Tent Presbyterian Church

Tent Presbyterian Church
Tent Church
The current brick structure, erected in 1832
Tent Presbyterian Church
39°51′13″N79°45′28″W / 39.853594°N 79.757913°W / 39.853594; -79.757913
Location	Georges Township, near Uniontown
Country	United States
Denomination	Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
History
Founded	1773
Architecture
Style	Vernacular brick
Completed	1832
Administration
Presbytery	Presbytery of Redstone
Clergy
Pastor	Jeff Smith

Tent Presbyterian Church (also known as Tent Church) is a historic Presbyterian congregation located in Georges Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1773, it is one of the oldest religious groups west of the Allegheny Mountains.

The church is named after the "tent," a small wooden shelter that housed the pulpit and Bible during the early years of outdoor service. The existing building, a notable example of vernacular brick architecture, was erected in 1832 and has survived despite the damage that the Rand Powder Mill explosion inflicted in c. 1905.

The church's surrounding cemetery contains the graves of notable individuals from various American wars. In September 2023, the congregation celebrated its 250th anniversary. The congregation is a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

History

Origins (1773–1792)

Scots-Irish settlers established the congregation in 1773, guided by Rev. Dr. James Powers, a traveling minister. The name "Tent Church" comes from the initial structure used for worship: a small wooden "tent," or covered pulpit, designed to protect both the speaker and the Bible from the outside weather. ^[1] During this period, congregants gathered outside to listen to sermons.^{[ citation needed ]}

Building history (1792–present)

In 1792, the church shifted from an open-air "tent" to its first permanent log house. As the community expanded, builders began construction on the existing red-brick church, which was completed in 1832. ^[2] During the transition, the log building collapsed, reportedly causing the deaths of numerous church officials.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 1905, the church endured an explosion at the Rand Powder Mill in nearby Fairchance. Although the blast destroyed the church's windows, the foundation remained unaffected. The congregation is a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA). ^[3]

250th anniversary (2023)

In September 2023, Tent Presbyterian Church marked 250 years of continuous ministry since its founding in 1773. The celebration featured a commemorative service that Pastor Jeff Smith led; he began as pastor in September 2020. ^[1]

Cemetery

The surrounding cemetery, which existed before the 1832 building, contains the remains of numerous American war veterans.^{[ citation needed ]}

Notable burials and memorials include:

• John B. McClelland (1734–1782): A Lieutenant Colonel in the Westmoreland County Militia and delegate to the 1776 Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention. Although killed during the Crawford Expedition, a memorial marker is maintained at the church cemetery. ^[4]
• John McClelland (1766–1849): Son of John B. McClelland and an officer in the War of 1812 who was active during the Whiskey Rebellion.^{[ citation needed ]}
• William Vance (1766–1849): An early settler and church elder, his family played an important role in the early years of Georges Township.^{[ citation needed ]}
• James Finley (1725–1795): An early itinerant preacher who influenced the Presbyterian movement in Western Pennsylvania.^{[ citation needed ]}

See also

• Presbyterianism in the United States
• History of Pennsylvania

References

1. "From humble beginnings: Uniontown's Tent Presbyterian Church celebrates 250th anniversary," Observer-Reporter, September 14, 2023.
2. "Tent Presbyterian Church, front and side," Charles M. Stotz Photographs, Senator John Heinz History Center.
3. "Tent Presbyterian Church, Uniontown, PA," Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Church Trends.
4. "Lieutenant-Colonel John B. McClelland," The John B. McClelland Memorial Foundation.