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Right here in Pittsburgh / Clarence Edward Macartney.
Macartney, Clarence Edward Noble, 1879-1957.
Pittsburgh, Pa. : Gibson Press, c1937
Pg. 67 to 73
FRANCIS HERRON and the First Church
Dr. FRANCIS HERRON was the pastor for almost 50 years of the First Presbyterian Church. The First Presbyterian Church is Pittsburgh’s oldest institution. There is not a church, a bank, a paper, a school, or business house which was in existence on the April 14th of April, 1773, when the Presbyterians of Pittsburgh petitioned the Donegal Presbytery for supply preachers, the administration of the Lord’s Supper, and “a minister to catechize.”
The first settled pastor was SAMUEL BARR, who came in 1784. BARR, a graduate of the University of Glasgow, his pastorate, 1784-89. The famous log church was secured from the Penn heirs for the sum of 5 shillings. DR. BARR was one of the first trustees of the Pittsburgh Academy, out of which came at length the Western University of Pittsburgh, formally established at a service at the First Church in 1822, and now the University of Pittsburgh.
The original elders of the First Church, ordained in 1785, were STEPHEN BAYARD, WILLIAM DUNNING, ROBERT GALBREATH, and JOHN WILKINS. The Trustees elected in 1787 were the Rev. Samuel Barr, Colonel Stephen Bayard, General Richard Butler, Major Isaac Craig, David Duncan, General Alexander Fowler, Robert Galbreath, Colonel John Gibson, Captain Alexander Tannehill, George Wallace, and John Withers. Of this number, Colonel Stephen Bayard, Colonel John Gibson, and Major Isaac Craig, were officers in Washington’s army. Major Ebenezer Denny, General James O’Hara, and Captain John Wilkins were also officers in Washington’s army, but were not of the number of the original Trustees.
In 1800 the Rev. Robert Steele, who had come from Ireland, became the second pastor of the church. During his pastorate the second church building was erected, a brick structure facing on Wood St., and finished in 1805. Mr. Steele was the Principal of the Pittsburgh Academy, and lived in what was called, even at that time, the University Building. The Second Presbyterian Church was found in 1804 by a group of members who were dissatisfied with the ministrations of Dr. Steele. Dr. Steele died March 22, 1810, having caught cold while acting as a volunteer fireman.
A great epoch opened in the history of the First Church in 1811, when FRANCIS HERRON came from the ancient church of Rocky Springs, near Chambersburg, Pa., to become the third pastor of the Church. His first trip to Pittsburgh was in 1799, when he preached at the First Church. DR. HERRON found the church laden with debt; but the debt was soon cleared by the sale of a lot on Wood St. to the Bank of Pittsburgh for $3,000, and the church building was enlarged. The pews sold for $7,000. General O’Hara presented to the church his famous chandelier to promote the luster of this enlightened society. General O’Hara’s wife, MARY CARSON, presented to the church in 1834 a silver bowl from her tea set, which is still used in the administration of the Sacrament of Baptism to infants.
DR. HERRON had a number of famous praying elders who prayed with him, and a great revival broke out in 1827. Among these elders were John M. Snowden, Harmar Denny, Francis Bailey, and Robert Beer. This was the great formative period for Pittsburgh and most of its religious, charitable, and educational institutions were founded at the First Church. The University of Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania College for Women, the Western Foreign Missionary Society, the Western Theological Seminary are some institutions that were formed in the old church.
In 1827 DR. HERRON was made the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. of America. In 1850, weighed down with years and labors, DR. HERRON resigned. He died in 1851, and awaits the morning of the Resurrection in the Allegheny Cemetery. On the Memorial Tablet in the vestibule of the First Church is this inscription:
IN MEMORIAM
FRANCIS HERRON, D. D.
Born June 28, 1774 - Died December 6, 1851
A dignified, decided, able, courageous and courteous man
An ardent Christian, faithful pastor, impressive preacher
and an honored Presbyter, revered by the Church
he served and the city he adorned.
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