This church is in Tredyffrin Township, where there was a congregation as early as 1710, but not regularly organized till 1714. The early congregation was largely Welsh. These are listed as the "leading members in 1761"
The Great Valley Church had a congregation as early as 1710, but was not formally organized until 1714, and most of its parishioners were of Welsh origin. ...The first church building for Great Valley was erected in 1720 and stood for over 70 years. Rev. Rowland faced strong opposition in the congregation and in 1741, left Great Valley to start up a new congregation at Charlestown. ... Rev. John Simonton became minister for the congregation in 1761 and held that position until his death in 1791.
"In 1791, the Great Valley church was joined with the Charlestown church under Rev. John Gemmill and a new church building was constructed for the Great Valley church. Rev. Gemmill's ministry was followed by ... and in 1859 the churches separated again ."
SOURCE: Patterson, Robert Mayne, "HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE GREAT (CHESTER) VALLEY" (Alfred Martien, Philadelphia 1869). "
During the last four years of his life, Mr. Simonton was laid aside, from the active discharge of his duties by ill health. The Church was dependent upon the Presbytery for supplies...Mr. Simonton died in 1791. On the 18th of October, in the same year, a call was presented, to Presbytery, from the united Congregations of the Great Valley and Charlestown, for the services of Mr. John Gemmil. In this call, these two societies were joined by a few Presbyterians residing in the town of West Chester, who at this period assumed the existence and form of a congregation. Mr. Gemmil was a native of this state, and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. The minutes of Presbytery state that he had 'obtained the honors of a College.' He had been licensed April 21st, 1789, and had been very frequently sent as a supply to the Valley, during the last days of Mr. Simonton. In 1790 a call was presented to him from the Church of Huntington, on Long Island, which he held under advisement until October of the following year. He then referred the decision to Presbytery. The Huntington people were numerous and respectable, and though they had been divided, were happily united on Mr. Gemmill. On the other hand, these congregations were scattered and unsettled, and likely to be wholly broken up if not soon supplied. He was, therefore, advised to accept their call, which he did; and on the 3d of November, 1791, he was ordained and installed - Dr. Ashbel Green, William M. Tennent, and Nathaniel Irwin conducting the services... "[At Charlestown Church] In 1774, The Rev. Daniel McCalla was called and ordained and continued in the church until the Revolution commenced. He then became chaplain to a regiment that marched to Canada, was taken prisoner, paroled and, on his return, forsook his charge and went to Virginia. The church was evidently in a very weak and struggling condition, and was glad, after half a century's sad separation, to unite with the Valley in calling Mr. Gemmil. The two, then formed one church, but with the two houses of worship. "Under the ministry of Mr. Gemmil, the congregation so rapidly increased that it became necessary to erect a larger house of worship. Accordingly the foundation of a new church was laid, May 20, 1793 and the building was completed in March following. This is the house in which the church assembles today.
At different times it has been modernized... "The West Chester
congregation did not keep in existence long. In 1795 Mr. Gemmil was released
from the charge of it. The present West Chester church is a more recent
organization. "In 1795 Mr. Gemmil received a call from the church at White
Haven, Connecticut, which he declined. Another call was presented from the
First Church of Wilmington; and he also received an invitation to the
Theological Chair of Yale College. These calls he referred to Presbytery,
who, January 6, 1796 - the Commissioners from the Valley and Charlestown
protesting against his acceptance - declined to remove him. On May 15,
1798, another call from the united congregations of White Haven and Fair
Haven, and one from Elizabeth, were presented. He accepted the former,
against the wish of this church, and was dismissed to the Association of
New Haven. "He was evidently a man of power and of great popularity.
A theologian he must have been, to be invited to occupy a Theological
Chair. A reputation for eloquence, also has survived him. That was
associated with much boldness, and plainness, in the exhibition of
practical truths for the flock ' did not find him as passive as John the
Simontite, for what he withheld, through fear of offending, John the Gemmilite
delivered through pride of oratory'; a compliment, no doubt, under the
uncharitable censure. Unhappily for himself, for a brother minister and
for the Church, he returned, and for a time resided in the bounds of the
congregation.." This last sentence is preceded by an X with
handwritten note in margins (hand of author himself?) "His health
failed Mr. G. returned to Chester Valley - Mr. Latta his successor was
living in half of Mr. Gemmil's house - so he occupied the vacant half. The
---- of Mr. Latta ---- he thinking he had come to disturb his ----. Mr.
Gemmil's health continued to fail. He went to P.C. Church. Twas ----
-----. He never was able to take charge of congregation on account(?) of
his health."
email address for the Great Valley Presbyterian Church greatvalleypres@juno.com