Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XV. OLD CHURCHES--Cont1nued. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT CHURCHVILLE--COKESBURY METHODIST COLLEGE AND CHURCH--HARFORD BAPTIST CHURCH--THE FRIENDS IN HARFORD. CHURCHVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Rev. William Finney, for many years pastor at Churchville, preached an historical sermon in 1854, in which he reviewed the history of this church. The knowledge of the time of its beginning is largely dependent upon tradition, and Mr. Finney gives as the authority for the date of its origin as fixed by him, Michael Gilbert, one of the oldest members of the congregation. According to Mr. Gilbert, this church reached back to about the year 1138, and the establishment of the church is due to the labors of the great evangelist, Whitefield. Its first name was Whitefield's Meeting House, and afterwards as the Deer Creek Presbyterian Congregation. Whitefield came from England, and by his eloquence and zeal created a revival in religion along his entire route. The congregation was at first supplied with ministers from the Donegal Presbytery. Among the early supply preachers were Rev. John Craig and Revs. Thompson and Paul. At this early date conditions in this section were very primitive. The forest had not been cleared away, and dwellings, even the rude homes of the hardy pioneers, were few and far between. Where are now the beautiful pasture fields, extending from Churchville through the Darlington country to the Susquehanna, in 1738 were for the most part the original wilds, through which roamed the native Indian, but little advanced in civilization by his contact with the whites. Accordingly, religious services were infrequently held, and then for the most part by some young zealot who came here with the same feeling that the modern missionary carries...
