The first mention found of the Chartiers Congregation was in the Spring of 1774, when a petition was sent from Chartiers to the Presbytery of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, asking for the election of elders. The Reverend Matthew Henderson, a graduate of Glasgow University, visited the Chartiers settlement as a result of this petition. He preached here during the summer of 1775, and that same year the Associate Presbytery recognized the congregation of Chartiers. Mr. Henderson visited here again in 1779, and in November of that year received a call from the Associate Congregations of Chartiers, Buffalo and Mingo Creek. He came west alone and was installed as pastor in 1781, having left his family in Franklin County because of the rekindling of Indian attacks in this area.

The Chartiers Congregation was worshiping at Oak Spring. They purchased four acres of land from John Canon, but he was not able to provide clear title to his land until the 1790s and the deed was not delivered until 1797. A log meeting house was erected at Oak Spring at an early, unknown date. The oldest legible gravestone standing today in the old churchyard is that of Alexander Russell who died in 1784.

Mr. Henderson served as pastor of Chartiers and Buffalo until his accidental death in 1795. For several years he was the only minister of the Associate Church west of the mountains. In addition to caring for his own widely scattered flock, he was one of the incorporators of the Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 and the Washington Academy in the same year.

After these schools ceased to operate, Matthew Henderson and John McMillan were instrumental in establishing the Canonsburg Academy in 1791. The congregation of Chartiers joined in the support of the academy. A receipt dated March 1800 from the academy’s treasurer recognizes that the eight dollars had been given by the Congregation of Chartiers for work done to the academy.

Matthew Henderson was accidentally killed by the falling of a bee tree. A weathered tablet marks his grave and that of his wife near the location at Oak Spring where he had expounded God’s word to his Chartiers congregation.

In 1796, following Mr. Henderson’s death, the Rev. John Smith, another Glasgow University graduate, accepted a joint call from Chartiers and Peters Creek. Like Matthew Henderson, Smith had been pastor of the Associate Church at Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Rev. Smith was released from Chartiers in 1802, and the pulpit remained vacant for three years, until the Rev. James Ramsey was installed as pastor. James Ramsey was not a stranger to the Chartiers people; he had been educated at Canonsburg Academy. He served this congregation, his only pastorate, until 1849. The log meeting house was replaced by one of limestone, and this was, in 1835, replaced by a brick building. In 1839 there were 430 communicants on the roll; little wonder they outgrew two meeting houses in short order.

In 1821, during Mr. Ramsey’s ministry, the Associate Theological Seminary was moved to Canonsburg. The seminary, since its founding in 1794, had been located Service, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Dr. Ramsey was appointed professor in the Canonsburg Seminary and served as the only faculty member until 1835, when an additional professor was secured. Dr. Ramsey resigned from the theological seminary in 1842 and was released as pastor of Chartiers in 1849 due to ill health.

John Barr Clark was called as pastor in 1853, and again the congregation chose a man who had attended school in Canonsburg. He was a graduate of Canonsburg Seminary. Dr. Clark was released at his own request in 1860 to accept a charge in Allegheny. During his pastorate, the Associate Theological Seminary was moved from Canonsburg to Xenia, Ohio. Three years later (1858) the Associate Presbyterian and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Churches united to form the United Presbyterian Church of North America.

Daniel Houston French, a native of Washington County, was installed as pastor in 1861. He had graduated from Jefferson College in 1857 and attended Xenia Seminary. His service covered the sorrowful years of the Civil War. Mr. French resigned in 1866.

The pulpit was vacant for almost five years, but during that time, the present house of worship was erected. In 1868 the property on Pike Street was purchased for six hundred dollars, and construction began immediately. The present brick edifice was completed two years later at a cost of $18,000. The old brick church building at Oak Spring was razed and the Oak Spring Cemetery Association was organized. The Association purchased the Oak Spring property from the Chartiers Congregation in 1870.

The original steeple of the Chartiers Church, described in the Canonsburg Herald as "an eye-sore from its uncouth appearance," is shown in an illustration from the 1876 Washington County Atlas, left. To the right is a drawing from an 1899 Daily Notes.

