The Hart's Log Church was in some contemporary records was known as the "Rev. John Johnston's meeting house," he being the first settled minister of the congregation. The latter was also variously designated, sometimes as "the congregation of Hart's Log and Shaver's Creek." and very frequently as of the former place only. This condition prevailed until the Shaver's Creek members established a place of worship for themselves (after 1790), when the congregation became known by the name of Hart's Log alone.

Fifty-eight persons subscribed to the fund for building the house; John Canan, Robert and Charles Caldwell, John Williams, and David Wilson each giving one pound. The lowest contribution was fifty cents, The house does not appear to have been completely finished in 1786, as after the first board of trustees was chosen in September, 1787, they concluded "To lay a floor, have six large windows and one small one, to have a door made, to have the house daubed and underpinned, and also to have a convenient place or pulpit for the minister and a table," These "repairs." it was estimated, would cost more than had. been expended on the house the year before.

The trustees, or "committee to direct the private expenses of the congregation," at first consisted of John Thorlton, David Caldwell, and David Stewart, but as the latter wished to be relieved of his trust, it was increased by the addition of John Spencer, James Hunter, and John Dean. These and their successors, it is supposed, supervised the temporal affairs of the congregation until 1797, when the congregation became incorporated, and John Began, David Stewart, David Caldwell, George Gray, John Williams, and Matthew Gray elected as the first board of trustees, with powers such as usually now pertain to that office. Four years later, Aug. 21, 1801, the trustees received a formal deed for the land on which the house stood, Elizabeth Gemmill conveying two acres and ninety perches, "for the pious purpose of a Presbyterian Church and burying-ground," 'By this act Mrs, Gemmill "completed the laudable intention" of her husband, who had allowed the congregation to appropriate the land, but had neglected to give the proper authorities a title in his lifetime. Although two efforts had now been made to complete this house of worship, it was not regularly seated until 1792. Three years later, in November, 1795, Lazarus McLain was instructed by the trustees " to have a crack under the rafters daubed and a stove fixed in the meetinghouse." Up to that time the building had no means whereby it could be heated, while its supply of fresh air from the outside was unlimited. The crack wag daubed up, but some time elapsed before the congregation enjoyed the comfort arising from the use of a stove. It must not be thought that these frequent "repairs." placed the pioneer, meeting-house in what would nowadays be termed good condition. It was unceiled, the rafters standing bare and naked under the roof, except where the swallows chose to build their nests in this modern tabernacle. Regardless of the worshipers below, they flew in and out of some friendly cracks, enjoying the security of their homes. The walls of the house, although chinked and daubed, yielded to the action of the elements, and through the cracks of the house serpents were known to enter to the manifest alarm of the usually staid matrons. Thus the house was used half a dozen years longer, when it was deemed advisable to transfer the place of worship to Alexandria, which was beginning to assume importance as a village. To this end Thomas H. Stewart, Robert Stitt, and John Scott, in behalf of the congregation, secured from Elizabeth Gemmill, the proprietress of the village, a lot on " Good Hill" for a building site, the deed bearing date Nov. 17, 1813.

The same year a stone meeting-house was erected thereon by Joshua Comstock, at an expense of nearly one thousand dollars. Unfortunately the stone used in the walls could not endure the action, of the weather, a fact which became so early apparent that the house was never completed. It was used some time in an unfinished condition, when its occupancy was deemed unsafe and it was abandoned, affording a sheltering place for sheep until it wholly fell down. The congregation returned to its old log church, which was its spiritual home many years longer.

The congregation elected its first board of elders Sept. 10, 1787, as follows: For the Hart's Log part, James Dean, George Gray, Thomas McCune, and William McCoy; for the Shaver's Creek part, John Little, Alexander McCormick, William Johnston, and Robert Eiddle. A year later Edward Hunter and David Stewart were chosen elders, the latter becoming clerk of the sessions. In the course of eight years, in May, 1796, Matthew Gray, David Caldwell, and John Dean were chosen members of the sessions, being the last elected to that body of whom there is any account. Soon after the session was organized a permanent pastor was chosen. The Rev. John Johnston was installed to that office in November, 1787, and maintained that relation about thirty-six years. For three years he also preached for the Shaver's Creek members, but about 1790-discontinued his services there and divided his time between Hart's Log and Huntingdon, devoting almost his entire ministerial life to those congregations.

