The Presbyterian Congregation of Canonsburg was formed in 1830, mainly by members of John McMillan’s church. Rev. McMillan, the apostle of Presbyterianism in the West, first preached in this area at the home of John McDowell in 1775. His church, the Chartiers (Hill) Presbyterian Church, was a mile south of Canonsburg, and the way to church was all uphill.

For several years preceding 1830, Rev. Matthew Brown, president of Jefferson College, assisted the aged McMillan. During the summer months, Dr. McMillan delivered the morning sermon and Dr. Brown the afternoon sermon. It is more than a coincidence that, when John McMillan strongly indicated his desire to be released from his pastoral duties at the Hill Church, two new congregations were formed—Canonsburg and Center.

Loyalty to this venerable divine had prevented an earlier dissemination of the ranks of the Hill Church. However, now that their beloved pastor of more than fifty years was relinquishing his charge, the townspeople of Canonsburg and those who lived at a greater distance in Peters Township felt less reluctant to leave their mother church. In 1830, Presbytery granted the petition of the Presbyterians in Canonsburg to become the Presbyterian Congregation of Canonsburg.

The congregation of 79 members probably worshipped in Prayer Hall at first, but after the erection of the largest college building, Providence Hall, in 1833, worship services were held in the first floor chapel. The congregation was commonly referred to as the College Church. Townspeople, Jefferson College students, and the faculty families attended. The regular members occupied the pews on the east side of the chapel, and the college students, those on the west side. Jefferson College President Matthew Brown was the first stated supply of the Canonsburg congregation.

Dr. Brown resigned as president of Washington College in 1817 and five years later relinquished his charge as pastor of the Washington congregation. In 1822 he was elected president of Jefferson College, in which position he remained for twenty-three years. He is considered to have been the ablest and most successful of the Jefferson presidents. Dr. Brown served as stated supply of the Canonsburg congregation for fifteen years, after which time, due to illness, he resigned as president of the college and asked to be released from his church duties.

Dr. Robert Jefferson Breckinridge, Matthew Brown’s successor as president of the college, was called as pastor of the congregation in 1845. The cultured, urbane Dr. Breckinridge had served for thirteen years as pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Baltimore. He was a Kentuckian, had studied at Princeton, Yale and Union, and had practiced law in Lexington before graduating from seminary. He was considered one of the ablest and most eloquent speakers of his time.

The new pastor and president did not remain in Canonsburg for long. In 1847 he resigned and returned to Kentucky. He said the winters of this region were too rigorous for his health. It was for Dr. Breckinridge that the college erected the president’s house that was located on North Central Avenue where the Armory now stands.

Alexander Blaine Brown, a son of Matthew Brown, was elected president of the college in 1847 and shortly thereafter was called as pastor of the Canonsburg Presbyterian congregation. He was a deliberate and straightforward man, but above all gentle and self-critical, a man of reserve and easy refinement. Ill health forced Rev. Brown to resign his pastorate in 1857.

Four years earlier, Aaron Williams, Professor of Latin at Jefferson College, had been elected co-pastor of the church with Alexander Brown. Joseph Alden, who replaced Alexander Brown as president of the college in 1857, was a Congregational minister and could not be the church’s pastor. He was invited to take part, with Aaron Williams, a Presbyterian minister on the faculty, in the ministerial work of the congregation, and he continued this relationship until 1862, when he resigned as college president.

The Rev. David Riddle was Joseph Alden’s successor as president of Jefferson College. He was installed as pastor of the College Church in 1863. Dr. Riddle, a graduate of Jefferson, married Matthew Brown’s daughter, Elizabeth, and was well acquainted in the village of Canonsburg. Although Jefferson College ceased to exist in 1865, Dr. Riddle continued as Professor of Philosophy under the new president of the united college, Washington and Jefferson, and as pastor of the Presbyterian congregation for three more years.

Jonathan Edwards was the first president of Washington and Jefferson College. In 1868 he was appointed stated supply to the Canonsburg congregation, in which capacity he served until the following year. Dr. Edwards was the last of the college presidents to serve this congregation.

John M. Smith, installed as pastor in 1876, succeeded William Brown. A native of Washington County, a graduate of Jefferson College and of Western Theological Seminary, Rev. Smith was extremely successful in his pastorate here. During his stay, the membership more than doubled and missionary benevolence was greatly increased. In 1887 the congregation, now numbering 310 members, voted to change their name to the First Presbyterian Church of Canonsburg.