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At a meeting of the congregation on the 24 th of January, 1839, presided over by Rev. Wm. Finney, the following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the church hereafter be know as the DEER CREEK HARMONY CHURCH.
The following trustees were then elected: Benj, Silver, Jr., John H. Price, Wm. Maxwell, Henry W. Archer and Wm. F. Bayless.
Benj. Silver, Sr., deeded to the trustees of the church, on December 21, 1839, the lot where the church then stood, containing one half acre of land.
The church was located within two miles of the site of the oldest Presbyterian church in Harford County, on the farm of the late Robert B. Hopkins, which was the first location of the present Churchville church. It was formerly known by the name of the “Deer Creek Presbyterian Congregation.” This very incident, beyond a doubt, suggested the name, in part, for the new church,
It may be of interest to state, that the existence of this early church is supported by record proof as early as 1734, and may be traced by a slight glimmer of light to a point near the first decade of the eighteenth century, nearly two hundred years ago. It can also be shown, beyond a reasonable doubt, that it’s first members were of those sturdy Puritans from Severn, who had pushed their adventurous way thus far into Deer Creek forest.
The church was in the care of the trustees, and the use of it was granted to different denominations to hold meetings, and was, in so far, undenominational; but it appears to have been regarded as a Presbyterian enterprise, as at the head of the first page of the church account book appears the designation “Deer Creek Harmony Presbyterian Church.”
At a meeting of the trustees on June 1 st, 1842, it was resolved, “That while the trustees of the Deer Creek Harmony Presbyterian Church entertains the kindest feelings towards their Methodist brethren, and while they are perfectly willing to loan them the use of the Church on all proper and suitable occasions, they cannot consent to their occupying the house and making their own appointments at discretion.”
“That the Rev. Mr. Finney, Pator of this church be, and is, hearby authorized to grant permission to other denominations of Christians to use the church for religious meetings whenever he shall think proper to do so.”
During the winter and spring of 1855 there were several meetings held by those interested in the church to take into consideration the repairing of the same. It was decided to proceed with work and John A. Silver was appointed treasurer for that purpose. The seats were renewed and the Pulpit was replaced by a walnut one – these are now in the lecture room of the new church. The two side doors near the Pulpit were closed, leaving but one entrance. All the repairs, the cost of which was $380, were completed before the first of August, 1855.
The church was heated with coal stoves. The price of coal was then $2.50 per ton. At this time the church was lighted with lamps which used etherial oil. In February, 1860, a little subscription paper shows a change was made. It was “for the purpose of having the lamps fitted up to burn coal oil.” The cost of repairing the lamps was paid and the balance subscribed was expended in coal oil at $1.25 per gallon.
ORGANIZATION
The congregation accustomed to worship at Deer Creek Harmony Church applied to the Donegal Presbytery at it’s meeting in April, 1855, to be organized into a separate church. Presbytery granted the request and appointed Rev. Thos. M. Crawford of Slateville; Rev. John Farquhar, of Chanceford; and Rev. Samuel Dickey, of Oxford, to meet and organize the church.
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