Big Springs Presbyterian MH, Cumberland County

The lands in the "Kittoclitinny", or present Cumberland Valley, were not purchased from the Indians until October 1736, and were not, therefore, before that time open for sale. But for several years prior to that period the agents of the proprietors knowing the feelings of the Indians to be favorable had encouraged settlers to come hither, and had issued to them special licenses for the securing and settlement of such lands beyond the Susquehanna as might please them.

After the lands of the valley were finally thrown open to settlers, there was a great influx of emigrants, many coming from the old-settled counties of Lancaster and Chester, and many directly from Ireland. Most of the settlers being Irish and Scotch Irish, very few of other nationalities were found here until a much hiter date. These people first sought the land bordering on the streams of water because of the convenience of an abundance of water, and of timber which grew along the water courses. Thus we find that very soon after the land was thrown open for settlement, the inviting lands of this vicinity attracted a large population to thee borders of the Conodoguinet Creek and the Big Spring. One of tlie first acts of our forefathers after locating land and building homes for themselves and families was to provide a spiritual home or place for the worship of God.

The Presbyterians who settled in the neighborhood of the Big Spring organized a congregation not hiter than the spring of 1737. On the 22nd of June the people of Hopewell petitioned Presbytery for their eoncurrence in drawing a call to the Rev. Thomas Craighead. About this time the name of this j^eople was changed from the people of the Conodoguinet to the people of Pennsboro and Hopewell, the line having been run in 1735 from the north to the south mountain by way of the Big Spring dividing the valley. All east of that line was called Pennsboro and all west of it Hopewell. But the "people of Hopewell" referred to in the call to Mr. Craighead no doubt were included the congregation at Middle Spring as well as Big Spring. They were both known by the general name of "Hopewell" and individually Big Spring as Lower Hopewell, and Middle Spring as Upper Hopewell. The congregation of Uupper Pennsboro objected to the call to Mr. Craighead and the establishment of a church on the Big Spring as an encroachment upon their territory, as there was a rule of Presbytery not allowing congregations to be located within ten miles of each other. The Presbytery appointed a committee to look over the territory and confer with the people on the calling of a pastor and the location of a house of worship. This conference was held at the house of James McFarlane on the Big Spring in 1737. The committee reported to Presbytery in November 1737, and notwithstanding the urgency of the congregation and the impatience of Mr. Craighead, action was deferred until the next year. On Aug. 31, 1738, Presbytery appointed Mr. Alexander Craighead to install Mr. Thomas Craighead the second Friday in October and sent an edict to be piiMishcd timeously before. Mr. Craighead's pastorate was a short one as he died the following year. At this time he was well advanced in life, but his mental powers continued in their full vigor. "He still preached with great power and impressiveness. Under his discourses the people were at times deeply and powerfully moved and often when dismissed were unwilling to leave.

On one of these occasions near the close of April 1739, at a communion season in the Big Spring Church, when having preached until quite exhausted, he waved his hand being unable to pronounce the benediction and exclaimed: "Farewell! Farewell" and sank down and expired in the pulpit.

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Location

Big Spring Presbyterian Church was located on the banks of Big Spring Creek, in the present town of Newville. An map of the original Glebe (see below) shows that it was adjacent to land originally owned by Robert Houston, Andrew Houston, Gabriel Glenn, and Jeremiah McKibben. These properties were mentioned in the original act to incorporate the town of Newville, as described below:

An act to incorporate the town of Newville, Cumberland county. That the town of Newville, Cumberland county, is hereby erected into a borough, bounded beginning on the bank of Big Spring adjoining land of the heirs of GABRIEL GLENN, adjoining land formerly of ROBERT WALKER, adjoining land formerly of ANDREW WALKER, adjoining lands of the heirs of JEREMIAH M'KIBBEN, to a black oak on the bank of Big Spring, and WILLIAM RITCHIE or JOHN HEATH, constable of Newton twp., shall publish and superintend the elections. 26 Feb 1817. USGENWEB

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The Glebe

"Glebe Lands" are property of the church, intended to support the minister. In 1744 89 acres on Big Spring Creek at present day Newville, were aquired for church purposes. This included the land of the original log church, but also included sufficient land to allow the minister to grow crops, and support his livestock.