News
Beaver-Butler Presbytery has assumed the original jurisdiction of East Unity Church, at their request and in order to dissolve the congregation and conclude its ministry. At the July 30 Presbytery Meeting, Elder Martha Altmire gave the following presentation celebrating the history, life and ministry of East Unity Church.
A Rich History That Endures
Posted August 20, 2024
By Martha Altmire
My family has been involved in East Unity for decades. They participated in all aspects of the church. I’ve had the privilege of serving as an elder for the last several years as did my father, brother, grandfather (who was clerk of the session when he passed away in 1948) and my great grandfather. East Unity has always been an important part of our family.
Martha shared the church’s scrapbook at the presbytery meeting.
East Unity is in Cherry Valley borough in Northern Butler County and has a history as old as Butler County (224 years old). In the year 1800, a group of people, mostly farmers in Cherry Valley, met and decided to build a church. Knowing of the Associate Presbyterians who had many small churches in Western Pennsylvania, they decided to organize under them. The name Unity was given due to the great harmony among the people and later it became East Unity.
Until 1803 when a church was built, services were held under a tree or tent. In 1803, Robert Lawson sold to James Scott and Ruben Irwin, trustees of the church, two acres of land including a meeting place and nearby spring. The cost of the land and building was $22.55. The church was built of hewn logs.
Behind the church was a small cemetery which still exists today. It is no longer connected to the church and contains gravestones that are very old. Some of the names and dates can no longer be read. Most of the members of East Unity have family members buried there.
In 1820, a second larger church was built called “The Log Meeting House”. Ten years later in 1830 the first brick church was erected. In 1858, the congregation, the Associate Presbyterian denomination united with the Associate Reformed denomination, and this was the origin of the United Presbyterian church, which eventually became Presbyterian Church USA. East Unity was United Presbyterian from 1858 until1983. It is now East Unity Presbyterian USA.
In 1868, a second brick church, still larger, and more elaborate, was built for a growing congregation. It was destroyed by fire in April 1875. That same year, the present brick church was erected and was referred to as “The Brick Church”, the fifth church on the same site. It included colorful stained-glass windows and a slate roof. In 1884 a beautiful oil lamp chandelier was bought and installed in the church. The chandelier still hangs in the church today. Before each service, it would be lowered from the ceiling, so that the oil lamps could be filled. Many people came early, just to watch the large chandelier be lowered from the ceiling. In 1951, the chandelier was wired for electricity and today each of the oil lamps contains an electric bulb. It was last lowered in 1985. The rest of the church had been wired in 1939.
A photo from the scrapbook shows the sanctuary with its impressive chandelier.
This photo from the scrapbook shows the sanctuary decorated for Christmas.
A full basement was dug under the church in 1954, providing a Sunday School room, kitchen, furnace and restrooms with running water. Kitchen appliances were donated and installed. Beautiful cupboards were built by men of the church. In 1972 the entire church was carpeted.
Driving past the church is a picture. The church is surrounded by trees and the cemetery is well kept. From 1800 to the present, there have been twenty-nine ministers who have served faithfully. The congregations of the church have always been active with home and foreign missions. The women’s missionary society was also a very active organization that supported many different projects.
Cherry Valley has changed over the years and many of the families with roots in Cherry Valley are no longer there, but East Unity still stands where it has for 224 years. Its Bicentennial was in 2000. Within its walls are many precious memories of the congregation that worshiped and praised God for generations. With its present declining congregation, it’s with great sadness, we must close its doors.
