A BRIEF HISTORY
Ebenezer takes its name from Scripture:
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“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up
between Mizpah and Shen.
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He named it Ebenezer (“stone of help”) saying,
‘Thus far has the Lord helped us.’”
--- I Samuel 7: 12
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The roots of Ebenezer go back to the Scotch Irish settlers of Wolf Creek Township who built a structure at the crossroads of Scrubgrass Road and the old Harrisville Road. Eighteen hundred fifty-four is the date designated as that of the founding, but there is evidence that a church existed before then.
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In 1893, in an effort to provide more space for Christian Education and to find a more favorable location, a new building was constructed in Centertown. The congregation grew, and in 1937 a basement was built under the structure. On February 11, 1958, this church was destroyed by fire.
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After a period of deliberation, during which the congregation worshipped with the Springfield Church congregation, a brick church was constructed at a new site on Scrubgrass Road, just east of Route 173. The present church structure was dedicated on March 6, 1960.
Ebenezer Church At Centertown
HISTORICAL
TIMELINE
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1854 Designated founding of the church
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1871 Joined the Butler Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church of North America
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1879 Disbanded. Church was sold to J.C. Irwin for $75.50
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1881 Ebenezer Congregation reformed and bought back the church for $80
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1883 First Installed pastor
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1893 September 23 Centertown Church was constructed at a cost of $2,036.80. The church debt was liquidated in 1898.
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1903 Joint parish with Springfield
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1914 Scotch Hill joined to form a triple charge
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Early 1930's, Centertown was the first church in the area to have electric lights when Claire Gildersleeve wired the church and ran a 32-volt generator in his garage to the church providing enough power for lights.
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1958 February 11 Fire destroyed Centertown Church
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1960 March 6 Dedication of new church building on Scrubgrass Rd
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1963 These churches joined together to form a parish: Amity, Ebenezer, Irwin, Millbrook, Scotch Hill and Springfield
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1980 Ebenezer withdrew from the parish
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1994 Installation of 45 stained-glass windows by John Meyerhoff of Grove City
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1995 Hired first full time pastor
PAST MINISTERS
Sign from the side of the Centertown Church, removed during the fire.
(February 11, 1958)
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The sign sits upon a part of the original hand-hewn beam, which was later used in Ellsworth Jamison's sheep barn.