Washington Presbytery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Washington Presbytery |
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| Classification | Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) |
| Region | Washington and Greene Counties |
The Washington Presbytery is a group of churches from the Presbyterian Church (USA). It includes churches in Washington and Greene counties in Pennsylvania. As of 2022, this group has 44 churches and 4,485 members.
History of the Presbytery
The Washington Presbytery was officially started on October 19, 1819. It was formed from parts of the Presbytery of Ohio. This happened at a meeting held by the Synod of Pittsburgh in a place called Three Ridges (now West Alexander).
During that meeting, it was decided that the college in Washington would join the new Presbytery. However, the town and church of Washington would stay with the Presbytery of Ohio for a while.
The new Presbytery covered a large area, more than six thousand square miles. It began with nineteen churches: Cross Creek, Mill Creek, Flats, Cross Roads, Three Springs, Upper Buffalo, Lower Buffalo, Upper Ten Mile, Lower Ten Mile, Three Ridges, Short Creek, Forks of Wheeling, Wheeling, East Buffalo, Wolf Run, Unity, Wellsburgh, Waynesburgh, and Crab Apple. Churches in Claysville, Waynesburgh, Wellsburgh, and Wheeling were already holding regular services.
By April 1821, the Washington Presbytery had 1,659 members. They had also donated $560.83 to support missionary work.
In 1824, the church in Washington, led by Rev. Obadiah Jennings, joined the new Presbytery. Later, on December 20, 1831, the churches at Mt. Nebo and Pigeon Creek also became part of it.
In 1863, the General Assembly changed the southern border of the Presbytery. It was moved to match Pennsylvania's southern border and the Ohio River. Because of this change, four churches—Bethel, Hughes River, Pennsboro, and Sistersville—were moved to the West Virginia Presbytery.
Today, the Washington Presbytery is part of the Synod of the Trinity.
See also
- Church of the Covenant (Pennsylvania)
- First Presbyterian Church 1793
- Mingo Creek Presbyterian Church and Churchyard
