May 24, 1798: Nathaniel Church arrives to survey 14,000-acre township that would become Canfield.

May 24, 1798: Nathaniel Church arrives to survey 14,000-acre township that would become Canfield. 1801: Joseph Badger is sent by the Connecticut Missionary Society to organize new congregations in the area. April 27, 1804: Badger and the Rev. Thomas Robbins of Connecticut join to start congregations. Nine residents form a Congregational-Presbyterian church known as Canfield Congregational Church. They would have no pastor and no sanctuary for more than 15 years.1819: The group agrees to raise $2,250 for a church building. The structure was to be 36 feet by 40 feet and built on donated land on the village green. The land is the modern day site of United Methodist Church. Work is completed in July 1822.1820: Census shows 787 people in the township.1820s: Other Protestant churches organize, and because it was the only sanctuary in town, the church offers its facilities for use.1829: The church calls the Rev. William Stratton as pastor at a salary of $400. The congregation shares the Rev. Mr. Stratton with other churches.1835: Presbyterian influences increase, while Congregational influences decline. The Presbytery of Beaver decides to end a plan uniting the churches, and the General Assembly also complies. Mr. Stratton, a Presbyterian, and about 50 members organize into Canfield Presbyterian Church. They meet in homes.1836: A frame structure is built on the current site at 140 W. Main St. 1868: A bell tower and bell are added. The sanctuary is elevated and a brick basement added for Sunday school classes. The first manse is built.1870: Census shows 1,500 Canfield residents. 1903-04: A new sanctuary, the current building, is built with $6,000 in pledges and $1,300 raised by the Women's Aid Society. The old church is razed, and in 1902 and 1903 the congregation worships once again with the Congregational Church. 1903: The congregation elects a woman to the board of trustees for the first time. The Women's Missionary Society, organized shortly after the Civil War, becomes especially active in the early 1900s. June 30, 1904: There is a dedication of the building that was completed in late 1903. The stained glass windows installed are the same ones in the church today. 1906: The Congregational Church disbands, and many of its remaining members join the Presbyterians. The Congregationalist property is turned over to the Methodists, who build a new sanctuary. 1941: Church installs its first electric organ.1948: Church membership is 325, and that nearly doubles to 640 in the next five years.1949: Church decides to expand and in 1951 builds the lower ground level with the $100,000 available. The first phase includes large classrooms, a nursery, the chapel, pastor's study and church offices.1951: The Women's Association is formed, and in 1955 it sponsors the Canfield Exchange Store, which operates until 1990. All profits from the store are given to missionary causes.1956: New manse is constructed at 163 Brookpark Drive. It is still used by the pastor and his family.March 30, 1958: Dedication services are held for the completed rehabilitation of the sanctuary. The Chancel is moved to the south end of the sanctuary. Instead of being a semicircle facing east, the sanctuary now faces south. What is now the "angel wing" on the side of the sanctuary was once the area where the choir was seated behind the pulpit. November 1961: The two-story educational building is added to the east side of the church. It includes a fellowship hall, kitchen, choir room and several large classrooms.1965: The church receives a gift of nearly five acres between the manse and the church parking lot. It includes a pavilion and is used for recreation.August 1976: Current pastor, the Rev. Dr. Charles Hutton Moffett, is called. His father, the Rev. Charles Hull Moffett, is the minister of visitation. Mid-1980s: Major renovation of the sanctuary and other areas is undertaken. Included are the addition of an elevator, exterior ramped walks, chancel modifications, a modified narthex and relocation of the general office. Total cost: $400,000.April 1988: A new manual Schantz organ is dedicated.2003: The congregation establishes a Bicameral Board, merging the responsibilities of the Session and the Trustees into the Session and maintaining the ministry of the deacons as a separate board. This enables ministry to be done by smaller, independent, efficient task groups.
May 24, 1798: Nathaniel Church arrives to survey 14,000-acre township that would become Canfield. 1801: Joseph Badger is sent by the Connecticut Missionary Society to organize new congregations in the area. April 27, 1804: Badger and the Rev. Thomas Robbins of Connecticut join to start congregations. Nine residents form a Congregational-Presbyterian church known as Canfield Congregational Church. They would have no pastor and no sanctuary for more than 15 years.1819: The group agrees to raise $2,250 for a church building. The structure was to be 36 feet by 40 feet and built on donated land on the village green. The land is the modern day site of United Methodist Church. Work is completed in July 1822.1820: Census shows 787 people in the township.1820s: Other Protestant churches organize, and because it was the only sanctuary in town, the church offers its facilities for use.1829: The church calls the Rev. William Stratton as pastor at a salary of $400. The congregation shares the Rev. Mr. Stratton with other churches.1835: Presbyterian influences increase, while Congregational influences decline. The Presbytery of Beaver decides to end a plan uniting the churches, and the General Assembly also complies. Mr. Stratton, a Presbyterian, and about 50 members organize into Canfield Presbyterian Church. They meet in homes.1836: A frame structure is built on the current site at 140 W. Main St. 1868: A bell tower and bell are added. The sanctuary is elevated and a brick basement added for Sunday school classes. The first manse is built.1870: Census shows 1,500 Canfield residents. 1903-04: A new sanctuary, the current building, is built with $6,000 in pledges and $1,300 raised by the Women's Aid Society. The old church is razed, and in 1902 and 1903 the congregation worships once again with the Congregational Church. 1903: The congregation elects a woman to the board of trustees for the first time. The Women's Missionary Society, organized shortly after the Civil War, becomes especially active in the early 1900s. June 30, 1904: There is a dedication of the building that was completed in late 1903. The stained glass windows installed are the same ones in the church today. 1906: The Congregational Church disbands, and many of its remaining members join the Presbyterians. The Congregationalist property is turned over to the Methodists, who build a new sanctuary. 1941: Church installs its first electric organ.1948: Church membership is 325, and that nearly doubles to 640 in the next five years.1949: Church decides to expand and in 1951 builds the lower ground level with the $100,000 available. The first phase includes large classrooms, a nursery, the chapel, pastor's study and church offices.1951: The Women's Association is formed, and in 1955 it sponsors the Canfield Exchange Store, which operates until 1990. All profits from the store are given to missionary causes.1956: New manse is constructed at 163 Brookpark Drive. It is still used by the pastor and his family.March 30, 1958: Dedication services are held for the completed rehabilitation of the sanctuary. The Chancel is moved to the south end of the sanctuary. Instead of being a semicircle facing east, the sanctuary now faces south. What is now the "angel wing" on the side of the sanctuary was once the area where the choir was seated behind the pulpit. November 1961: The two-story educational building is added to the east side of the church. It includes a fellowship hall, kitchen, choir room and several large classrooms.1965: The church receives a gift of nearly five acres between the manse and the church parking lot. It includes a pavilion and is used for recreation.August 1976: Current pastor, the Rev. Dr. Charles Hutton Moffett, is called. His father, the Rev. Charles Hull Moffett, is the minister of visitation. Mid-1980s: Major renovation of the sanctuary and other areas is undertaken. Included are the addition of an elevator, exterior ramped walks, chancel modifications, a modified narthex and relocation of the general office. Total cost: $400,000.April 1988: A new manual Schantz organ is dedicated.2003: The congregation establishes a Bicameral Board, merging the responsibilities of the Session and the Trustees into the Session and maintaining the ministry of the deacons as a separate board. This enables ministry to be done by smaller, independent, efficient task groups.