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On July 24, 1855, the following nineteen persons requested their certificates of membership from the session of the Churchville church, “in order to unite with the Deer Creek Harmony Church.” Their request was granted:
Samuel Harper Emily M. Silver Sarah Bayless
Hannah Harper William Loflin Wm. F. Bayless
George Bevard Emily Loflin Sarah E. Bayless
Margaret Groom Elizabeth Bailey Mary B. Hopkins
William Silver James F. Reasin Adaline Loflin
Benj. Silver Matilda Reasin Daniel A. Loflin
Harriett Dever
At the suggestion of Rev. Wm. Finney it was decided that there should be several days’ service at the time of the organization of the church, and several ministers were invited to attend.
The congregation met on Friday, August 3d, 1855, at 11 A.M. The following ministers were present: Rev. Wm. Finney, Rev. John Squir, of Port Deposit; Rev. Thos. E. Peck, of Baltimore; Rev. Thos. M. Crawford of Slateville; and Rev. Ebenezer D. Finney.
After a sermon by Rev. T. E. Peck, Rev. Wm. Finney proposed Samuel Harper, Benjamin Silver and Wm. F. Bayless for elders of the church, who were elected by the congregation.
The organization was postponed until the next day, as there was only one of the committee present.
Rev. E. D. Finney preached in the afternoon and Rev. John Squir at the evening service.
On Saturday Morning, August 4 th, Rev. J. Squir preached, after which the church was organized by Revs. Thos. M. Crawford and Samuel Dickey. The three persons mentioned above were ordained Ruling Elders.
Rev. T. S. C. Smith preached at the afternoon service and Rev. T. M. Crawfrd in the evening. The services were continued over the Sabbath, August the 5 th.
The church was organized by the Denegal Presbytery, but two years later, in 1857, it was transferred, at its own request, by the General Assembly, to the Presbytery of Baltimore.
PASTOR AND SUPPLIES
The Deer Creek Harmony Church was a regular preaching place of Rev. Wm. Finney from its dedication in 1837 ti its organization in 1855. The standing appointments were, “every third Sabbath morning during the winter and avery alternate Sabbath afternoon during the summer.” His pastorate of the Churchville Church closed on October 4 th, 1854. On the evening of August 4 th, 1855, the date of the organization of the church, a congregational meeting was held, which extended to “Rev. Wm. Finney, our highly esteemed late Pastor,” an invitation “to fill our Pulpit, as stated supply, as often as his health and circumstances will permit.”
This request was presented to him and accepted on August 6 th. He continued to minister to the congregation until May1, 1858.
The history of Deer Creek Harmony Church would be deficient without some special reference to Rev. Wm. Finney. Although never the installed pastor of this church, yethe was regarded and revered as the pastor, and was held in the highest regard and greatly beloved; and this attachment seems to have been reciprocal, as he was ever ready to serve the harmony congregation. His last ministerial labor was the Sacramental address on June 15 th, 1873, to the members of this church. The silver communion service used by this church was presented by him.
Rev. Wm. Finney, D.D., was born near New London, Chester Co., PA. He graduated from Princeton College in 1809, studied theology under Dr. Sam’l Martin, of Chanceford, and was licensed October 1 st, 1813, by the Presbytery of New Castle. He was ordained and installed the pastor of the Churchville Church, November 17 th, 1813, and continued until October 4 th, 1854, being a pastorate of forty-one years.
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