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Township, Lancaster County, Pa

"Churches of Today and Yesterday in Southern Lancaster County" by Fellowship of Solanco Churches, Raymond Dunlap, George Herbert, & Richard Yates , Sr. printed 1968

MOUNT PLEASANT METHODIST CHURCH

In 1822 a society was formed and meetings were held in the neigh-borhood of Wasteland. Active members were Jacob Gibson, Joseph Gibson, James Anderson, William Book and Henry McRay. The Rev-erend Joseph Holdich was a frequent visitor with the Gibson's, and after many talks among the members of the society, it was decided in 1825 to ascertain the cost of a chapel in Sadsbury Township, near Wasteland factory. General Steele donated a plot of ground for the chapel site and a graveyard. So in 1826, the work started on Waste-land Church; it was dedicated in 1827. The Chapel was of stone and would seat 200 persons.

Forty-one years later (1868) the members of Wasteland Methodist Episcopal Church and friends of the community became interested in having a new church because the location of the chapel seemed some-what inconvenient to the people. So it was decided to abandon the old site and building, and erect another church that would be more centrally located. The old chapel was sold for $50.71 to William McGowan.

One acre of land from the farm of Thomas Dean, one of the members, was accepted as his contribution to the new building pro-gram. The site was about one mile from the site of the old chapel; and upon this plot of land was built the present church and this I'hurch was given the name of Mount Pleasant.

The pastor at this time was the Reverend Samuel Pancoast, who appointed to the building Committee the following members:

Thomas Dean

John McClimans

Jesse Davis, Treasurer George F. Baker, Secretary

William McGowan, President

The first thing that the Building Committee had to do was to procure a clear title to the plot of land, which was obtained by deed and release.

Pastor Pancoast then appointed a committee to solicit funds for the erection of the new church. This committee was made up of the following members: Jessie Davis, Alexandria Martin, Thomas Dean, Sarah Seltzer, Mary Ann McGowan,

The whole amount subscribed from collectors, including the amount received at the Laying of the Corner Stone and the sale of the old chapel, was: $1,596.71 ,83.50 Exoneration�s, __ $1,513.21 Cash Received

Construction of the new church began in 1868, the carpenter work being done by Truman C. Moore, West Grove, and the mason work by John McClimans. The painting was done by John Cain.

The complete cost of the church edifice, which was of stone, was $2,194.16. As the cash received by the Soliciting Committee totaled $1,513.21, the balance left to be paid amounted to $680.95. Although construction began in 1868, the building was not com-pleted until 1870, and was not dedicated until 1874. The exact date of the dedication was October 4, 1874.

The stoves, carpets, lamps and curtains cost $177.90; contributions of these items were given where they were purchased. (Note: This is not included in the cost of the building as they were given before the dedication. )

The pastors in charge at the time of dedication were the Reverend B. Harvey and the Reverend Ephriam Potts-assisted by the Bishop and others. Pastor S. Pancoast returned for the dedication, as the building was started while he was the pastor in charge.

Receipts from donations, etc., did not cover indebtedness. So, _ _ Truman C. Moore, _the contractor from West Grove, took a note of $300 with interest from the Building Committee; so did John Mc-Climans (the stone mason) for balance due him. A few years after-ward, these notes were paid in full by festivals held from time to time.

The name Mount Pleasant was suggested by Lydia Nichols McClimans, and the maple trees were a donation of Daniel McElwain.

Here is a list of some of the former pastors: Pancoast McMichael Howell Beatty Burns Rigg Merrell Shields Bayliss Strayhorn Aspril Potts Sebring Kirkesleger Gensemer Wright Harvey Smythe Riper Shay Downey Gable Oakes Price Uliywer Pricket Allot Slider Cunningham

The Mount Pleasant Church is still strong, with a membership of about 60 in the Sunday School, and a church membership of about 75.

Since the cemetery is a separate entity from the church, a history of it has not been included in this paper.

This information has been completed from old records and record books, minute books and old receipts and is factual as closely as can be ascertained from these sources.

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