The Sharpsville Methodist Church grew from the Hays Class, organized at the home of William Hays, a tenant on the Seth Fruit Farm, just west of Clarksville, in 1835, when Ensign B. Hill and Reuben Peck were pastors of the “Salem Circuit”, which included this neighborhood. 

During 1836 the class changed its meeting place to the home of Andrew Byerly, on the farm later occupied by J. B. Hawk; and here, on September 25, 1836 the Society was organized with James Hays as class leader.  With this move the Hays Class became a Sharpsville group and in time those members who lived nearer Clarksville became attendants of the Clarksville Methodist Church, organized in 1821. 

The Hays Class belonged, when first organized, to the Salem Circuit. Meadville District. Pittsburgh Conference; and was thus older than the Erie Conference, organized in 1836, in which Sharpsville since included. From 1837 until 1869 Sharpsville belonged, with Greenville, Clarksville, Big Bend,  Keel Ridge, Charleston and Sharon, to the “Old Clarksville Circuit”. In 1869 it became a separate station.      

The Methodist Society first met within the present limits of Sharpsville about 1847, in which year Mr. Vincent, Mr. Himrod and Joseph and John McClure constructed the first blast furnace Sharpsville and also built a school — still standing [1974] — at 303 North Mercer Avenue, and now used as a residence, which they offered to church organizations for Sunday services. This building was used the Methodists, with other groups, until 1858, when the first Methodist Church — a 30 by 40 frame building — was erected on North Mercer Avenue. This church, enlarged in 1875, was used for more than 25 years. Its foundation was used in the brick building now standing on the west side of Mercer Avenue just above the old Sharpsville Railroad. The present Church on Shenango Street, was begun in 1886 and dedicated in the following year. It was at first a frame structure, but was enlarged and rebuilt in its present form in 1915-16.

A continued program of remodeling since 1953 at great cost has resulted in many new improvements. The home next door was purchased as the parsonage and the congregation is now [1974] larger than at any time in its history. The present minister is Rev. John W. Stevenson.   It is now known as the United Methodist Church.

Sharpsville Centennial Commemorative Booklet, 1974, pages 39-40.  

The First United Methodist Church

Photo taken May 2000