Daniel McBane McLean, the sixth pastor, was installed in 1871 and served until his death in 1880. Again the congregation had chosen a man who was educated in Canonsburg; he had attended Jefferson College. During Reverend McLean’s pastorate, Chartiers celebrated her centennial, and the town overflowed with visitors for the occasion.

Mr. McLean, a kind and considerate man, was much loved by his congregation. Rachel Louise Carson, the world-renowned biologist and writer, known for her books about the sea and pesticides, was a granddaughter of Daniel McLean.

William Brownlee Smiley, a native of Washington County, accepted the call proffered by the Chartiers congregation in 1882, and served faithfully for the next twenty-seven years. At this time, many of the old-line Seceders were mortified by talk of installing an organ in the sanctuary. Hadn’t there been enough radical changes? The sanctity of the communion service had been tampered with; gone was the common cup, the fencing of the table, and the use of the communion token. The psalms had been revised, lining out was no longer practiced, and now, some wished to desecrate God’s house by introducing anthems and hymns. Was there nothing too sacred to be violated? With time, the wounds healed, and the controversial organ was in use in the worship service by 1897.

During Mr. Smiley’s pastorate, the Houston United Presbyterian congregation was organized (1888) with the blessings of Chartiers, but not without the loss of some faithful members who lived nearer to Houston.

Changes in the worship practice of Chartiers were accompanied by alterations in the facade of the church building as well. When originally constructed, the sanctuary was entered by ascending a set of wide stone steps on the outside of the building. The front doors were located where the large stained glass window is now. The borough lowered the grade on Pike Street several feet, which made it possible to remove the long flight of stone steps and make a front entrance to the church on the ground floor.

These two views of Chartiers United Presbyterian Church show the changes to the façade from the lowering of Pike Street. The earlier view, left, was retouched to remove the wires.

Following William Smiley’s resignation, William P. Aiken, the eighth minister in the history of Chartiers, was called in 1910. Dr. Aiken was a friendly man who is especially remembered for his devotion to the shut-ins and his frequent calls to the homes of his parishioners. A number of improvements took place during Dr. Aiken’s 21-year pastorate. A resolution passed at the annual congregational meeting in 1913 favored ladies removing their hats during church services. In 1920, a 16-foot addition was made to the north end of the church building, and an Estey pipe organ was installed.

Rev. Donald Spencer brought the enthusiasm of youth to Chartiers in 1931. He had an intense interest in young people and did much to stimulate their activities in the church. Very frequently there were as many as a hundred in attendance at the meetings of the Young People’s Christian Union. The baptismal font was designed and built by members of the congregation during Rev. Spencer’s pastorate. The wood used was from the old Associate Theological Seminary building on West Pike. It was dedicated to the pioneer members of the congregation, and the original baptismal bowl was placed inside the font.

 Dr. J. Reade McCrory succeeded Donald Spencer in 1938 and served the congregation until 1947. While pastor here, he was elected Moderator of the Pittsburgh Synod, at that time the largest synod in the United Presbyterian Church. He also served as Vice Moderator of the United Presbyterian Church.

Above, left to right, Chartiers U.P. ministers William B. Smiley, William P. Aiken, J. Reade McCrory, and Francis Scott.

Dr. McCrory was succeeded by the Rev. John T. Brownlee, who came to Chartiers in 1948. The 180th anniversary of the congregation was celebrated with the dedication of the new Education building during Dr. Brownlee’s pastorate. In 1961 the Rev. Francis Scott, a former missionary, was installed as pastor. He instituted informative newsletters and family dinners with their interesting programs. By 1964 the sessions of Chartiers and First Presbyterian had met to discuss closer cooperation between the two congregations. Joint summer services were among the results. During August, church services with guest ministers alternated between the two sanctuaries.

Dr. McCrory was succeeded by the Rev. John T. Brownlee, who came to Chartiers in 1948. The 180th anniversary of the congregation was celebrated with the dedication of the new Education building during Dr. Brownlee’s pastorate.

In 1961 the Rev. Francis Scott, a former missionary, was installed as pastor. He instituted informative newsletters and family dinners with their interesting programs. By 1964 the sessions of Chartiers and First Presbyterian had met to discuss closer cooperation between the two congregations. Joint summer services were among the results. During August, church services with guest ministers alternated between the two sanctuaries.