Also
known as the Beulah Presbyterian Church and Turkey Run Church
The
United Presbyterian congregation dates its origin from the year 1839,
when some members of the Associate congregation, of Deer Creek
congregation, living remote from their place of worship, desired to
have preaching at West Middlesex. They requested their pastor, Rev.
James Ramsey, to preach in the village for their accommodation, a
portion of his time. He was disposed to do so, but was prevented by the
unwillingness of his congregation. They then presented their petition
to Rev. Douthett, of the Cross Roads congregation. His congregation,
unwilling to spare his services on the Lord’s day, were content to have
him preach occasionally for these people on week-day evenings. He spoke
for them several times; but when the intelligence was communicated to
the Deer Creek congregation, they reported to the
presbytery that the territory of their congregation had been invaded
from without. He was ordered to confine his labors to his own
congregation. The West Middlesex people then concluded to send to the
Associate Reformed Presbytery of the Lakes for aid. Supplies were sent
in harmony with the petition. Preaching was held, successively, in the
Wilson school-house and Gundy’s barn. Among the men sent were
Revs. William Braden, Mr. Neal, John and William Friedley. This
was about 1840. Two acres of land were purchased for $25, of John
Byers, at the Cross Roads, two miles southwest of West Middlesex. The
deed for the property bears date October 19, 1841. The congregation
worshiped in a tent for a time, and was known as the Turkey Run Church.
After the erection of a building, which occurred the same year, the
name was changed to Beulah. The session records for September, 1841,
bear that title. The house was a large and commodious one.
After
the union in 1858, which produced the United Presbyterian Church, a
part of the congregation, in 1860, removed to West Middlesex, and
purchased the old Methodist Episcopal house for $800. The balance of
the congregation refused to make the change, and continues at Beulah as
a Reformed Presbyterian Church.Rev. Thomas Mehard was with the
congregation at Beulah from 1841 to 1845, and Rev. R. W. Oliver from
1846 to 1856. Rev. John Armstrong served them there and at West
Middlesex from 1858 to 1888, since which latter date Rev. W. J.
Snodgrass has been the pastor at West Middlesex. The congregation has
now [1888] a new brick house of worship, and is said to be in a
prosperous condition. It was regularly incorporated on the 19th of
March, 1887.
The History of Mercer County, 1888, page 486
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From the History of Mercer County, 1877 -
United Presbyterian
--About 1840, some of the members of the Associate Presbyterian
congregation of Deer Creek, living at a distance from their place of
worship, took measures to secure a preaching station, at West
Middlesex, by sending a request to Rev. James Ramsey, then pastor of
Deer Creek, to preach in their neighborhood one-third of his time. Mr.
Ramsey was willing to grant the petition, but his congregation would
not allow the change, and Rev. Mr. Douthett, pastor of the Cross Roads
congregation, was accordingly petitioned to preach at West Middlesex
occasionally. This congregation were also unwilling to spare their
pastor on Sunday, but agreed to let him go upon any other day, and
several sermons were accordingly delivered near the village by him,
when the Deer Creek congregation hearing that he was preaching in Mr.
Ramsey’s territory, reported his action to the Presbytery, which
ordered him to confine his labors to his own congregation. It was then
agreed by the West Middlesex people to send for a preacher to the
Associate Reformed Presbytery of the Lakes, and supplies were sent on
in accordance with the petition. Preaching was at first held in the
Wilson School-house,
and afterward in Gundy’s barn, which is still standing, and was then
new, and considered a tremendous building. Among the supplies were
Revs. William Braden, Neal, and John and William Findley, and the last
preaching by them was not later than the summer of 1841. A tract of
land (two acres) was then purchased of John Byers, for
twenty-five dollars, at the Cross Roads, two miles south of
Clarksville, the deed for which is dated October 19th, 1841, and the
congregation worshiped there for a time in a tent, and during that time
were known as the Turkey Run Church, but after their building was
erected—in the same year—the name was changed to Beulah. The first
session records under the latter title are dated September 20th, 1841.
The house was a large one, and is now occupied by the Covenanters of
Shenango township.
In
1858, the union, forming the United Presbyterian Church, took place,
and in 1860, the place of worship was removed to West Middlesex, and
the old Methodist Episcopal house was purchased for $800, and is still
used. A part of the congregation refused to make the change, and still
remain as a Reformed Presbyterian Church, at Beulah.
Rev. John Armstrong was the first United Presbyterian pastor in the village.
The membership is now 124, and has reached 132. [from History of the Erie Presbytery].
From the History of Mercer County, 1877, page 110 |
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