History of New Virginian Methodist Church

Submitted by Beth A. Rollinson

I shall try and give a general history of Mount Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church or Oakland M. E. Church, or New Virginia Methodist Church. The reader can pick whichever title he likes best as these names mean one and the same place of worship. To give an accurate account on the origin of this church is a trying task, as it is very doubtful at this late date, whether the true age of the church building will ever be known. No attempt will be made to destroy, deny or to promote the various stories, theories, or cherished thoughts you may have had of this church of God.

I have contacted the oldest living people of the neighborhood, people who have lived here in the 1800s and moved away, checked histories, read newspaper clippings dated in the 1870s, but nowhere can I find the answer to the question, "When did New Virginia first have a church?" It is a fact that the Baptists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians all held some form of worship in this section long before the Methodists came. It is very hard to ascertain if this building was used by some other sect before the Methodists obtained it.

There is some evidence to lead us to believe that it was constructed in the late 1860s or early 1870s. But, there is disputing evidence to be found in newspaper clippings printed in the Sharon Herald, dated October 20, 1878, which reads as follows; "Mount Pleasant Church badly in need of repairs." A second clipping found reads, "Church and Sabbath School which has been held in No. 18 school house, because the church was being repaired and cleaned, will open December 10. Rev. Percy of West Middlesex will preach at the morning service and Rev. Tate of Sharpsville will preach at the 6:30 service." This leads to the belief that the building could have been constructed as early as the 1850s, when one considers that the next major repairs were not done until the 1900s.
Certain facts can be stated with authority as to when the Mount Pleasant M. E. Church actually came in possession and held title to the ground upon which the church stands today. Recorded in the deed book at Mercer, Pennsylvania, is the actual deed to the property. This deed, dated August 2, 1873, in substance reads as follows: Joel Frazier and wife Priscilla, conveys a certain piece of land to a board of trustees of Mount Pleasant Episcopal Church for the purchase price of $100.00. The trustees names are G.J. Jewell, John Delbridge, J.S. Tier, James Rollinson, William Buzzie, Edward Nicholas and Joel Frazier. Recorded in the same deed book, the same year, can be found the deed for No. 18 school for which Hickory Township paid $100. This property boarders the church ground on the north. This same piece of property was purchased from the Township School Board in 1940 for $55. The money for the purchase was given to the trustees by a Dramatic Club, a group of young people of the church and community, which gave a play and donated the proceeds for the church.
Where the name Mount Pleasant came from is hard to ascertain. Early history of Mercer County, in the listing of the various villages, pinpoint four boroughs: Neshannock, Five Points, Bethel and Pleasant.

After coal was discovered in Hickory Township, in 1835, on the west hill of what is known as Sharon Today, the mining operations were extended into this territory. Among the various mines operated in this vicinity were the Mount Pleasant Shaft opened in 1869 which is located about one-half mile southeast of the present church in New Virginia today.
The land in this section was covered with a great many oak trees, thus, when the station was erected and mines opened, they were known as the Oakland mines and Oakland station. On your present maps today, you will find Oakland listed but no mention of New Virginia.

To be precisely technical, the present church in New Virginia should be called the Mount Pleasant Methodist Episcopal, located in New Virginia. It was known by this name as late as 1935 and listed by Erie Conference as such. When the church was changed and became a charge of Farrell, Pennsylvania, it was referred to as the Methodist Church in New Virginia. Hence, the name New Virginia Methodist Church came into being.

The Mount Pleasant Church, when first constructed, was built close to the ground and heated by two large barrel-shaped stoves. the lighting system consisted of oil lights hung on the walls on each side of the six large windows. There were two large doors in the front of the building. The seating capacity was about 150. In 1890, through the efforts of the people of the community, a gasoline lighting system was installed. It was one of the finest systems in this part of the country. During this same year, through the effort of William Lydel, a clear tone bell was obtained. This bell is still in operation.
The church remained much the same until 1918, when a remodeling program was started. The building was raised, a cellar dug, a furnace installed and a large vestibule built in the front.

A second remodeling program was started in 1938 and lasted for nearly ten years. The main work done consisted of a new plastered ceiling, new interior wall covering, new oak floor, new pews and the installation of stained glass windows.
In the year 1963, a brick structure was built, adjoining the present church building. The new building is used for Sunday School rooms, kindergarten and office space.

In 1962, Mrs. Grace Rollinson donated a parcel of land adjoining the church property on the west.