The United Brethren church of Sharpsville
was organized in September, 1866, with thirty members, among whom were George Tait, Andrew Byerly, George Fry,
James Barnett, Johnson Patton and families. H. F. Day was the first
pastor. For the first two years the Methodist church was the place of
worship, and for some years afterward the storehouse of the Erie canal
was used. The first church building owned by the congregation was
erected in 1884 on the corner of Sixth and High streets, at a cost of
$1,500, and was dedicated June 2, 1885.
The church, like the
Israelitish church in the wilderness, had its periods of victory and
defeat, marching and resting like other churches, but withal many souls
found peace in believing in Jesus at her altar. All this time the house
was getting like the members, old, hence out of repair, and in 1906 it
was rebuilt by Rev. A. B. Sprague,
who undertook its pastorate at probably its darkest period, having only
six members on September 1, 1905. The house was rebuilt at a cost of
$850 and reopened and dedicated August 20, 1907, by Presiding Elder Nathan J. McIntyre, of
Erie conference. On December 19, 1908, the Board of Parsonage
Trustees, consisting of F. H.
Moody, secretary and treasurer;
L. W. Laird, Watson Williams, Miss Jennie McMurray, and Rev. Sprague
as president, purchased a parsonage property on Seventh street between
Main and Ridge streets, at a cost of $1,100. In the fourth year of the
labor of Pastor Sprague the church is in good repair and there is a
home for the servant of God. The church has seventy members to date.
Twentieth Century History of Mercer County,
1909, pages 281-282.
Return to the
main United Brethren Church page