The below text was read at the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the incorporation of the Sewickley Methodist Episcopal Church, Sewickley, PA, and the 75th Anniversary of its organization on Sunday, November 17, 1912.
Prepared and read by S.C. Ritchey and J.C. Venning
Ten years ago we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of our church and the 65th anniversary of its organization. We took for our text that day the words of David as recorded in the 16th Psalm: “The lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places; yea, we have a goodly heritage.” It seems particularly fitting that we should take these same words for our text this morning.
Three score years ago, on the 26th of July, the Methodists in the Sewickley valley adopted articles of association and instructed J.W.F. White, then a young lawyer, to present the same to Court and become regularly incorporated.
Accordingly on November 13, 1852, the charter was granted to the “Methodist Episcopal Church of Sewickleyville,” and is recorded in the Recorder’s office in Deed Book volume 105 page 25.
For the benefit of the members of our church who have come in during the past ten years, or since the semi-centennial was held in November 1902, it might be well to briefly review the early history of the church.
Methodism has been preached in the Sewickley valley for 110 years, and from this very spot for 75 years. The earliest preaching was done in the log house of Jessie Fisher, on Little Sewickley Creek in 1801-1802. In 1809 the first class was organized by Thomas McClelland, a native of Ireland, who received his license to preach from John Wesley. Sometime later the preaching was done at the home of Thomas Hamilton and the class was called the Hamilton’s class. From an old class book dated 1829 we find names which are still on our church membership – the Linns, the Ritcheys, the Glaneys (Mrs. J.A. Rosensteel) the Grimes and the Stuckes. – 83 years of membership.
In 1815 the first trustees were appointed for the little society on Sewickley Creek. In 1826 the members worshipped in the little brick school house on Mr. Shield’s place, which, by the way, is still standing.
Then in 1837 the Methodist families on the Sewickley Creek and in what is now Sewickley, formed a society and called themselves the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sewickleyville. That was 75 years ago. There were 28 members all told.
Two years later, or 1839, they built a church of their own on this very spot. In those days the men sat on one side of the aisle and the women on the other. The church was lighted by candles, the candle-sticks being fastened on the walls and posts at the ends of the pews. The evening service was announced to commence “at early candle light.”
13 years later, or 1852, the Society became incorporated and two years later, or 1854, the old frame church was moved to the rear of the lot, and a new brick building was erected. The membership at this time was 139 and the pastor was paid $310 a year.
By the will of Rev. Charles Thorn, $15,000 was bequeathed toward a new church, provided the congregation raised another $15,000, and in 1882 the present church was built.
Going back 130 years we find the land north and west of the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers was still in possession of the Indians. In 1784 the State bought the lands and sold them to the settlers. The first white settler in the present limits of Sewickley borough was Henry Ullery, a German sea captain, who bought the land now occupied by Mr. Campbell at the foot of Chestnut St., and taking in the Park Place Hotel lot and up as far as our present lot.
In 1810 Ullery sold his farm to Thomas Hoey, great grandfather of Doctor Fletcher K. and Doctor Collord White, and Mrs. John Loor Locke.
The lot on which the church stands was, as stated, a part of the old Hoey Homestead, and descended to Hoey’s children, by whom it was given in 1852 to the Church.
We read that in 1862 the pastor’s salary was $500.
In 1868 the lot adjoining was purchased for a parsonage for $1500.
From 1839, when the first church was built, to 1912, 46 different pastors have served the congregation.
The oldest living member of the church is Jacob Ringley, who dates his membership back to 1851, or a year before the charter was granted – record unbroken, of 61 years.
The historical paper read at the celebration ten years ago closed with these words:
“The members are loyal and giving harmonious and hearty support to various enterprises of the Church: and while we study the history of the past, we look forward to the future with hopes that its field of influence may be broader, that its work may be as conscientiously done, and that the efforts put forth for its advancement may have the Divine direction and blessing.”
And I am glad to say that our hopes have not been disappointed: we have shown a steady increase until we now have 900 members. The various societies are all doing good work, the members are loyal to the Church, and we feel that this influence will continue to be broader and that the efforts which have been put forth during the past ten years have had the Divine direction and blessing. “Surely, the lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places: surely, we have a goodly heritage.”