Evening journal., 1921-06-01
White Clay Creek Church
Rich In Early History;
TiUO Hundred Years Old

convinced us that the people Of and /
about White Clay Creek who with /
drew from the Sew Castle church /
and who. In 1913. called the Rev
George Gillespie, were the founders |
OF the Head of Christiana church, |
and not Of the present White Clay |
Creek Church"
After setting out the reasons for
reaching this conclusion, Mr..
Nlackey. in his sketch says: 1--WE
we're somewhat surprised by the
conclusion at which we have arrived.
but II seems to be clear that the Rev.
George Gillespie never was pastor
OF this church, but on the contrary,
vas pastor of the Head Of Christiana
Church alone, from his ordination
I'm 1713. until his death in 1850, and
that there is no original authority
for the general statement made by
the historians that his charge
seems to have embraced for several
years. besides White Clay. Red Clay
Lower Brandywine and Elk River
THE first movement OF which we
have any intimauon for the estab-
lishment Of a church in this neigh
borhood, occurred in the year 1921,
and we infer. from all we can find
that while there were some persons
residing on this side OF the creek
who were connected with the Head
of Christiana Church, the movement
was made. in the main. by others.
Mr.. Mackey gave IL as his opinion
tina: the first membership OF the
/ church was probably made up OF our
| Scotch-Irish ancestors who came
here because OF prosecutions which
occurred in Scotland and Ireland
about that time. He says there were
a large number of such immigrants
in 1920, and It was about that time
many churches were established,
such as Rock Church. New London
Church. Upper Octoraro Church and
Lower Brandywine Church. Many
Of these Immigrants he says, landed
at New Castle. which accounts for
the early planting Of so many Pres
! byterian churches in this locality.
Continuing his sketch, Mr.. Mackey
/ said: Another reason. for the opin-
ion that this church was established
chiefly by newcomers who had had
] I'D AUMDNNAAUI viii AAAN AANAH AANRA AAWNa
churches Is. that there does not APP
pear to have been any opposition &c
the organization. New Castle had
opposed the organization Of the
Head Of Christiana Church. tha
church in turn opposed the organi
za:ion OF Rock Church, and the Rocl
church persistently opposed the or
ganization of the New Londor
/ Church In the year 1927. when th'
people Of Middle Octoraro wer,
: about to erect a church Mint
= miles from Upper Octoraro. the.
, we're required to place It two mile
81 further distant. This church. at IL
old location. one mile north Of this
, was about five miles from the Heai
Of Christiana, and about nine mile
q rom New Castle. and as there wa
- no opposition, we infer that the mas
s of the people who made the move
s ment never had been, and were nc
y likely to be identified with thos
4 churches"
n AT a meeting Of the Presbytcr.
IS held in Mr. Gillespie's meeun
house at the Head Of Christian
~ Creek August /. 1921. It is n
Il corded: Tt being reported to til
e Presbytery that James Moorhead.
# wandering imposter (who was pul
10 licly disowned by an order and a,
e OF our last synod doth intrude upo
r some Of Mr.. Gillespie's people an
= others between White Clay and Re
e Clay Creeks; it is therefor by tn
r Presbytery, appointed that Mr.. Ma,
n Gill shall preach to said people upo
r the third Sabbath OF this instan
e August and that he shall read
W said people, the above act Of n
y. Synod. and admonish said people