PCUSA

Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Our Church's History

East Liberty Presbyterian Church, now a member of the PCUSA, was originally organized in 1838 as a Cumberland Presbyterian congregation.  The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was essentially the result of a revival that swept through Tennessee, Kentucky, Western Pennsylvania, and other frontier areas of the late 1700's-early 1800's.

The Cumberland Presbyterian movement was founded by a group of dissenters from the mainline Presbyterian church of the early 1800's.  The main problem the Cumberlanders had with the rest of the Presbyterian church was the common practice of ordaining seminary-trained ministers who had education but lacked a Christian lifestyle, and lived in "drunkenness, wrangling, licentiousness, and heresy".  The Cumberlanders believed one's lifestyle should be a reflection of one's relationship with God, and believed the power of the Holy Spirit was available to all who earnestly sought it.  While not Pentecostals, the founding Cumberlanders witnessed miraculous healings, and were in many ways forerunners of the Pentecostal and camp-meeting movements of the later 1800's.

'Official' History of ELPC

Earliest History - Oglevee Memoirs, 1894

Our History in Pictures

Church Milestones 
(100th, 125th, 150th and 175th Anniversaries)

The Church's Graveyard & Genaology Information

Historical Membership Rosters

Family Histories

Modern Photos

Local History and Sights

Help Us Solve a Mystery!

Additionally, with graduates of seminaries in short supply, many frontier churches found themselves unable to hire "qualified" ministers.  The Cumberlanders believed it was enough for a person to be immersed in Scripture, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and called by God to serve in the church, and were among the first Presbyterian churches to allow women and blacks in the pulpit.  Click here to read more about the history of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

The first member of the Cumberland denomination residing in Dunbar Township was Henry Leighty, who came from Harmony, Westmoreland County, Pa., and settled at East Liberty. In 1832, the Reverend Isaac Hague, a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher, came to East Liberty to hold religious services. His preaching was so effective that in a short time he had gathered a congregation. When he was transferred to another portion of the country, he arranged to have the Rev. A.M. Blackford assigned to the East Liberty congregation.

The result of Mr. Blackford's ministration led to the organization of the East Liberty Cumberland Presbyterian Church on July 2, 1838. The organizing members were: Henry Leighty, Catherine Ash, Jane Cooley, Nancy Leighty, Susan Leighty, Eliza Leighty and Polly Little.  At its inception, and for the first few years of its history, the church was home-based.

In 1845 the first house of worship was erected, and there was substantial promise of permanent prosperity.  The building was a small brick structure standing on the present site of the church.  In 1867 the first building was torn down and replaced by a larger brick building, which still stands today.  Click here to read the 'official' history of ELPC or click here to read the Oglevee Memoirs.

In 1913 an addition was made to the church, containing the kitchen (now the narthex), Sunday School room, and belfry.  The present parsonage was begun in 1921 and completed in 1922.  A second addition was made to the church in 1957 in back of the original building, and contained the current kitchen, fellowship hall, bathrooms, office space, and more Sunday School rooms.  The sanctuary was remodeled and re-dedicated in 1961.