The Clen-Moore Presbyterian Church, New Castle, PA

In the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, Presbyterian minded folk of New Castle felt moved by the Spirit to come together as one and worship God. Around 1808, the Associate Church (the Established Church of Scotland or the Seceder Church) formed a local congregation. The congregation was fiercely opposed to government interference in matters of the church which was in keeping with its heritage as Scots.

After five years of meeting in a tent near the Neshannock Creek, a lot was purchased for $30 by John Carlisle Stewart. A log cabin was built in 1815 which served as a church building just behind the Diamond on Beaver Street. Led by J. C. Stewart, the new building was dedicated on May 7, 1816. It was used for approximately sixteen years. This church evolved into the Shenango Associate Church, which is referred to as the "mother of churches." From that mother church, Clen Moore and many churches evolved into United Presbyterian churches. Eventually the Shenango Church moved to a location about three miles north of New Castle.

On December 25, 1849, an Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (Covenanter) was established in New Castle. The congregation was a spinoff from the Shenango Church. A national union between the Associate Church (Seceder) and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (Covenanters) was formed 1858 which became known as the United Presbyterian Church, and it lasted for the next 100 years.

In 1846, Dr. Robert Audley Browne had come to the area to become the fifth pastor to serve the Shenango and Eastbrook Churches. Finding a home in New Castle, Dr. Browne held weekly prayer meetings in his home or in a nearby school. Everyone in the community was welcome to attend these prayer meetings. After a time, twelve of the members decided to prayerfully consider forming an Associated Reformed congregation. After one prayer meeting on December 20, 1848, the 12 pledged $832 to build a new church. The deed for the new church was registered in the new Lawrence County Court House. Lawrence County was only formed in March 1849, and the deed for the new Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church of New Castle was one of the first deeds registered at the new county seat, New Castle. The Presbytery of the Lakes approved the charter for the new congregation and appointed Rev. R. W. Oliver as church moderator. The founding date was December 25, 1849. With the charter in hand, 35 people - 16 men and 19 women - gathered to become members of the new congregation. The congregation called Dr. Robert Audley Brown as its first pastor.

First United Presbyterian Church grew to the point that a decision had to be made about a new church building. The congregation had to either remodel the existing church or build a new church. The congregation chose to build a new church. A lot on North Jefferson Street was purchased. Dr. Browne and Elder George W. Hartman gathered pledges of $4,641 to build the new church on the Jefferson Street site. When completed, the new church building was to cost $28, 851, a princely sum for those days.

The Jefferson Street church was a larger church with features of brick and stone construction. It was a splendid building in which to worship the Lord. Despite the cost, splendor, and size, a great fire reduced the building to ashes with blackened bricks and stones in a terrible fire on New Year's Eve, 1927. In a state of shock, the congregation showed its spirit and rallied to start a new era in the history of the First United Presbyterian Church of New Castle.

With the Jefferson Street church destroyed on December 31, 1927, the shocked, heartbroken congregation met in the YWCA to make decisions about rebuilding. To kindle a new spirit in them, a committee recommended that they abandon the downtown New Castle location and move to the edge of town on Clen Moore Boulevard at Albert Street. This move would be a challenge in two ways for the congregation. First came the challenge to spread God's word in a new location in the city and beyond. Secondly pledges had to be secured to finance God's new house. The pledges were made and kept even during the depths of the great depression which swept the nation in October 1929. Undaunted, the people worked hard to meet their pledges of finance, time, and talent. God's new house was dedicated on May 18, 1930. (On December 25, 1949, First United Presbyterian Church's centennial Anniversary date, the mortgage was paid in full and burned as part of that great celebration.) The new church had an auditorium to seat 700; the church school wing could accommodate about 650 people. But how to fill it? Dr. Irvine and the congregation set out to do so. The membership grew slowly.

With the call of the Rev. Robert Mayo, in October 1948, new challenges were put forth to the congregation. One such challenge was the goal set of 1,000 members by the church’s centennial date of December 25, 1949. Leading the way was the new pastor, Rev. Bob Mayo, who brought a youthful zeal to Clen Moore which became infectious. With a record 107 new members added to the church rolls, the goal of 1000 was reached by the centennial anniversary date.

The Mayo years saw the congregation grow to 1803 members, a far cry from the original 35 members. Church membership grew rapidly during this post-World War II period as people sought to reestablish their lives and family values. Church participation and membership were centerpieces of this lives for families in this period. Bob Mayo presented Christ centered messages weekly and a variety of programs and activities for his congregation. In 1959 a union between the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. and the United Presbyterian Church of North America merged to become the United Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.. All churches in the new denomination were to drop the number from its name and select a new name. The First United Presbyterian Church of New Castle became Clen Moore Presbyterian Church on November 24, 1959.

Twenty-four years later, in 1983, the Presbyterian Church U.S. reunited with the United Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. to form the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., and Clen Moore United Presbyterian Church became Clen Moore Presbyterian Church; the official vote took place on January 27, 1984.

In 1963 a major challenge for the leadership of the congregation arose when Dr. Mayo was called to another church. Susie Rentz was appointed the Church Administrator by the session. The church of 1803 members was run smoothly and efficiently by Susie Rentz. The eight adult Sunday school classes provided a firm foundation to keep Clen Moore strong until a new pastor was called.

Rev. William J. Turner was called in September 1963. One of his first challenges was to deal with a large congregation and a building that was too small. The solution was Ebenezer, a new wing for the church. Unfortunately, Bill Turner was called home by the Lord before Ebenezer was completed in 1969. The Rev. Jack Heinshon was installed in June 1970 as the new pastor.

During the Heinshon era at Clen Moore, the tradition of a strong Christ centered ministry continued. One part of Jack’s legacy, which continues at Clen Moore, is the annual Christmas Dinner, which is free to the community. A call to a church in Los Angeles made Jack’s ministry at Clen Moore all too short.

January 1, 1975 saw the installation of William J. Larkin as the 10^th pastor for the Clen Moore congregation, the Larkin Era had begun. One of Bill’s first efforts was to pay off the church debt for Ebenezer; he developed innovative ways to pay the mortgage off early. A strong community outreach program began under his ministry, The Prime Timers, an outreach ministry for seniors. PrimeTimers was and is still a missionary outreach program open to everyone, not just Clen Moore members.

November 1, 1983 saw the beginning of the Vel Vais pastorate which was to last until December 2005. The purchase of the McGill Elementary School began a period of mission and cooperation between Clen Moore and five other Presbyterian churches as the McGill Presbyterian Community Center.

January 2, 2008 the Clen Moore congregation issued a call to the Rev. Chris Weichman as its 12^th pastor. Although time has diminished the size of the congregation to a little more than 600 members, the spirit of the congregation, its heritage of 160 years, and its commitment to Christ has not diminished. Chris has brought his gifts and talents to lead the congregation in a renewed direction.