Presbyterian Churches in Chester Co
Great Valley Presbyterian Church
This church is in Tredyffrin twp, where there was a congregation as early as
1710, but not regularly organized till 1714. The early congregation was
largely Welsh. These are listed as the "leading members in 1761";
Isaac Davies
Thomas McKean
Enoch Abraham
John Griffith
Daniel Beaton
John Thompson
James Davis
David Davies
William Hudson
John Christy
Daniel John
Isaac Abraham
Llewellyn Davies
Thomas Waters
Thomas Harris
Hugh Reed
William Bell
John Shaw
Hugh Frazer
Thomas Wilson
Robert Stevens
Erasmus Lloyd
Jonathan Davies
Joseph Davis
Presbyterian Historical Society
425 Lombard
Street
Philadelphia, PA
19147
> 215-627-1852
Great Valley Presbyterian Church RD 3, Box 120, Malvern, PA 19355 (610) 644-1995
Oxford Presbyterian Church, (610) 932-9640 6PineSt Oxford, PA 19363
Presbyterian Archives 425 Lombard Street Philadelphia, Pa Phone #; 215 627-1852
The Great Valley church had a congregation as early as 1710, but was not formally organized until 1714, and most of its parishioners were of Welsh origin. ...The first church building for Great Valley was erected in 1720 and stood for over 70 years. Rev. Rowland faced strong opposition in the congregation and in 1741, left Great Valley to start up a new congregation at Charlestown. ... Rev. John Simonton became minister for the congregation in 1761 and held that position until his death in 1791... "In 1791, the Great Valley church was joined with the Charlestown church under Rev. John Gemmill and a new church building was constructed for the Great Valley church. Rev. Gemmill's ministry was followed by ... and in 1859 the churches separated again ." *************************************************** >!SOURCE: Patterson, Robert Mayne, "HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE GREAT (CHESTER) VALLEY" > (Alfred Martien, Philadelphia 1869). "During the last four years of his life, Mr. Simonton was laid aside, from the active discharge of his duties, by ill health. The Church was dependent upon the Presbytery for supplies... Mr. Simonton died in 1791. On the 18th of October, in the same year, a call was presented, to Presbytery, from the united Congregations of the Great Valley and Charlestown, for the services of Mr. John Gemmil. 'In this call, these two societies were joined by a few Presbyterians residing in the town of West Chester, who at this period assumed the existence and form of a congregation'. Mr. Gemmil was a native of this State, and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. The minute of Presbytery states that he had 'obtained the honors of a College.' He had been licensed April 21st,1789, and had been very frequently sent as a supply to the Valley, during the last days> of Mr. Simonton. In 1790 a call was presented to him from the Church of Huntington, on Long Island, which he held under advisement until October of the following year. He then referred the decision to Presbytery. The Huntington people were numerous and respectable, and though they had been divided, were happily united on Mr. Gemmill: on the other hand, these congregations were scattered and unsettled, and likely to be wholly broken up if not soon supplied. He was, therefore, advised to accept their call, which he did; and on the 3d of November, 1791, he was ordained and installed - Dr. Ashbel Green, William M. Tennent, and Nathaniel Irwin conducting the services... "[At Charlestown Church] In 1774, the Rev. Daniel McCalla was called and ordained and continued in the church until the Revolution commenced. He then became chaplain to a regiment that marched to Canada, was taken prisoner, paroled and, on his return, forsook his charge and went to Virginia. The church was evidently in a very weak and struggling condition, and was glad, after half a century's sad separation, to unite with the Valley in calling Mr. Gemmil. The two, then formed one church, but with the two houses of worship. "Under the ministry of Mr. Gemmil, the congregation so rapidly increased that it became necessary to erect a larger house of worship. Accordingly the foundation of a new church was laid, May 20, 1793; and the building was completed in March following. This is the house in which the church assembles to-day. At different times it has been modernized... "The West Chester congregation did not keep in existence long. In 1795 Mr. Gemmil was released from the charge of it. The present West Chester church is a more recent organization. "In 1795 Mr. Gemmil received a call from the church at White Haven, Connecticut, which he declined. Another call was presented from the First Church of Wilmington; and he also received an invitation to the Theological Chair of Yale College. These calls he referred to Presbytery, who, January 6, 1796 - the Commissioners from the Valley and Charlestown protesting against his acceptance - declined to remove him. On May 15, 1798, another call from the united congregations of White Haven and Fair Haven, and one from Elizabeth, were presented. He accepted the former, against the wish of this church, and was dismissed to the Association of New Haven. "He was evidently a man of power and of great popularity. A theologian he must have been, to be invited to occupy a Theological Chair. A reputation for eloquence, also has survived him. That was associated with much boldness, and plainness, in the exhibition of practical truths for the flock ' did not find him as passive as John the Simontite, for what he withheld, through fear of offending, John the Gemmilite delivered through pride of oratory'; a compliment, no doubt, under the uncharitable censure. Unhappily for himself, for a brother minister and for the Church, he returned, and for a time resided in the bounds of the congregation.." This last sentence is preceded by an X with handwritten note in margins (hand of author himself?) "His health failed Mr. G. returned to Chester Valley - Mr. Latta his successor was living in half of Mr. Gemmil's house - so he occupied > the vacant half. The ---- of Mr. Latta ---- he thinking he had come to disturb his ----. Mr. Gemmil's health continued to fail. He went to P.C. church. Twas ---- -----. He never was able to take charge of congregation on account(?) of his health."
This is the follow-up for First Churches of Chester County Pennsylvania; Early Church Records Vol. 2 Chester Co.Pa
. PRESBYTERIAN The oldest Presbyterian Church in Chester County is the "Great Valley" in Tredyffrin Township where there was a congregation as early as 1710. In its early years the congregation was largely Welsh. A Church building was erected in 1720. The first minister was Malachi Jones who was replaced by David Evans in 1720. The Charlestown Presbyterian Church was erected in 1743 as a result of the Old Side/New Side split of the congregation of Great Valley. Principally involved in the organization of the Church were David Humphries, David John, Griffith Jones, Lewis Martin and Anthony Pritchard. In 1791 the two churches united. The Upper Octorara Church in Sadsbiry Township was organized in 1720. Prior to 1724 it was supplied by Rev. David Evans and Rev. David Magill. The first regular pastor was Adam Boyd, from County Antrim, Ireland, installed in 1724. The Old Side/New Side controversy split this congregation with the forming of the Second Congregation of Upper Octorara by the New Side; Rev. Andrew Sterling was a pastor from 1747 to 1765. The churches united in 1768. Fagg's Manor Presbyterian Church was formed in 1730. It was first called New Londonderry, taking its name from the Township. Rev. Samuel Blair, native of Ireland, becames its first pastor in 1740. The Rock Presbyterian Church was organized in 1720. The first structure was in Lewisville, Elk Township; the second church was erected by the New Side in 1741 at Fair Hill, Cecil County, Maryland; the third location was in Cecil County near the line with Chester County. The New London Presbyterian Church was founded in 1728. Its first minister was Rev. Samuel Gelston, native of Ireland. Doe Run Presbyterian Church was erected in 1740. It had supplies from the New Side Presbyterian