He was a native of Ireland, a thoroughly educated man, and a "substantial preacher." Under his ministry the congregation increased in wealth and membership, and was one of the strongest societies of the Presbyterian Church in the interior of the State. But the positive opinions of Mr. Johnston on the war of 1812 dissatisfied a portion of his congregation. Accordingly, in 1814, this dissatisfied element withdrew, and ultimately became the basis of The Alexandria Presbyterian Church. As such it remained separate and distinct until a union of Hart's Log and Alexandria congregations was effected. The former continued to worship in the old log church until 1826, when a brick house was secured in the upper part of the village, in which the meetings of the congregation were held until its dissolution four years later. The old house, soon after it was vacated, was taken down, and some of the material used in building a residence at Alexandria.

The new house seems to have been ill-fated, and suffered damage from storms on at least three different occasions. Mr. Johnston served Hart's Log until 1823, when he relinquished his charge in April of that year. On the 16th of December following he died, in the seventy-third year of his age. After the former date the pastoral office of Hart's Log was vacant, the congregation being dependent upon the supplies of the Presbytery for more than two years. But in June, 1825, John Peebles, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Carlisle, became the pastor for one-third of his time,. the remainder being devoted to Huntingdon, He so continued to serve these congregations until Hart's Log was merged with the Alexandria congregation in 1830 to form the present Alexandria Church. In 1819 the Alexandria, congregation united with: Shaver's Creek in calling the Rev. James Thompson to the pastorate, and on the 19th of April, 1819, he was ordained and installed their pastor. He served them faithfully until his death, on the 8th of October, 1830, departing this life at the age of thirty-nine years.

When he became the pastor the congregation" had no place of worship, but occupied a stone shop owned by George Wilson as a place of meeting, Soon a lot for church and ceuietery purposes was secured, and a frame building erected thereon, which from its color became known as the " White Meeting-House." Here the congregation worshiped until the present edifice was built. Closely following that event were the efforts to unite the two congregations, a measure which was strongly urged by the pastor of the Hart's Log congregation, Rev. Peebles. The terms of the reunion were agreed upon on the 15th of November, 1830, and took effect upon the 1st of January following. At that- time the church rolls embraced the names of one hundred and forty persons. Five years later the increase numbered to twenty-four, and in the spring of 1843, thirteen years after the reunion, there were two hundred and twenty members, sixty-nine of the number having just united on profession of faith. The church has reported two hundred and eighty-five members to the Presbytery at one of its annual meetings, and had in the summer and was one of the strongest societies of the Presbyterian Church in the interior of the State. But the positive opinions of Mr. Johnston on the war of 1812 dissatisfied a portion of his congregation. Accordingly, in 1814, this dissatisfied element withdrew, and ultimately became the basis of The Alexandria Presbyterian Church. As such it remained separate and distinct until a union of Hart's Log and Alexandria congregations was effected. The former continued to worship in the old log church until 1826, when a brick house was secured in the upper part of the village, in which the meetings of the congregation were held until its dissolution four years later. The old house, soon after it was vacated, was taken down, and some of the material used in building a residence at Alexandria. The new house seems to have been ill-fated, and suffered damage from storms on at least three different occasions. Mr. Johnston served Hart's Log until 1823, when he relinquished his charge in April of that year. On the 16th of December following he died, in the seventy-third year of his age. After the former date the pastoral office of Hart's Log was vacant, the congregation being dependent upon the supplies of the Presbytery for more than two years. But in June, 1825, John Peebles, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Carlisle, became the pastor for one-third of his time,. the remainder being devoted to Huntingdon, He so continued to serve these congregations until Hart's Log was merged with the Alexandria congregation in 1830 to form the present Alexandria Church. In 1819 the Alexandria, congregation united with Shaver's Creek in calling the Rev. James Thompson to the pastorate, and on the 19th of April, 1819, he was ordained and installed their pastor. He served them faithfully until his death, on the 8th of October, 1830, departing this life at the age of thirty-nine years. When he became the pastor the congregation" had no place of worship, but occupied a stone shop owned by George Wilson as a place of meeting, Soon a lot for church and ceuietery purposes was secured, and a frame building erected thereon, which from its color became known as the " White Meeting-House." Here the congregation worshiped until the present edifice was built. Closely following that event were the efforts to unite the two congregations, a measure which was strongly urged by the pastor of the Hart's Log congregation, Rev. Peebles. The terms of the reunion were agreed upon on the 15th of November, 1830, and took effect upon the 1st of January following. At that time the church rolls embraced the names of one hundred and forty persons.

Church Today

Photograph Copyright by F.W. Thorlton

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