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The earliest mention of the existence of this congregation is in the records of the Redstone Presbytery, which met at Chartiers (PA) on the 15th of May 1789 at which time "Mr. Hughes declared his acceptance of the call from Lower Buffalo and Short Creek."…We know from family records that two elders when the church was founded were Arthur Scott and Henry Hervey. Many records of the church before 1835 were lost. It is known that a Mr. Green and John Amspoker were early elders.

The LOWER BUFFALO Presbyterian Church has had four different buildings on three different sites. The first building stood in the southwest corner of what is now known as Lower Buffalo Graveyard, one and a quarter miles west of the present village of Independence, Pennsylvania. It was located in BROOKE COUNTY, Virginia ( now WV). It was a log church that would sear 300 people. This building stood for 30 years.

The second building was built of sandstone in the year 1822. It was about the size of the first and was also in VIRGINIA now WV, It stood over one-fourth of a mile east of the original site or one mile west of Independence on ground once owned by Wilbur Gist. This was a good building plastered with ceiling overhead. It was furnished with a pulpit and pews. This building was occupied for 28 years.

The third building was erected in 1850 in Independence for the convenience of those who resided in that Village. The lot was presented to the church by Richard Carter, whose wife was a member. On this lot a fine new frame building was erected. They worshipped here for 32 years, and it was so thoroughly remodeled in 1882 that it may be considered a new building. The seating capacity was 350. It had a tower and bell and a lecture room expansion, and a pulpit recess. The years 1858 and 1886 are especially noted as years of revival. This building was destroyed by fire January 20, 1917.

"A fire supposed to have started from a spark alighting in a bird's nest in the belfry, destroyed the Lower Buffalo Presbyterian Church at this place yesterday afternoon entailing a loss of $10,000. The contents of the building were saved. The property was insured for $3,000."

"Yesterday afternoon Miss Nancy Plummer who takes care of the building, started the fire in the furnace, preparatory to heating the church for Sunday services. Soon afterwards when Miss Plummer had left the building, Mrs. Harry Pittman who lives just across the street, noticed smoke coming from the tower. She sounded the alarm and an investigation was made at once. The tower was a mass of flames by that time, as the dry wood burned fast. A bucket brigade was formed, by as the fire was located in the tower about 60 feet above the ground, little could be done to fight the flames."

"When it was seen that the building was doomed, attention was turned to taking our the contents. Women and children assisted in this, and, before the fire had communicated to the main auditorium, all seats, pulpit furniture, books, chairs and lights had been removed. The carpet was jerked from the floor and was also saved. By the time the flames had driven the fire fighters from the building and nothing could be done but to stand by and watch the building crumble as the flames leaped from one section to another."

The cornerstone laying at the Presbyterian Church at Independence today( September 2, 1917) was an auspicious event. Many people were present and the occasion was a most interesting one. The exercises were carried out at 3 o'clock. Seats were provided on the lawn near the site where the new building is to be erected.

The cornerstone was secured from the LOWRY quarry. On one side was cut the dates 1850 and 1917. The first date marks the time of the building of the original church and which was destroyed by fire. On the opposite side of the stone was inscribed the name of the church.