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Sharpsville |
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United Brethren Church
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The United Brethren Church
was organized in September,
1866, by Rev. H. F. Day,
its first pastor, who remained in charge two years. There were thirty
members at the beginning, among the number being George Tait and wife, George Fry and wife, Andrew Byerly and wife, James Barnett and wife, Johnson Patton and wife. The
organization was effected in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which
exercises of worship were conducted for over years. During the seven
years that followed, the store-house of the old Erie Canal was utilized
as a house of worship, occasional services being also held is private
houses.
The present structure [1888 -
not the one shown here], erected in 1884 at a cost $1,500, the contract
being taken by William Reichard,
is a one-story frame, 28x42 feet in dimensions, and was dedicated with
appropriate ceremonies June 2, 1885. In it the society has since
worshiped. In addition this there belongs to the organization a
parsonage. purchased of Isaac Byerly
in 1880, and since repaired, valued at $300. The congregation is in
good condition, having a membership of fifty earnest workers. The first
class leader was George Tait.
Following Rev. Day in
the ministry came Rev.
Traver, who
remained two years: Rev. John Smith,
one year; Rev. Casteline,
one year; Rev. William Excel,
one year; Rev. O. D. Cone,
two years, Rev. John Williams, one
year; Rev. H. F. Day,
again, one year; Rev. Rufus Smith,
two years; Rev. D. D. Landaw,
one year; Rev. O. J. Gage,
three years; Revs. J. W. Clark, J.
C. Andrews, H. Bedow, William Robinson
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United
Brethren Church on Ridge Avenue in Sharpsville. The building
was built and dedicated in 1920 Postcard photo from the
1920s
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United
Brethren Church from the Sharpsville Commemorative Booklet
United Brethren Church from the
Twentieth Century History of Mercer County, 1909
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The
Church was closed in 1939 and the building sold to the Church of the
Nazarene.
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How
the church building looks in the year 2000 - now called "Church of the Nazarene"
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Churches in Sharpsville
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and Z. Z. Dilley, each one year, and Rev. N. C. Foulk, the present
pastor [1888]. The present class-leader and steward is A. J. Nickle;
the trustees are James
Mills, James Fisher, Philip Nickle, Harmon Jennings and A. J. Nickle.
The History of Mercer County, 1888,
page 452
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