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SCRUBGRASS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
THE STONE CHURCH



Old Stone Church - Scrubgrass Township - built in 1845 / photo 2008

From "The Historical Album and Daily Program, Venango County Sesquicentennial - 1805 - 1955"

Scrubgrass Presbyterian Church - The Stone Church - is the oldest existing church in Venango County. It is believed to have been started in the 1790s but the exact date is not available because of a fire which burned all records. It is located about four miles from Emlenton and it is ministered to the religious needs of the settlers for a radius of twenty miles. Daughter churches are located at Rockland, Richland, Nickleville, Emlenton, Clintonville, New Salem and Allegheny.

Services were at first conducted in a tent in the grove; by 1803, in a log church; by 1815, in a frame building which was rather modern in that it contained six real glass windows, new pulpit and pews, but no stove at first; and in 1845, the present stone structure was built to accommodate the congregation especially on Communion Sabbaths when the table was used - a custom not seen in the regular Presbyterian Churches.

In 1800, the first sermon was preached by the Reverend M. William Morehead in the home of Mrs. Abigail Coulter, located about forty rods from the present building. The first public services were held under a large oak tree, still standing, on the top of the hill near Crawford's Corners, just across the line in Butler County.

Twenty young men of the church entered the ministry and seven women served in home and foreign mission fields.

On the church property is a Chapel, formerly an academy established in 1875 through the efforts of The Reverend Dr. J. R. Coulter. Here the Vacation Bible School is held.

The building is 110 years old (in 1955) and it is the only building in the county used by the same congregation for that length of time. But she still stands - the Old Stone Church as God's sentinel to the members in all denominations. May the good she has done be increased more and more.

See also: http://www.blessings.org/stories/archive/scrub.ihtml
History of the Scrubgrass Presbyterian Church
extracted by Jefferis Kent Peterson
Grove City, PA, USA

Contributor
Penny Kulbacki
minnick862@verizon.net

Rockland Methodist Episcopal Church
( Rockland United Methodist Church)

Rockland Methodist Episcopal Church, was organized in 1825 by Reverend Dorsey, of the Shippenville circut, at the home of David Smith, and was where the early services were held.

    Originally the congrgation consisted of seven members:
  • David Smith
  • Mary Smith
  • Peter Lovell
  • Polly Lovell
  • Mrs. Lovell ( Peter Lovell's mother)
  • John Prior
  • Hannah Prior
During the Revival held in 1830-31 by Rev. J.C. Ayers, the congregation increased to 30-60members. At this time services were held in the Billy Hughes Grist Mill on theRockland-Kennerdale road (now known as Potter's Falls). It was here that the first SundaySchool was organized in 1833.


    The early Pastors included the following men:
  • Rev. I.C. Sacket
  • Rev.A.A. Callender
  • Rev. J. Johnson
  • Rev. Job Wilson
  • Rev.John Scott
  • Rev. A. Jackson
In 1832, a log church was erected at the cost of $500.00. The land for this first building wasdeeded to the Trustees for $1.00 dollar cash, by John McKean.

    The Trustees at this time were:
  • G. Gates
  • W. Smith
  • W. Hughes
  • P.L. Pryor
  • P. Smith


    In 1848 the church was incorporated by the following men:

  • Jacob Smith
  • E. Chadwick
  • Ellis Hughes
  • James Hughes
  • George Gates
  • J.P. Penn
  • Mr. Hunter

    The Pastor of this first Church building was the Rev. Job Wilson.
    After the Rockland Circut was formed in 1862, the following recieved appointments, and served as Pastor:
  • Rev. C.W. Bear, 1862-63
  • Rev. A.H. Bowers, 1864-65
  • Rev. J. Abbot, 1866-67
  • Rev. R.B. Boyd, 1868-70
  • Rev. McVey Troy, 1871
  • Rev. J.W. Wilson, 1872
  • Rev. E.M. Kemick, 1873-74
  • Rev. W.M. Taylor, 1875-76
  • Rev. W.S. Shepard, 1877-78
  • Rev. J. Garnett, 1879-80
  • Rev. R.M. Felt, 1881-83
  • Rev. W.A. Baker, 1884-85
  • Rev. L.W. Showers, 1886
  • Rev. W.E. Frampton, 1887-88

    With the increase in membership in this Congregation a new church was built in 1866-67, on landdonated by Jacob Smith. Land for the cemetery was jointly given by Daniel Smith and Abraham Lusher.


    Early active members who served as Class Leaders included:

  • Jno. Lusher
  • Henry Holliday
  • J.B. Maitland
  • J. Boney
  • S. Borland


    Serving as Exhorter and Recording Secretary:

  • D.B. Hetzler


    Serving as Sunday School Superintendant:

  • W.E. Askey

During the life of this active congregation it has been known by three names:Rockland Methodist Episcopal Church, 1825-1939The Methodist Church, 1939-1971Rockland United Methodist Church, 1971-PresentThis final name change came in 1971 when the merger with the Evamgelical United Betheren, wasapproved by the Erie Conference.

Sources:
History of Venango County, It's Past and Present
Venango County Pennsylvania Cemetery Records and Early Church Histories.
Contributor
Mike Gordon
Mgpaky@aol.com

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