Chester County PA Archives Mt. Olivet Free Christian Church History

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Fred Kelso Pennsylguy@aol.com November 23, 2005, 11:00 pm


Mt. Olivet Free Christian Church aka “Plummerite Church”, corner of Walker and 
Mt. Olivet Roads, Franklin Township (near Kemblesville), Chester County, PA.  
Ruins of brick church. 

Futhey & Cope, History of Chester Co., PA
“Christian Church”
About 1845 to 1850, Elder Frederick Plummer, a minister of the denomination 
calling themselves "Christians" came into this county and preached in a grove 
near Kimbleville.  He continued to hold services and made converts to his 
faith, who erected a brick church edifice about 2 miles SW of
Kimbleville, in Franklin twp, which they called Mt Olivet, and where a church 
of that persuasion was organized.  Elder Charles H Plummer, a nephew of 
Frederick Plummer, was pastor for a few years and was succeeded by Elder Wm H 
Pittman.  A Mr Parvin also preached there for a time.  About 1878 and
1879, Rev David Somers, of the church of the Disciples, in Penn twp preached 
there and superintended a Sunday-school.  The church is now unoccupied for 
religious purposes (1881).  The membership is not numerous.

Village Record; August 15, 1848

Dedication

The First Free Christian Chapel, of Chester County, Pa., situate on Mt. Olivet, 
in New London township [Franklin was later formed formed out of New London], 
about 1 ¼ miles southwest of Kimbleville, near Mackey’s mills, will be 
dedicated to the worship of God on Sabbath day, August 20th, 1848, at 10 
o’clock, A.M.  Rev. Charles Henry Plummer, will preach on the occasion.  Other 
ministers will participate.

Village Record; June 14, 1853

Rev. Charles Henry Plummer, of Mount Olivet, Chester county, has received and 
accepted a call from Central Union Church of Taunton, Mass. To become their 
pastor and to which place he has removed.


CP (newspaper); July 1, 1874

Mt. Olivet Church

Mr. Editor: - Permit me to give your many readers a short account of Mt. Olivet 
Church and Sabbath School, in Franklin Township.  This church is a neat 
building, with basement in which day school is held, situated on the road 
leading from Spring Lawn Mills to Kimbleville.  It stands on a little eminence, 
partly surrounded by woodland.  It was built about thirty years ago, by a 
society calling themselves Free Christian Baptists, but more generally known as 
Plummerites, from the fact of Elder Fredrick Plummer being their first leader 
in these parts and two of his nephews ministers at this church for a time.  
Large numbers of people attended the meetings and meetings for baptism [sic].  
Presbyterians and other denominations spoke against them, and they were charged 
with being sorinians [sic].  After a few years they declined and the 
congregation was unable to pay a minister.  For a time they held meetings 
without a minister, but finally the church was closed and several years it was 
unoccupied, even for Sabbath school purposes.  An effort was made some five or 
six years ago to gather a congregation under Elder Parvin, and for a time it 
seemed to be successful, but owing to some misunderstanding he left them and 
for three or four years the building was again unoccupied.

The present spring application was made for the church to hold a union Sabbath 
school in.  The request was granted and the school organized.  It is as yet but 
small, having some 30 or 35 scholars; but the number is still increasing, with 
a prospect of a good school.  Charles Ramsey, Presbyterian, is superintendent; 
Joseph Price, radical Methodist, assistant superintendent; John Tweed, E. 
Methodist, secretary.  The school meets at 9 ½ o’clock each Sabbath morning.  
The friends of Sabbath schools of all denominations are invited to visit this 
school.  It is in a field where labor is needed and we trust will be blest.

A TEACHER, Franklin,  June 24, 1874



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