The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-06-08

The following historical facts are
cleaned from historical sermon
preached by the Rev. Joseph D. Smith
in 1865, and afterwards published by
the congregation from a historical
sketch of York county by Glenn"
published in the presbyterian Ban
ner'' in 1892, and from other sources:
The first settlers of the territory now
known as Lower York county and
Upper Hartford county, were Scotch
Irish Presbyterians, who came here in
the early part of the eighteenth CEN
fury. These people brought their reli-
gion with them, and doubtlessfrom the
first maintained gospel services and
the school. In TAG and Al there was q
great religious revival, which extend
ed from what is now known as Deer
Creek to Slate Ridge and Chanceford.
The organization of the Slate Ridge
Church is one of the results of this re-
vival, and it is said to be the oldest
Presbyterian Church west of the Sus-
quehanna river.
1t is probable the first church build
ing was located at the junction Of
SCOTS Run and Muddy Creek, in
York county, and was built of logs.
This building was burned. A second
log building was erected several miles
south, in Maryland, on land then own
ed by Michael Whiteford, near the
residence of the late John Beattie
This building was only temporary and
was soon abandoned, and a third
church building was erected near the
30 b 70 tho
Slate Ridge Cemetery.
In 1862 Il fourth and better house of
worship was erected on the same site,
being built of squared logs. About
the year 1900 this building was burned
and is said to have been set on fire by
an incendiary. Soon after large fire
proof church was built of undressed
stone and slate roof. This was the
fifth church and stood for about nine
ty years. until last summer, 1898, when
it was carefully taken down and the
stone removed to become a part of the
new and sixth Slate Ridge Church,
erected in South Delta about one half
mile from the former site, and recent
ly dedicated.
The removal of the old church, while
regretted by some persons, was doubt
less wise. The weight of the roof was
immense, the slate being several times
the thickness of modern roofing slate.
The timbers supporting the roof We're
necessarily weakened by age. One
girder was found to be impaired, so
the removal of the church, probably,
prevented a fearful catastrophe for
so long as the old building stood
there would, pobably, have been
occasional gatherings there. Be
sides, it seemed altogether fitting that
the old church should live in the new,
by using the stones of the old for the
foundation of the new.
1t is believed that the first pastor of
the Slate Ridge Church was the Rev.
Eleazer Whittlesey, a descendant of
one of the Pilgrims who landed at
Plymouth Rock. To Mr.. Whittlesey,
probably, belongs the honor of consti
tuting this first church. EleaZer
Whittlesey was born in Connecticut,
March 25th, I'LL. He attended the
West Nottingham Academy, Cecil
county, Md, and graduated in 1749,
at Nassau Hall, then located at New
ark with Burr as President He was
licensed to preach by the New Castle
Presbytery. He died after a short
ministry Dec. 21st, 1751, and was bur
led near the site of the first Slate
Ridge Church. The second pastor
was the Rev. Evander Morrison, from
Scotland. He preached both at Slate
Ridge and Chanceford.
Following Mr.. Morrison, Mr..
Black, of whom little is known, served
the Slate Ridge and Chanceford peo-
pie.
On November 18th, 1862, Rev. John
in, i'm nllo1 OF Of tl1 Sln TO
Ridge and Chanceford Churches. Mr..
Strain graduated from Princeton Col
lege in 1857, probably studied theology
under DIR. Finley, and was licensed to
preach May Goth, 1853. Mr.. Strain is
said to have been a preacher of great
power and success. He declined call
to the Second Presbyterian Church of
Philadelphia. He died on the 21st of
May, 1774, and was buried in the Slate
Ridge Cemetery, where his tombstone,
erected by the congregation, may be
seen.
During the Revolutionary war times,
which followed the death of Mr.. Strain
it is probable there was no regular
pastor of Slate Ridge. Mr.. Joseph
Smith and others supplied the church
with preaching.
In November, 1881, Rev. John Slem-
ons was installed pastor of the Slate
Ridge and Chanceford Churches. Mr.
Slemons served the churches ten
years, when the pastoral relations
were dissolved.
For four years these churches were
without pastor.
The next pastor was the Rev. Sam
uel Martin, d. D., who was installed
October 18th, 1895. DIR. Martin was
born in Chestnut Level, Lancaster
county, Pa, January 9th, 1867. He
graduated at the University of Penn
sylvania in 1890, was licensed by the
Presbytery of Baltimore, April II,
1898, and was ordained in the Slate
Ridge Church the day of his installa-
ton For several years he was pastor
of the Slate Ridge Church only, but
in 1900 he became pastor of the Chance
ford Church also. These pastoral re-
lations were dissolved in 1912.
On the 10th of August, 1914, the Rev.
Samuel Parke was ordained and in
stalled pastor of the Slate Ridge
| Church. On this occasion the Rev.
Mr. Luckie presided. Rev. Mr.. Fin
ney, of Churchville, preached the or
dination sermon, and Rev. Mr.. Latta
gave the charge to the people, Mr..
Parke served the church for forty
| three years-a long, faithful pastorate.