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This is copied from an undated newspaper clipping.Henry Weidley mentioned at the end of the article died in 1871.
Presbyterian Church had you been standing on the shore at New Castle in the year 1704, you would have seen a ship coming up the Delaware Bay, with two families from the North of Ireland who were to take a prominent part in the history of the Chestnut Level Church. They came from the North of Ireland in 1704. Their names were James Clark and Scott. They had two children John was a boy born 1701, and Scott was a girl born 1702. In 1711 Rev. Thome came from Long Island NY to what is Centerville and organized a Presbyterian Church. John Clark took his son to church with him. He handed the practice down from generation to the fifth generation of the Clark family. The Clark family consists of eight generations
John Clark was born in 1701, North of Ireland. He came with his father to Drumore Lancaster county Pa. In 1704 his father was 33 years old, and John three years old, when they settled on the land now owned by A.S. Clark. When John was a boy of about ten or twelve years old he attended meeting at the house of Mr. Thompson; said house stood near the graveyard now known as Morrison graveyard, being the graveyard of the church, and the first graveyard in this section. Everything points to the building at the church in 1711.
Then the second church was built at what was known as five points, near where Samuel Rogers’ House now stands, and also the old Presbyterian graveyard fifteen years ago there was an old gravestone stood inside the gate on the left, made of slate, inscribed 1726. The oldest stone now standing is Elizabeth Shaw wife of McPherson who departed this life Dec. 17, 1726. From the facts gathered there is no doubt that the second log church was built at the five points in the year 1717.
The third church was built of stone in what is now known as Chestnut Level. The building was commenced in the year 1765 and finished in 1769. The fact that it was built in 1765 is proven without a doubt. The land was sold for the church property only. It was recorded in 1765. David Bigham was born in 1762, David’s father boarded the hands that built the church. David was a boy of between five and six years old. He was sent to call the hands to dinner . Boy like he climbed to the top of the lad r to the surprise of the workmen. His mother repeated the story to David time and time again and so it has been handed down to the present time. The old Rietchey House was built the same year the church was finished. with a stone in the chimney dated 1769, which has been seen by Mr. John Rietchey. When a small boy. Mr. Rietchey’s father and Mr. Hugh McCollough, father of Sanders McCollough, were the first children to be baptized in the church after it was finished. They were born 1770 and 1771. The land was given by the Rietchey’s who held a title given by the Penn Heirs.
- Written by Henry H. Weidley, sexton for 26 years at Chestnut Level and the father of William Weidley , of Bart Township, the latter dying last week ---- Sept 22nd
