coitsville presbyterian Background

Coitsville Presbyterian Church, 91 Coitsville-Hubbard Road (Route 616), Coitsville Township, will celebrate its 175th anniversary April 10. A worship service at 11 a.m. will feature former pastors, the Revs. Robert French and Dan Marvin. A potluck lunch will follow. An informal service will be at 2 p.m. with the Revs. Roman Garrison and Michal Fonfara and Gospel and bluegrass music by Unity Road. An anniversary cake will be enjoyed.

In the beginning: Coitsville Township was named for an early land owner, Daniel Coit, who acquired the land after the opening of the Western Reserve in 1795. The township formed in 1807. Settlers coming to the township, who bought land from the Connecticut Land Co., were mostly from a Calvinist background. The church is the only one in the township and one of five pioneer Presbyterian churches established in the Mahoning Valley by Scotch-Irish settlers.

First services: The first religious services were at the farm of the Rev. William Wick, who served Hopewell Presbyterian Church in New Bedford, Pa., and First Presbyterian Church in Youngstown from 1800-15.

Original deed: The church site, which is still in use, was bought March 29, 1836, from John and Susan Hirst for $38. The original deed bears the names of John Bell, John Jackson and George Harris, trustees of Coitsville Presbyterian Society. The cemetery across the road was obtained from Samuel Jackson.

Organized: The church was organized April 12, 1836, with the Rev. William Nesbit, Hopewell pastor, as moderator. Charter members were William Reed, John Jackson, George Harris, John Hirst, Samuel Jackson, David Jackson and Anderson McFarlin. The church covenant was signed by 25 men and 25 women.

Church buildings: The first building erected at its current location was said to have been of logs; there is no record. The building was used until the 1860s when a new structure was built and used some of the timbers from the original church. Fire destroyed the church in 1934. Within two years, Labotz Hall was constructed. In 1954, the sanctuary was completed through a gift of $19,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Bailey. In the 1950s, it was noted there were 280 members; the church had a high point of 500 members.

Pastors: The Revs. William Nesbit, 1836-?; G.S. Rice, 1860-70; R. Stranahan, 1892-93; Foster, 1893; A.D. Collins, 1893-97; J.W. Harvey, 1897-1902; Dr. W.E. Wenner, 1907-19; H.S.D. Shimp, 1919-21; J.W. Kelly, 1922-30; Gerrit Labotz, 1931-48; Calvin Buchanan, 1950-53; Delbert Poling, 1954-57; James Nash Jr., 1958-59; Lloyd Smith, 1960-67; Paul McQueen, 1968-72; Roy Shoaf, 1973-79; Michael Fonfara, 1981-85; Bruce Milligan, 1985-87; Patrick McMahon, 1987-92; pulpit supply pastors, 1992-94; Dan Marvin, 1994-97; Jim Ray, moderator, 1998-2003; pulpit supply pastors, 1997-2000; Hal Shafer Jr., student pastor, 2000-02; Robert French, 2003-05; and Robert Offerdahl, 2006 to present.

Fundraiser: A pancake breakfast is planned from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14 at the church. Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for 6- to 18-year-olds and free for 6 and younger.