Church History

Union Presbyterian Church of Robinson Township was established in 1794. The first history was written by Samuel S. Glass in 1894 and revised in 1944. A short "Retrospective" was published in 1929. The purpose of this history is to enrich the previous history by offering some new material based on court records, Associate Reformed Presbyterian minutes and publications, other church records and the Union Church family histories.

Documentation of the organizing events at Union is difficult. Few of the oldest churches can give the date or circumstances of their organization or produce session records. Union's holographic records begin with Session minutes dated February 20, 1835. Men were too busy to write. They were making history carving homes for themselves and their large families in a hostile wilderness.

The contribution of Union Church's Scotch-Irish founders and the impact of their culture and beliefs in shaping the growth of Robinson Township is incalculable. They furnished leaders in civil affairs; they were found or school boards and in teaching positions; they were justices of the peace. They were patriotic as measured by the number Revolutionary War veterans buried in Union Cemetery. Their children were nourished on religion and in education, for it was important for a good Presbyterian to be able to read the Bible and the Psalter. The Scotch-Irish were industrious as measured by the size of the farms, or "plantations" as they were called at the time.

Founders of the Associate Reformed Church later to be named "Union", had a distinctive character which was molded in their Scotch-Irish heritage. They were Scottish and English people who had gone to Ireland to take up the confiscated estates of Irish rebels. The Scottish king encouraged his Presbyterian subjects to do this. The migration began in the early part of the 17th century and was extensive. These Presbyterians settled in Northern Ireland and became known as Ulstermen or Scotch-Irish in America. It has been written that they were thrifty an intelligent. After successfully establishing homes for themselves in Ireland, religious persecution began at the hands of a new king of England. The native Irish also succeeded in killing a few thousand of the Scotch-Irish.

The promise of security, opportunity and prosperity stimulated many of them to emigrate to America. Migration began about 1700 and continued for 40 to 60 years. They came into the port of Philadelphia or to new Castle, Delaware. A large number of these emigrants settled in Eastern Pennsylvania, in Lancaster, York and Chamberland Counties. Perhaps they were attracted to Pennsylvania by the fame of the colony for religious liberty and for it's fertile soil. About the same time, German immigrants were also arriving to take up farming in those areas. Early records indicate that the two groups were not entirely compatible. Just before the Revolutionary War, the Scotch-Irish began a migration to the Western Frontier. Land had been purchased by the government from the Indians enabling pioneers to obtain large tracts at thrifty prices.

Land was cheap, but it was heavily timbered, damp and cold. Game was abundant. Herds of buffalo and elk wandered through the woods. Indians were still lurking about. The innate qualities of self-reliance, ingenuity and improvisation of these hardy pioneers were invaluable in carving out homes in the wilderness and in facing Indian attacks.

This excerpt was taken from "Union Presbyterian Church 1794-1994", a church history published by Providence House Publishers and available from the church office.