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The 'Official History'
The Cumberland Presbyterian
Church had its origin in A.D. 1910, in Dickson County, Tennessee.
The first member of that denomination residing in Dunbar Township was
Henry Leighty, who came from Harmony, Westmoreland County, Pa., and
settled at East Liberty. Not only was he the first, but he was also
the only member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the vicinity of
his place of settlement for several years. It was at his invitation
and solicitation that, in the year of 1832, the Reverend Isaac Hague, a
Cumberland Presbyterian preacher, came to this neighborhood to hold
religious services. His preaching was so effective that in a short
time he had gathered a congregation of earnest members. When
compelled to transfer his labors to some other portion of the country he
arranged to have the Rev. A.M. Blackford assigned to the care of the East
Liberty congregation.
The result of Mr. Blackford's ministration
led to his 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.
Henry Leighty was chosen ruling elder in
the spring of 1839. Rev. Mr. Blackford retired from the charge, and
Elder Leighty removed from the bounds of the congregation. Several
members moved away. This brought a time of despondency to the little
group of worshippers left to carry on.
During the summer of 1839 and 1840, Rev. A.
Shearer supplied occasional preaching, and as the few remaining members of
the church exercised themselves with most earnest diligence to sustain the
organization, it remained intact.
From April, 1841, to April, 1842, there was
scarcely any preaching, but in the spring of 1842, Elder Leighty returned
to re-awaken the slumbering interest, and in response to his request to
Union Presbytery for a minister, Jesse Adams, a licentiate, was assigned
to preach here a portion of the time. His labors were attended with
gratifying success, and during the year Joseph Evans, Joseph Martin, Mary
Martin, David Leighty, John Ash, Ann Oglevee, George Boyer, Francis
Leighty, Ann Secrist, Mary Work, Francis Varns, Conrad Strickler and
Elizabeth Strickler were brought into the church.
Jesse Oglevee was ordained ruling elder by
Rev. S.E. Hudson on June 17, 1843. During 1845 a house of worship
was erected, and there was a substantial promise of much permanent
prosperity. The building was a small brick structure standing on the
present site of the church. Prior to this time the congregation met
in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Liberty, and at times in the school
building.
The membership in March, 1881, was about
three hundred. The greater portion of them worshipped at the East
Liberty Church, and the remainder at Summit Chapel, south of East Liberty,
where a meeting house provided for the convenience of such members of the
congregation as lived in that vicinity. Rev. Ken C. Hayes, called in
1879 to be pastor, held services at both places.
In 1867 the building erected in 1845 was
torn down, and replaced by a larger brick building. Known as the
East Liberty Church it was actually located at Alexandria. The
elders in March 1881, were Joseph Crop, David Snyder, E.B. Porter,
Farrington Oglevee, Joseph Oglevee. The trustees were J.L. Momyer,
L.L. Collins, Watson Dunn, M.L. Stoner, Phillip Oglevee.
Rev. E.B. Elliot, called to be pastor
during 1888, occupied a parsonage situated on Vanderbilt hill. In
1902 the James Clark property opposite the Rainey Store was purchased for
the use of Rev. F.A. Sharpe. During Rev. James H. Mayne's pastorate
the present parsonage was erected at a cost of $8,286. Begun in
1921, it was completed in 1922.
An addition was made to the church in
1913. Rev. E.C. Musselman was minister at the time. Being
skilled as an architect, he designed the front portion of the building
that contains the kitchen, Sunday School rooms, bellfry, etc. The
first bell was purchased in 1913. It cracked within a year and was
replaced by the present bell without additional cost in 1914.
Dr. E.B. Shaw, who served the church
between 1925 and 1929, took an interest in the appearance of the church
lawn. It was he who planted the trees, doing the work himself.
At the beginning of his pastorate the church was struggling under a huge
debt. Interest was lagging and people had stopped
contributing. The faithful ones, however, opened a dining room at
the Dawson Fair Grounds for the fairs of 1925 and 1926. As many as
80 people helped each day to serve 1200. $2,000 was raised during
the two fairs.
At the conclusion of S. Earl Gay's
pastorate in 1933 the church continued for five years without a
minister. Divine Worship continued with supply pastors occupying the
pulpit every Sunday. The church held firm, refusing to retreat
during those years without a leader. On May 1, 1938, S. Kenneth
Johnson, a student at Western Theological Seminary, was called to minister
to the spiritual needs of the congregation, and is serving at the time of
this centennial.
Within the last few weeks robes have been
purchased for the choir. A bulletin board has been erected in the
church yard and an illuminated cross installed in the church.
The trustees are: H.O. Budd, Miss Grace
Snyder, and Paul H. Collins.
The Elders are: Mrs. Adah Harper, Mrs.
Nellie Strickler, C.C. Collins, Howard Dunn, B.F. McManus, Waynewright
Strickler, H.F. Snyder, and E.T. Budd, Moderator of the
Congregation. Dr. J.W. Witherspoon is Moderator of the
Session. The pastor, S. Kenneth Johnson is unordained.
To June 1, 1860, the number of persons
received into membership totaled 310. To 1881 the members received
numbered 627. By April, 1903, they were 1,073 communicants enrolled
since the organization of the church. At that time the membership
was about 225 members. Since 1903 there have been 661 addition to
the church, making a total of 1,734 members enrolled at the date of the
centennial. The membership at the present time is 272. 39
members have been received up to this time during the year 1938.
There is every indication that the church
has been victorious. The congregation of East Liberty Presbyterian
Church, Vanderbilt, Pa. enters a new century TRIUMPHANTLY!
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Historical
Information Added 2003-Present
East Liberty Cumberland Presbyterian Church
received its Charter of Corporation in 1915. The name of the church
was officially changed to East Liberty Presbyterian Church in 1960, when
the church ceased to be a member of the Cumberland denomination.
The Dedication of the new Christian
Education Wing was held on Sunday, September 29, 1957. James Watt
was the minister at the time, and the Dedication Address was given by the
Rev. Irving R. Phillips of Drayton Ave. Presbyterian Church, Ferndale, MI.
The Dedication Service for the Remodeled
Sanctuary was held on June 25, 1961. James Watt was still the
minister at this time, and the Sermon was given by the Rev. William
Silbert.
The First Presbyterian Church in nearby
Dawson was incorporated in 1899. Beginning in 1952, the East Liberty
and Dawson churches shared a pastor, and essentially became 'sister
churches'. In the early 1960's, the Dawson church fell on hard
times, and it closed on October 31, 1962. The last services were
held there on October 28, 1962. Many members of the 1st Pres of
Dawson transferred their memberships to East Liberty Pres. Also, by
vote of their Session, the congregation bequeathed to East Liberty a
Communion Set, brass offering plates, and carpeting. We are grateful
for the presence of these members in our church, and for the generosity of
their Session.
For those who are interested in musical
instruments, the church owns a 1968 Rodgers organ (original purchase price
$5,800) and an electronic piano/keyboard. The Organ Dedication was
held on March 16, 1969 with a recital by Mrs. Millard D. Hess.
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