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| United Presbyterian
--The origin of this church at Sheakleyville is mentioned
upon
another page. In 1863, a call was made to Rev. J. Bailey, who accepted
it, and was ordained and installed June 23d, of that year, and
remained pastor until 1869 when the relation was dissolved by mutual
consent, and the congregation was without regular preaching until June
13th, 1871, when Rev. G. C. Brown was ordained and installed over it,
and remained until the May meeting of the Presbytery, in 1873, when he
was released on account of ill-health, and the pastorate was again
vacant until 1875. On the 6th of September, of that year, Rev. R. Bruce was
ordained and |
Early Pastors of the United Presbyterian Church in Sheakleyville
Rev. James
Burrows
Rev. J. A.
Bailey
Rev. G. C.
Brown
Rev. R.
Bruce |
installed,
and his pastoral relation with the church still continues. The present
[1877] United Presbyterian building was erected in the borough in 1850,
and completed in 1852, and is a wood building, 44 x 50 feet, and stands
on land deeded for religious purposes by David Carlyle, on Plum alley,
east of Main street. A Sabbath-school was organized when the building
was erected, and at present [1877] has about 160 members, and similar
institutions are connected with the other churches.
History of
Mercer County, 1877, page 122-123
CHURCH DATES BACK TO THE YEAR 1818
The
United Presbyterian congregation dates its origin in the year 1818,
when about half a dozen families, consisting of those of David Gardner,
James Brush, Ross Byers, John Caldwell and John Thompson, withdrew from
the Upper Sandy Presbyterian congregation and formed an Associate
Reformed Church. The separation grew out of the controversy relative to
the use of Rouse’s version of the Psalms. Subsequently Martin
Carringer, John Sheakley and Samuel Cochran joined the new
organization. The additional members not already mentioned were: Mrs.
Ross Byers, Mrs. John Thompson, Baptist Brush and wife, Ebenezer
Miller, Agnes Long, Peter Hazen and wife, A. McCandless, Mr. Elliott
and wife, Jonathan Byers and wife, Mrs. Culbertson, Charles Montgomery,
Robert Findley and wife and Mrs. Samuel Cochran. The first elders in
the new congregation were Baptist Brush, Ross Byers, James
Brush
and Charles Montgomery. During its existence it relied largely upon
supplies, being served by A. Bowers, H. H. Thompson and
others.
When the union occurred, Rev. James Burrows was installed pastor, and
continued in that position from 1858 to 1860. In 1863, union having
been formed with the congregation at Mineral Spring, a new
organization, to be located in Sheakleyville, was the result. Rev. J.
A. Bailey became the pastor of the new congregation June 23, 1863, and
continued in that relation until 1869. In June, 1871. Rev. G. C. Brown
was chosen, and continued until ill health demanded his release in
1873. On September 6, 1875, Rev. R. Bruce, the last [current 1888]
pastor, was chosen. The first edifice in the borough was erected in
1850-52. It was a wooden structure, 44x50, and stood on a site deeded
for religious purposes by David Carlyle. This house was
supplanted in 1886-87 by a large and commodious brick structure of
modern style and advantages. The congregation is said to be in a
prosperous condition [1888].
History of
Mercer County, 1888, page 474-477
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