Tent Presbyterian Church

Tent Presbyterian Church, locally called "Tent Church", is a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) church in Georges Township, Pennsylvania. Coming together in 1773 as a worship group, it has been holding worship services since its founding.Observer‑Reporter, "From humble beginnings: Uniontown's Tent Presbyterian Church celebrates 250th anniversary," 14 September 2023. The church gets its name from the canvas tent used for early services. Its address is 275 Tent Church Road.

The brick building was completed in 1832.Senator John Heinz History Center, Charles M. Stotz Photographs, MSP0021.B003.F29.I01. During the 1905 Rand Powder Mill explosion in nearby Fairchance, the building's windows were damaged.

The cemetery around the church has graves from the late 18th century, with veterans from the American Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.Access Genealogy, "Fayette County Cemetery Records." In 2023, the church was celebrated with local support for its 250th anniversary, including things in the Congressional Record.U.S. Congress, Congressional Record, 8 September 2023, E817.

 History 
 The beginning (1773–1792) 
Tent Presbyterian Church came together in 1773 by Scotch‑Irish settlers, guided by traveling preacher Rev. Dr. James Powers.

For its first 18 years, it worshipped under a canvas tent. In 1781, it joined the new Presbytery of Redstone.Redstone Presbytery, "Recent Presbytery Meetings," 2023.

 Building construction 
In 1792, the group built a log house to replace the tent. Making of the present brick church started about 1827 and ended in 1832.

During the tearing down of the 1792 building, the building caved in, killing many church leaders.

 19th and 20th century 
Rev. Ashbel Green Fairchild was the pastor from 1827 until 1864.Marshall University Digital Scholar, "Ashbel Green Fairchild Papers."

The cemetery grew bigger during this time and has graves of veterans from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War. Late 19th-century governance records show active trustees.Sheppard, Nelson's Biographical Dictionary, 1884.

In 1905, the church took little damage from the Rand Powder Mill explosion in Fairchance. Architectural surveys taken during the 1930s recorded its 19th-century building style.

 Building and site 

 Building style and features 
The 1832 brick church shows early 19th-century Presbyterian church building methods in western Pennsylvania. Built from brick, its design features a rectangular shape and a pulpit in the central area.

 Nearby grounds and accessibility 
The church is south of Uniontown, near the National Road (U.S. Route 40).National Park Service, "The National Road." Nearby streams are York Run and Browns Run.Georges Township, Fayette County Government.

 Cemetery 
 Layout 
The cemetery has over 400 graves.

 Notable graves and memorials 
There is a memorial for Lt. Col. John B. McClelland (1734–1782), a Revolutionary War officer and delegate to Pennsylvania's 1776 Constitutional Convention.Northeastern Ohio SAR, "Grave Dedication," 2012. Though his remains were never recovered, the Sons of the American Revolution made a marker in his honor in 2012.

Other graves include McClelland's wife, Martha Dale McClelland, and their son Ensign John McClelland, veterans of the Revolutionary War, Whiskey Rebellion, and War of 1812.

 Community role 
 In local events 
The 1792 loghouse collapse caused deaths, including many church leaders. Later, the church took damage during the 1905 Rand Powder Mill explosion.

 Recent activities and anniversaries 
In 2023, Tent Presbyterian Church had a public service for its 250th anniversary. The event received support from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and U.S. Representative Guy Reschenthaler.

 Affiliation and governance 
 Ties 
Tent Presbyterian Church is a church of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) within the Presbytery of Redstone.PC(USA) Church Trends, "Tent Presbyterian Church, Uniontown, PA." Coming together in the 1780s, it has had an affiliation with the presbytery through denominational reorganizations, including those in 1958 and 1983.

 Leadership and membership 
The church's early preachers included traveling preachers like Rev. Dr. James Powers. Rev. Ashbel Green Fairchild served from 1827 to 1864.

Later pastors included Reverend George M. Hickok (early 2000s)Herald‑Standard, "Church Briefs," 26 September 2004.and Reverend Jeff Smith (from 2020).

 See also 
 Presbyterianism in the United States
 History of Pennsylvania

 References 

 External links 
 Tent Presbyterian Cemetery at Find A Grave (for extra information only)

Category:Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania
Category:1773 establishments in Pennsylvania
Category:Religious organizations established in 1773
Category:Churches in Fayette County, Pennsylvania