History

Stewartstown Presbyterian Church

celebrated 180 years in 2022 !!

1842 - 2024

      In 1839 the Union Church of Mechanicsburg was built at a cost of $1,200 and was used by different denominations in the neighborhood. It was the home of the Presbyterian congregation until 1862. The church was located at the site of the present-day Stewartstown United Methodist Church.

      On March 26, 1842 a meeting was held at the Union Church for the purpose of organizing a Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Stephen Boyer presided and Hugh Fulton acted as a Secretary. Archibald Thompson and David K. Ebaugh were elected Ruling Elders for  the new congregation. Hugh Fulton, Edie Patterson, and William Wilson were elected a “Committee To Superintend the Fiscal Concerns” of the church which was organized with seven members.

      During the pastorate of Rev. John Young Cowhick two acres of land were conveyed to the Trustees of the church for the sum of $105. On this ground, the site of our present church, a colonial brick building was erected at a cost of $2,500 in 1862.

      In 1885 the church property was repaired and beautified with a bell tower addition and stained glass windows. In 1896 the building was wrecked by a cyclonic storm. The present church was erected on the foundation of the old building at a cost of $15,000 during 1897 and dedicated on February 8, 1898.

      The church was redecorated and a pipe organ installed in 1924. In 1934 excavation was done to put a social room under the church. The men of the church gave generously of their time and the cash outlay for the project was just $900.

      In 1937 Mr. Walter Shaw gave the church $18,000 in order to erect a manse in memory of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Shaw. The new manse replaced the one purchased by the congregation in 1894 (40 N. Main Street).

      In the fall of 1955 construction was begun for a $47,000 Sunday school addition to the church building. A dedication to finalize this building program took place on June 16, 1957.

      As 1963 approached the time seemed right to make some long-awaited changes to our sanctuary. The long rows of theatre seats were replaced with new church pews from North Carolina, a new grille and panel on the right side of the pulpit, a new grand piano and new electric lights were the large items.

      In the fall of 2004 our congregation celebrated the completion of the new Fellowship Center. It began with a dedication service on October 10 and was followed with a Community Open House on October 23-24. This was followed by a Phase 2 reconstruction of the old social room and the lower floor of the Christian Education wing. The men of the congregation did most of the work for this renovation project.

      As we celebrate our 180th anniversary may we continue to serve the Lord and reach out  to those in need of His guidance.