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OAK GROVE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Milestones Vol 9 No 3--Summer 1984

On October 6, 1890, a petition signed by seventyone residents of New Sewickley and Pulaski Townships was presented to the Presbytery of Allegheny by Charles J. Bonzo and Leander McCauley, asking for organization of a Presbyterian Church. The site was a place called Oak Grove, about four miles from Rochester and the same from Rochester on Darlington Road in New Sewickley Township. the Presbytery expressed their approval and the petition was granted.

A committee was appointed. The Church was organized October 18, 1890. lt was ordered that the name of the church be "Oak Grove Presbyterian Church."

A house of worship, which had been erected at a cost of $1270.73 by the aforesaid petitioners prior to the organization of the church, was dedicated to the worship of God October 19, 1890. The Church was incorporated and a charter procured. The church was statedly supplied by Rev. W.J. McCrory, pastor of the Bridgewater Presbyterian Church. He preached in the afternoon, every alternate Sunday.

Later in 1890 Rev. McCrory withdrew from the Presbyterian Church taking with him about half of the Oak Grove membership. The dissension was concerned with doctrinal matters.

The committee which had been in charge of the church since the beginning called a meeting of the people on January 24, 1893, with a view to reorganizing the church. Following the reorganization Rev. M.A. Parkinson of Beaver Falls preached on alternate Sunday afternoons, Later Rev. C.W. Cable of Rochester conducted services in a like manner. The Rev. T.B. Anderson, D.D., of Rochester rendered similar services.

The church continued to hold worship services regularly until closed by order of Presbytery in 1925.