert Templeton, J. H.
McElheny, M. D., J. E. McGeehan, E. M.
Stapleton, Jesse Huff, G. A. Hawk, J. W.
Paisley, M. K. Hamilton, A. G. McNabb, William A. Kelley and Thomas Ray.
History of Mercer County, 1888, pages 391-392
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First
United Presbyterian Church, Sharon, from 1910
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First United Presbyterian Church, Sharon, PA
