Second Presbyterian Church

Dr. Eaton, in his history of the Presbytery of Erie, says: “This church is a colony from the first church of Mercer.” It was organized October 20th, 1863, in the Congregational Church, with forty-eight members, by a committee of the Presbytery of Erie, consisting of A. C. Junkin and J. W. McCune, ministers; and Joseph Campbell, ruling elder; Messrs. Elias Alexander, Joseph Fleming, and R. M. J. Zahniser were elected ruling elders—the first being installed, and the latter ordained and installed at that meeting.

On the 28th of March, 1864, a call was extended to Rev. W. M. Robinson, who, accepting, took charge of the congregation the first Sabbath of April, following.  At a meeting of the Presbytery of Erie, in the old court house, at Mercer, June 14th, 1864, Mr. Robinson was received from the Presbytery of Washington, and on the next day was installed pastor.  In this service the Moderator of the Presbytery, Rev. J. W. Dickey, presided, and propose the constitutional questions.

Rev. A. C. Junkin preached the sermon, Rev. J. W. McCune delivered the charge to the pastor, and Rev. W. P. Moore the charge to the people at first the congregation worshiped in the Congregational Church, then in the court house, until it was destroyed by fire, in February, 1866. The Congregational Church, being without a pastor, again tendered the use of its place of worship. The kindness has been frequently spoken of, and was fully appreciated.

A building committee, composed of Hon. D. W. Findley, William Miller, William B. Tate, R. M. Irwin, and R. M. J. Zahniser, was appointed at congregational meeting, held on the first Monday of February, 1865, when it had been resolved to erect a church edifice. Among the foremost in their liberal contributions, toward this object, were Andrew Patterson, Hon. Wm. Stewart, and Mrs. Amanda McGoffin [Magoffin]. At length, the present spacious building. was completed, to the joy of both pastor and people, and on the first Sabbath of January, 1867, it was formally dedicated. In this service all the then resident ministers participated, the Rev. W. P. Moore, then of Oil City, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The pastor, Mr. Robinson, after the ground was staked off took a shovel, and went alone to the place, and broke the first ground nearly under where the pulpit now strands, a little to the front and right. The original cost of the building was $11,500, and the repairs made since have amounted to $1,000 more. The ladies of the church worked also, and to them much credit is due for the present temple, which the congregation occupies. When Mr. Robinson became pastor, the number of members was eighty, and during the eight years of his pastorate, 179 persons were admitted.

The present pastor, Rev. B. M. Kerr, was installed September 5th, 1872 In this service, Rev. Dr. Eaton, of Franklin, presided, preached, and pro posed the constitutional questions. Rev. J. W. McCune delivered the charge to the pastor, and Rev. W. M. Robinson the charge to the people. During his pastorate, which has continued four years, there have been admitted 139. The whole membership of the church, Since its organization, is 389. The losses by deaths and removals have been heavy, and the present membership is but about 250.

Since the organization, Dr. Matthew Woods, J. Newton Donaldson, John Miller, Joseph Junkin, Samuel F. Smith, and Samuel G. Pew, have been inducted into the office of ruling elder, while the congregation has been deprived, during the time, of the services of three ruling elders - - Joseph Fleming, who was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church, and, at the organization of the second church, was elected to the same office in that, and who died October 8th, 1868; Dr. Matthew Woods, who died December 16th, 1868; and John Miller, who was ordained and installed elder February 2d, 1868, and died September 25th, 1871. The private members who have passed away, or a few of them, were Andrew Patterson, who was one of the original members, and died in August, 1869; Ralph L. Maxwell, also an original members, who died in 1870, and his wife, who died in September, 1874; Mrs. Amanda M. Magoffin, who died December 19th, 1865.

For our information regarding most of the churches of Mercer, we are greatly indebted to Rev. Mr. Kerr, who has kindly furnished us with the necessary data, and who has our sincere thanks for his assistance.

History of Mercer County, 1877, page 106.  

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