Guinston's History
 Very
early in 18th century Ireland & Scotland, the conditions and political
freedom became such that vast numbers of people emigrated to America to
settle in the Colonies. They located principally, on the frontiers,
which at that time included Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. About
1732, some of the bolder settlers pushed across the Susquehanna River to
settle on its west side. Four years later, when the Penn Government
purchased that land from the Indians and opened it for settlement, the
Scotts-Irish, as they were called, were invited and prevailed upon to
settle here because their character and customs were so entirely
different from the Quakers.
Large numbers availed themselves of the opportunity for
the idea suited them exactly. They brought their religion with them but
had no one to preach the gospel. At various times petitions were sent to
the mother churches to send them ministers, but these petitions were not
granted for a number of years. In the year 1753, the Associate or
Antiburgher Synod of Scotland sent Messers Alexander Gellatly and Andrew
Arnott, ministers of Midholm, to this country. According to their
instructions, these men constituted themselves into a presbytery under
the name of the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania organizing the
congregations of Oxford, Octorara and Guinston.
The date is usually given as 1754, although some writers
have given reason for believing that it may have been late in 1753. Be
that as it may, these congregations in the United Presbyterian Church of
North America, or the churches from which this organization was formed
with the possible exception of the Muddy Run congregation, passed out of
existence many years ago. The congregations of Oxford and Octorara have
been unorganized or ceased to function as organizations so Guinston was
the only one of these former United Presbyterian churches to enter the
union of the present Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
 The
congregation organized and worshiped for brief periods at the home of
Alexander Wallace in Hopewell and in a log church erected below what is
now known as the old cemetery. In the year 1773, the congregation seems
to have taken on a new lease on life. The conditions brought about by
the French and Indian War had been remedied. Border disputes had been
settled by the marking out of the Mason - Dixon Line. Titles to property
were made secure and settlers secured deeds or warrants for their lands.
On August 25th of 1773, James Clarkson, who had just arrived from
Scotland, was installed as the first pastor. In November of the same
year, it was resolved to build a substantial stone church, 46 feet long,
30 feet wide, and 18 feet to the square. This building, which was
erected the same year as the Boston Tea Party remains standing. Although
most of the furnishings have been removed, the old pulpit with its
sacred desk stands high at the side of the sanctuary.
In 1867, a Sabbath School was established and steps were
taken to erect a new church building. Additional land was purchased and
a brick structure was erected. There were many gradual changes in the
next half-century in accord with the customs of the entire church. But a
major tragic event occurred on November 17th 1946, when within a few
hours of time, the church, which had withstood the elements of 78 years,
was destroyed by fire. With the aid of the Board of Missions of the
United Presbyterian Church and the self-sacrificing liberality of
members and of friends within and without the community another church
was erected on the site of the preceding structure.
So many interesting incidents occur in 2 and 1/4
centuries, but only a few can be recorded for posterity. Guinston has
had much to discourage but it has also had much to encourage over the
years. Let it be blessed to have many years of usefulness ahead of it.
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