Founded 1772

Still Serving.....2012

The following excerpts are taken from the:  "History of Westmoreland County" by George Dallas Albright, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts & Co., 1882

 We are proud of our unique history and strive to uphold the pioneer tradition.

 The words in brackets were added for clarification

Rev. James Powers (Our First Pastor)

JAMES POWER, D.D., first visited the new settlements (in Westmoreland County) in 1774.  He was born in Chester County, Pa., in 1746, graduated at Princeton in 1766, licensed by the Presbytery of New Castle (Delaware) June 24, 1772.  In 1776 he  was ordained by the same Presbytery "sine titulo", the reason being that "he was about to remove to the western parts of this Provence."  Mr. Power moved across the mountains with all his family and household effects packed on horseback. The minister carried the eldest daughter on a pillion (a cushion behind the saddle) behind him, and the youngest in his arms.  The two other daughters were seated in baskets hung on either side of another horse, the mother on a third, and the household effects on other horses. After performing missionary work for some five years he became pastor of the churches of Sewickley and Mount Pleasant. In 1787 he was released from the charge of the Sewickley Church, but continued with Mount Pleasant until 1817.   He died August 5, 1830, aged eighty five years.  Mr. Power was of medium height, erect, slender, graceful in manner, and extremely neat in dress; as a preacher he was clear, methodical, and evangelical.

MOUNT PLEASANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

This is one of the oldest churches in the West. It is situate about two miles from the town of Mount Pleasant in a northeast direction, and was in old times commonly called the Middle Church. The graveyard attached was used as a place of burial probably as early as 1773, the date of the county organization.  The congregation, according to Dr. Smith, in "Old Redstone," was organized as early as 1776,when Dr. Power removed to the western country.  It was supplied by him from that period till the spring of 1779, when he became the pastor of the united congregations of Mount Pleasant and Sewickley. On the 22d of August, 1787, he was dismissed from Sewickley, and continued the pastor of Mount Pleasant till April 15, 1817, when, from age and infirmity, he resigned his charge. It continued vacant till April 18, 1821,when the Rev. A. O. Patterson, D.D., was ordained and installed pastor of the united congregations of Mount Pleasant and Sewickley.  This relation continued till Oct. 8, 1834. 

Soon after the Rev. S. Montgomery became its pastor, April, 1836. On May 19, 1840, the congregation was unhappily divided, a part adhering to the New School division (this was a division on the issue of slavery).  In this weakened and crippled state of the congregation it formed a connection with Greensburg.  The Rev. James J. Brownson became the pastor Nov. 25, 1841, and was dismissed in January, 1849. In 1849 these congregations united in a call to the Rev. William D. Moore, who became their pastor soon after. In October, 1851, Mr. Moore resigned the pastoral charge of Mount Pleasant. On the 14th of April, 1852, the Rev. William W. McLain received and accepted a call from them, and was installed their pastor soon after, in 1852.   Rev. John M. Barnett was supply or pastor from December, 1861, until October,1869; Rev. John McMillan, D.D., from 1870 until 1873; Rev. W. F. Ewing, the present pastor, was installed in June, 1874.

The history of the Middle Church is full of historic and local interest.  On the 9th of October, 1874, the three congregations of Mount Pleasant (Middle Church), Mount Pleasant Town, and Pleasant Unity, which have grown from the first congregation, held with appropriate ceremonials and services the "centennial celebration of the planting of the Presbyterian Church of Mount Pleasant, Pa.," the proceedings of which were afterwards published in a neat pamphlet. As it is accessible to most of those who are more than ordinarily interested in the subject, we shall not enter into the interesting details which it gives, It is commendable in the highest degree to those who first suggested the idea, and those who so successfully carried the project to consummation.

We are Indebted here for the kind offices of the present (1882) pastor, Rev. W..F. Ewing.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EARLY SERVICE

The meetings then of the early pastors with the people, before there were regularly organized congregations, were in the open air.  A pulpit of logs was temporarily erected, and log seats resting on the ground upon stones answered for those who wished to sit, but. it was. commonly the custom of the men and boys to remain standing, leaning against trees. The men, as was their usual custom, came to preaching with their guns. The pulpit when covered .with boards was called a tent. In warm weather, clothing being very scarce, the men frequently came to meeting without coats, and the (circuit riding) preacher, before reading the Psalm, usually took off his coat and spoke in his shirt sleeves.  In cold or inclement weather the people brought with them blankets and coverlets, and greatcoats  and they sometimes built huge fires. 

When the catechumens had assembled at the Old Brush Creek Church before one Easter, it being raw and cold, the pastor, Rev. Weber, directed the young men to build a brush-heap near the church and fire it during the intermission between the forenoon and afternoon sessions, that they might gather around it and warm themselves till they were called back to the cold building.

 A copy of the original 1790 US Census for James Powers with transcription: