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| A brief history of the Derry Presbyterian Church |
The history of Presbyterianism in Derry goes back to the time that our members of that faith worshipped in what is known as the Old Salem Church. The Salem congregation was established in 1776, just one year after the beginning of the American colonies' struggle for independence from Great Britain. The first settlers in this part of the country were principally Scotch-Irish from the north of Ireland - a hardy, industrious and moral people, among whom the Presbyterian faith largely predominated. When these Scotch-Irish emigrated to America and continued their migration westward through the province of Pennsylvania, they brought with them their kirk (church). This ecclesiastical unit of the Presbyterian family eventually became the basis of the Presbyterian Church in the USA.
The settlers in this area, having built their log cabins as best they could and beginning to feel a little comfortable in them, began to think of religious services. Many felt the need for the living ministry among themselves. With a view to that need, they selected a location near the center of Derry Township, in a depression at the southern base of a hill called the "Sugar Loaf". A sturdy frame tent was erected, and a large number of logs laid for seats. An aisle was left in the center, in which was laid a hewn log raised sufficiently to serve as a Communion table. This became the meeting place for a large congregation and a church was organized here to which the name of "Salem" was given. The name means "peace" and this was to be a "house of peace". The people came here from the surrounding country side to worship God. But as their numbers increased, it became apparent that a more permanent building was needed. So in the last decade of the eighteenth century a large and substantial log building, 70 X 40 feet in dimension and capable of holding from 600 to 800 worshippers, was erected replacing the frame building referred to as a "tent"
At this time there were no other churches of Presbyterian or of any other denomination in Derry Township, nor for a considerable distance around. The nearest churches were the Presbyterian Church of Unity in Unity Township, of Fairfield in Fairfield Township and Congruity in Salem Township (without a building) and of Ebenezer in Indiana County. The towns of Blairsville, Derry and Latrobe were not yet in existence. Although the village of New Alexandria was growing along the banks of the Loyalhanna Creek, there was no church there. So the old log church of Salem was the pioneer and, in one sense, the mother of the two dozen or more churches of various denominations now occupying the same bounds.
For a number of years after the organization of the church the congregations of Salem and Unity were ministered to by supplies (they had no full-time pastor - pastors were "supplied" to them by the local Presbytery. Not until September 11, 1790 was the Reverend John McPherson installed as the first pastor of both the Salem and Unity churches.
Early in the year of 1848, someone (some stories say a young boy, others say an older church member) while kindling a fire in the wood stove at Salem filled the stove with shavings and the strong draft carried them blazing to the roof where the flames proved to be uncontrollable. The venerated sanctuary was reduced to smoldering ashes. Undaunted by the tragedy, the members of Salem immediately went to work and erected the present brick building on the site of the old building in the same year. The dimensions of this building are 45 feet by 55 feet, much smaller than the former one but sufficiently large enough to accommodate the congregation which had now been reduced by emigration and the formation of other churches in the area.
(There a few photographs of the Old Salem Church here.)
One of these new churches was the Derry Presbyterian Church, established in 1876 five years before the cluster of houses along the mainline of the Pennsylvania Railroad would become incorporated as a borough. Since a number of the inhabitants of Derry Station (mostly railroad men) were of the Presbyterian faith, the need was felt for a house of worship to accommodate them. So in 1876 a meeting was called at the old brick school house which stood on the site of the present United Methodist Church. The Reverend John B. Barnett preached and gave to the group the impetus which was needed to build a house of worship. A resolution was passed authorizing the organization of a Presbyterian Church in Derry. Three building lots were secured at the corner of North Chestnut and Third Streets and construction of a frame building was started in the summer of 1875 and completed in the spring of 1876. On April 2, 1876, the Derry Presbyterian Church was dedicated with Doctor George P. Hayes, President of Washington and Jefferson College, preaching and conducting the services.
On April 4, 1876, just two days after the dedication of the building, the congregation was officially organized by a committee of the Presbytery of Blairsville with a charter membership of sixty - thirty-two by certificate and twenty-eight by examination. Three elders were elected: Samuel Wilson, John G. Alexander and John W. Barnett. The first meeting of the Session was held April 15, 1876 when Mr. Alexander was elected Clerk of Session. For several years thereafter the Derry Church and the Salem Church were under the leadership of one pastor, Reverend David R. McCaslin, of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Subsequently, Rev. McCaslin resigned the Salem charge and became the full-time pastor of the Derry Church. His salary was increased by $300.00 annually and the free use of the manse.
As the congregation was growing rapidly, the need of a larger building became evident. On Sunday, July 28, 1885, Holy Communion was celebrated for the last time in the old church.
Just twenty years after the first building was erected, on March 29, 1896, the present church building was dedicated to the service of Almighty God. The architect and builder was George Mowry (photo here), a member of the congregation. The cost of the building, including foundation, super-structure, windows, steam heating, electric lights, pews, carpeting and furniture came to slightly over $20,000.00, not including the pipe organ which was a gift from Andrew Carnegie and cost $4,000.00. On the day of the dedication, offerings were pledged totaling approximately $4,500.00 so that the building was dedicated practically free from debt.
Here is a photograph of a group of men in front of the new church which was taken in 1896. Presumably these men were some of the early founders of the church.
Three organs have served in the worship of God during the many years of the church's history: the first one donated by Andrew Carnegie; the second, a three-manual Tellers-Kent presented by the Robert Ramsay family in 1928 in memory of Robert and Janet Ramsay; and in 1976 a Rodgers electronic organ. Several years ago, a memorial carillon was installed and dedicated to the memories of Tammy Barchesky and Parece Smith.
During these many years, the Derry Presbyterian Church has continued to serve God and His people through the regular preaching of the Word, Christian education for both youth and adults and both local and foreign mission projects. Opportunities for service and witness are made possible through adult and children's choirs, a women's organization, a youth club, youth fellowship, church school classes, Bible study groups, adult fellowship and memberships on the boards and committees of the church.
The congregation, following in the footsteps of their spiritual ancestors of over 100 years ago, voted on October 13, 1985 to proceed with the construction of an addition to the church building which was built in 1896. This addition was constructed and it was dedicated on June 7, 1987 and was named Fellowship Hall. It now serves as a general-purpose multi-use area which houses a large community room, kitchen, church offices and restrooms. It is used not only by church members, but by all members of the community and is busy seven days a week. (There a few photographs of Fellowship Hall here.)
In 1976 we celebrated 100 years of organization as a church and in 1996 we celebrated 100 years of worship in the current church building. And so today, in 2004, we look back with pride and fond memories at our history of 128 years of service to our Lord as members of the Derry Presbyterian Church. The buildings we have built, the congregations we have nurtured, the songs we've sung and the prayers we've made are all parts of our traditions and our heritage. We continue to pray and ask our savior, Jesus Christ, that He would continue to be with us as we endeavor to accomplish His will in the present and in the future, as our forefathers did before us.
This is a link to The Fire Story.