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HOOKSTOWN -

Today, the Mill Creek United Presbyterian Church hits a milestone as the congregation and community celebrates its 225th anniversary.

A special committee was formed, and work started several months ago. Today, a special celebration will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary. The public is invited to attend.

The church is located on state Route 151 beside South Side School in Hookstown.

The original Mill Creek Presbyterian Church was located on Old Mill Creek Road off of state Route 168 in Hookstown.

Debbie McElhaney is one of several committee members working to recognize the milestone. She has conducted a lot of research.

"It is believed to be the oldest church west of Allegheny Mountains," McElhaney said.

Some of McElhaney's research contained some surprising and noteworthy facts.

"The first days of the Mill Creek Presbyterian Church are somewhat clouded in mist," is the opening line of its history written in 1934 by the Rev. James Reed for the celebration of the Sesquicentennial.

Western Pennsylvania was largely settled by people of Scottish-Irish descent who were too busy making homes and farming to leave written records of their church life. It was said of these Scottish-Irish pioneers that they were rugged, impetuous with strength of character. In respect to moral and religious character, they were ideal Christians.

They brought with them some of the religious habits and customs of Europe, so they tended to gather in "societies." Without the leadership of a pastor, two or three persons would read from the Bible, lead in singing a Psalm and pray. No one could bring an outsider to the meeting without consent of the group. If the person being considered was not black-balled, then he could be admitted.

"It was like a secret society," McElhaney noted.

In April of 1785, a request was made for preaching supplies by the Mill Creek group but it is thought that they had been meeting for some time before that date. The year, 1784, is the accepted date for its beginning as a church.

They were part of the Red Stone Presbytery - first presbytery organized west of the Allegheny Mountains. Minutes of this presbytery indicated that sometimes meetings could not be held due to incursions of the savages, so even the most dedicated were deterred by circumstances at times.

A history of Bausman says that the Mill Creek Congregation was the oldest of any denominations in Beaver County. However, a Dr. J.O. Campbell, of Beaver, said he found minutes of an associate presbytery that another Mill Creek group, the beginning of the Service Church (off of state Route 18), asked for supplies in 1779 (five years before Mill Creek request in 1784.)

So, the Mill Creek Church became known as "the oldest living congregation in Beaver County." No records prior to 1806 have been found, but the Red Stone Presbytery shows that supplies were assigned to Mill Creek in 1785.

The first meeting places for worship were probably pulpits hewn from logs and people seated on logs.

Mill Creek's first meeting house was an 18-by-20 foot log structure with no windows and no doors and lighted from the roof.

Entrance was by underground tunnel to afford protection from Indians in the area.

This building was on ground where the Old Mill Creek Cemetery is now, located on Old Mill Creek Road between state Route 168 south and U.S. Route 30 west.

On that same ground a second building was erected, a 30-by-60 foot structure that had no heat for several years. People came 10 or more miles and stayed for two services.

Other churches were built across the road, a brick structure was built in 1832, but its foundation gave way. That property is now owned by Chip and Cindy Flaim.

In 1869, a large brick edifice was erected at a cost of $8,191. It was, later, proved to be unsafe so it was replaced in 1882.

Several calls were extended to prospective pastors as early as 1789-1792, but no full time pastors accepted at that time.

In 1793, the Ohio Presbytery was organized to include Mill Creek Church. In 1819, the Washington Presbytery was organized and took part of the Ohio and Erie Presbyteries. In 1908, Beaver Presbytery was organized.

In 1798, the Rev. George Scott visited the congregation of Mill Creek and The Flatts (Pughtown which is now known as New Manchester).

The next spring, Scott was called to serve these congregations through the Ohio Presbytery. The Rev. Scott was at Mill Creek for 40 years.

Under Scott's teachings, three notable men were trained. His son, John Scott, became a minister and educator, and his daughter was the wife of President Benjamin Harrison. Secondly, Samuel Wallace, M.D., located in Hookstown. The third man trained was Dr. William H. McGuffey, author of the famous McGuffey Readers.

A number of pastors served in the years 1840-1930.

There was a rise in membership to a high of 248 under pastor, David Robinson. Joint pastorate with the Hookstown church under the Rev. R.S. Morton; and another membership sprout came with Pastor James Hosick.

The Rev. Daniel Schnebly saw banner years of "giving." In 1930, the Rev. James Reed, the 16th pastor, began his ministry and through his efforts we have more complete records of Elders and others in leadership in the church.

Schnebly wrote "The History of Mill Creek" where much of this information comes from.

There were outstanding revivals in Mill Creek's history. The spirit touched many people in a way known as "bodily or falling exercise." These were times of public repentance and acceptance of salvation. Through Jesus Christ, many converts were added to the church at these revivals. At communion in March 1853, some 99 people took Christ as their Savior.

As the church grew, new churches were formed. According to the "South Side Beaver County History" book, the Hookstown church was organized by Mill Creek members in 1854. Some of the other area churches springing from the original Mill Creek Church were New Bethlehem, Shippingport, Mt. Olivet, and Frankfort Springs.

While the Hookstown church was being renovated in 1950, both congregations met at the Mill Creek building. Since the same pastor served both congregations and had twice as many duties, a merger was considered.

Much history and sentiment was at stake, but in the 1960's a merger was formed. It brought much heartbreak and unhappiness. The merger between Mill Creek Presbyterian Church and the Hookstown Presbyterian Church was officially completed in April in 1964.

The merged congregations met in turn between the two buildings until Dec. 1969, when the first service was held in the present location. One reason for building on the present site was that it was a neutral place for either congregations. The other reason was its closeness to South Side Schools, which would open a wider ministry to the church.

"We now have a Junior and Senior High group that includes community young people," McElhaney said. "In addition, we offer a mid-week program called Good News Club for students kindergarten through fifth grade with over 60 in attendance. There are several scout troops as well as church functions that use the facility on an almost daily basis."

The Hookstown building is now used by the Free Methodist congregation and the last Mill Creek building burned after it was vacated.

In December, 1994 the first service was held in the newly constructed sanctuary. With the completion of the Fellowship Hall and renovations of the former lower level, we enjoy a full schedule of events for the congregation and the community.

"The congregation of the Mill Creek United Presbyterian Church of Hookstown is proud of its history and heritage," McElhaney said.

An open house anniversary celebration will be held at 1:30 p.m. today, the milestone event. There will be something for all ages at this afternoon gathering. Guest soloists, a duet and a quartet will perform.

The Rev. Dr. A. Gary Angleberger will offer an afternoon message, and the history of the church will be discussed throughout the day.

A reception will follow the afternoon program in the newly renovated Fellowship Hall.

"While we were once two congregations banding together to become one congregation for the Lord, we look forward to serving Him as actively and passionately as we have in the past 200 plus years as one united body in His name" McElhaney said.

Those on the Anniversary Committee are McElhaney, Bebe Tonks, Evelyn Shaffer, Ruth Stewart, Jorjean Stanton, Susan Tolikas, Sandy Fritz and Ernie Fritz.

(Parts of the church history was taken from a compilation complied by Marie Elliot of Mill Creek U.P. Church of Hookstown and from various history books.)