Mercer County PAGenWeb

United Presbyterian Church

United Presbyterian Church. —The origin of this congregation, the oldest in the town, dates back to the first of the present century. In the year 1800 the Chartiers Presbytery, under whose charge were placed all congregations and vacancies west of the Alleghenies, was formed by a division of the Associate Synod of North America. In the year following it began its work of caring for the scattered flocks of its faith by sending Rev. Daniel McLean into the Shenango Valley to minister unto them. In this work he visited Mercer and Crawford Counties, and succeeded in effecting an organization of the Presbyterian and Associate families that were settled to some numbers in a region of country lying near the Shenango River, on Sandy Creek, known as the “Big Vacancy.” The union of the two beliefs was brought about by the followers of the former, who were in the majority, agreeing that the first suitable candidate for pastor, be he of either denomination, should be chosen. This choice fell upon Rev. McLean, who began his labors on the 1st of January, 1802, and who was paid therefore the annual sum of £135 of Pennsylvania currency. Of the members of this congregation, the following were afterward added to the Greenville Church: David Beatty, Hugh Brown, Francis Mossman and Robert Bean. These members organized themselves into a separate congregation sometime in 1802, and, three years later, by petition to the Presbytery, received one-half of Rev. McLean’s time, the remainder being devoted to the Shenango flock. His first preaching in what is now Greenville was held in a private house, known familiarly as Shank’s Tavern, located on the west bank of the Shenango, on Main Street. It is said a tent was afterward put up, and occupied until the first regular building, a log hut, situated on the present site of the old United Presbyterian Cemetery, was erected. The latter was followed by a more commodious frame, which stood on the site of the present church, on ground donated by William Scott. It was, however, so poorly constructed and devoid of beauty that it was torn down in 1844. Rev. McLean severed his connection with the Greenville congregation in May, 1840, after having ministered to their spiritual wants for thirty-eight years. His labors had been richly successful, for at his departure he left a flourishing flock of 179 members. He was succeeded by his son, Rev. D. H. A. McLean, who, in May, 1841, received and accepted a call from the congregations of Greenville and Mercer. Four years later the presbytery relieved him of the Mercer charge, and he there after devoted his time entirely to Greenville, holding occasional services in some of the outlying villages. His relations terminated in 1852, having built up the church membership to 235.