AREA HISTORY:  The First Presbyterian Church, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – Page 535

Its beginning may be traced back beyond the date of the Declaration of 
Independence.  For Several years a little band of Presbyterians, without any 
formal church organization, were ministered to by the Rev. Mr. Hanna, of the 
Presbytery of Carlisle.  In 1785, George Irwin, William Scott and Archibald 
McLean purchased the lot on the corner of High and Queen Streets “in trust, for 
the use of the Religious Society of English Presbyterians.”  On this lot, in 
1790, the first house of worship was erected, a plain brick building.  In March, 
1793, this congregation was united with the Round Hill Church, in Hopewell 
Township, in a call to the Rev. Robert Cathcart, of the Presbytery of 
Philadelphia, which was accepted.  Of the twenty-four signers of York to that 
call no descendants remain, excepting those of Jennet Grier and William 
McClellan.  William Harris, another of the signers, was grandfather of Hon. S. 
Morrison Harris, of Baltimore, and Hon. James Smith, another, whose remains are 
n the churchyard, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

In the year 1813, the congregation, was incorporated by the legislature.  In 
1835, near the close of Dr. Cathcart’s pastorate, the old church edifice was 
remodeled and prepared for the accommodation of the synod of Philadelphia, which 
met in October of that year.  This synod became famous for the trial of Rev. 
Albert Barnes, the distinguished commentator, for alleged heresies of doctrinal 
opinion and teaching.  The entire community became greatly interested.  The 
trial terminated in a vote of suspension by a majority of the court, to which 
the accused meekly submitted until it was set aside by the general assembly in 
the following May, and he was restored to the exercise of his ministry.  The 
sympathies of a large proportion of this people were undoubtedly with Mr. 
Barnes, and when, in 1837, the great division of the Presbyterian Church took 
place, they, with their pastor, for the most part adhered to the exscinded or 
new school branch.  A minority, however, who preferred connection with the old 
school, organized a board of trustees, and made an attempt to obtain possession 
of the church property.  An action for ejectment was brought by them in the York 
County Court (April, 1840, Judge Hays of Lancaster, presiding), but was decided 
for the defendants, which decision was affirmed by the supreme court at 
Harrisburg, May, 1841.

For several years the old school party kept up a separate organization under the 
pastoral care of Rev. Stephen Boyer, but at length the enterprise was abandoned 
and most of its supporters returned to the other church.

Dr. Cathcart, owing to the infirmities of age, resigned his long pastorate in 
1837, and was succeeded by Rev. Benjamin J. Wallace, of the Presbytery of 
Muhlenburgh, Ky.  He continued until September, 1845, when he accepted a 
professorship in Delaware College.

In November of that year, Rev. Daniel Hopkins Emerson commenced his labors as 
pastor elect, and continued until April, 1855, when failing eyesight obliged him 
to accept an agency.  He was succeeded by Rev. Charles J. Hutchins, a licentiate 
of the Presbytery of Erie, whose pastorate of four years was marked by large 
additions to the church, and by initiatory steps for the erection of a new house 
of worship.

In December, 1859, Rev. Thomas Street, of Philadelphia, was chosen pastor, and 
the four years of his ministry are memorable for all the excitement and changes 
growing out of the war of the Rebellion, and also for the activity and 
enlargement connected with the erection of the present beautiful church.

In December, 1864, Rev. Henry E. Niles, then located at Albion, N. Y., was 
called to the pastorate.  He was installed by the Presbytery of Harrisburg in 
April following, and during the twenty years of his ministry just finished, the 
church has enjoyed an almost uniform course of prosperity.

From Dr. Niles’ recent anniversary discourse it appears that from 117 attending 
members the church has grown to 440.  Its Sabbath-school, missionary societies, 
and work in the mission chapel are well sustained, and it has recently sent out 
twenty-six of its number to form the beginning of the Calvary Presbyterian 
Church in the southern part of York.

The Presbyterian Church building is delightfully located on East Market Street.  
The Sunday-school has been ably superintended by Dr. J. W. Kerr for more than a 
quarter of a century.  The parsonage adjoins the church.