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.