Laurel Hill Church celebrates 230th anniversary
A special worship service will take place Sunday at 10 a.m. at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church in Dunbar Township as the congregation celebrates its 230th anniversary. Laurel Hill is the oldest Presbyterian church west of the Allegheny Mountains. “We’re all excited,’ said Kerry McGaughey, chairwoman of the anniversary committee and one of the church elders.
“We have a lot of history but we need a new future,’ said Gene Sabatula, historian, elder and anniversary committee member.
“This is the beginning of a new era for us,’ remarked Dee Strong, another of the elders and a member of the anniversary committee. “We’re going to begin a search to fill the pulpit.’
Currently without a pastor, Laurel Hill’s anniversary service will be led by lay minister Dorothy Come.
The church, which is located on Laurel Hill Road, will also welcome the Rev. Dr. Douglas Holbin, executive director of the Redstone Presbytery, as guest speaker.
Special music will be provided by Kevin Logan, Eugene Lint, Don and Mary Hough, Susan and Abby Lilly, Gretchen and Katie Heisler. There will be a balloon-release for children after the service and light refreshments will follow in the social hall.
The congregation is comprised of 70 members, with the following serving as elders: Clerk of session Clark Junk, McGaughey, Strong, Sabatula, Eric Glisan and Sheri Scully.
The elders are all part of the anniversary committee. Also helping with the anniversary are Henrietta Junk, Joanne Kieta and Pollyanna Glisan as well as numerous volunteers.
The congregation has released the following history of its church:
“The original church was erected in October, 1772, with windows of paper or linen glazed with lard or bear grease to hold services in inclement weather. If the weather was nice, services were held under the trees outdoors. The church was located about two and one-half miles east of its present location. The cemetery headstones bear dates starting at 1778.
“The Rev. James Power, a licensed preacher from the New Castle Presbytery, was the first to hold services here and later supplied Dunlap Creek and Tyrone. Dunlap Creek services started in September, 1774. Rev. Power traveled between churches, not knowing what was going to happen as it was written, he was reported killed by Indians, only to appear at his scheduled service.
“The Redstone Presbytery, authorized to be organized, May 16, 1781, with boundaries set as the Allegheny Mountains to the East, Lake Erie to the North, Virginia to the South, and the setting sun in the West. The Synod’s first meeting was set to be held at Laurel Hill Church in September 1781 but due to the incursion of Indians in Washington County, the principals were advised not to travel too far and the meeting was held at Pigeon Creek Church near Waynesburg.
“The Rev. James Dunlap followed Rev. Powers, who was installed as pastor in connection with the Dunlap Creek Church, which also became known as one of the mother churches of western Pennsylvania. Rev. Dunlap, a Chester County native and Princeton graduate, came from the Presbytery of Donegal.
“The second meeting house was erected in 1782, also of logs, on the present site of this church. Rev. Dunlap remained pastor until 1803, when he became the president of Jefferson College, later known as Washington and Jefferson College. Under Rev. Dunlap’s pastorate, a division of the congregation occurred with one-third of the congregation forming the Associated Reformed Congregation with a meeting place on a hall opposite this site.
“The Rev. James Guthrie followed Rev. Dunlap until December 1848. Records show he performed 272 marriage ceremonies, accepting as payment anything from a sack of potatoes to a pig.
“The Rev. Joel Stoneroad of the Washington Presbytery was called to co-pastor until 1861, when Laurel Hill became his only church. The congregation grew under Rev. Stoneroad and the two-story brick building known as the old church was built. Bethel Chapel, located four miles away at the foot of the mountains, was also erected.
“In 1858, the name was changed to Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church. Rev. Stoneroad resigned in 1878 and died in 1884 at his home near Dunbar. History states that the pastorate of the three ministers: Revs. Dunlap, Guthrie and Stoneroad, lasted over 100 years and each has a final resting place in the cemetery adjoining the church.
“Rev. Fulton, a stated supply, filled in until Rev. Gailey pastored from 1879 to 1882. Rev. Bergen served until 1888 and dedicated the Stoneroad Chapel at Phillips. In November 1888, the Rev. J.B. Reed arrived from Fairmont, W.Va., and was the pastor for 28 years. Membership increased to about 350 and Franklin Memorial was dedicated in the Spillway Lake area.
“During the latter years of his pastorate, membership declined, Stoneroad Chapel separated from the mother church, members sold their farms for coal mining and moved to other areas and became active in other churches.
Rev. Reed was the first to occupy the first manse owned by the congregation.
“Construction began on the present church in 1897 and was dedicated in June 1898. In 1900, the Stoneroad Chapel members separated from Laurel Hill Church to form an independent organization known as Franklin Chapel.
“Rev. Reed resigned in September, 1916, and held his farewell sermon in October, 1916, and became pastor emeritus until his death in 1924. It is documented that Rev. Reed was well liked by the congregation.
The list of ministers that served to present includes: Rev. Russel from 1917-1920; Rev. Weisz from 1921-24; Rev. Robb, 1925-24; Rev. McKee, 1934-38; Rev. Bingham, 1942-46; Rev. Thompson, 1949-54; Rev. Zorn, 1956-58; Rev. Eble, 1957-61; Rev. Briggs, 1958-60; Rev. Harford, 1962-66; Rev. Mather, 1965-68; Rev. House, 1970-74; Rev. Dilley, 1974-76; Rev. Henry, 1976-80; Rev. Beckes, January to August 1980; the Rev. Albert Beckes Jr., a student pastor from 1981-83; the Rev. Kazanjian, November 1983-December 1984 and January 1985-Septebmer 1990; Rev. Ackinclose, December 1990 to January 1992; lay ministers, 1992-96; Rev. Menlcha, November 1992-December 1996; lay ministers through 1999; Rev. Norton, December 1999-September 2002 and now lay ministers.