A Mini History of the Moon Run Presbyterian Church

The first group to meet in Christ’s name here in Moon Run was non-denominational and met in a company house each Sunday.  It is said that the house still stands today, located on School Street behind the church.

This same group moved to the upper floor of the coal company store, which has since been torn down.  It was eventually decided that a church building was needed for both Catholics and Protestants.  People from both denominations worked hand in hand and built the present Moon Run Presbyterian church and the former Holy Trinity church on Rt 60, not too far from our church.  Although not the oldest congregation, we occupy the oldest church building still in use in Robinson Township.

The new church was known as the Moon Run Mission – it is estimated that the church was built in 1892 under the auspices of the Union Presbyterian Church.

On April 13, 1909, the Moon Run Mission petitioned Pittsburgh Presbytery to organize as a regular church.  On May 11^th of that same year it was organized as the Moon Run Presbyterian Church under the leadership of Pittsburgh Presbytery.  One of the first Elders elected to the newly organized church was Dr. J. W. Burkett, the name sake of the J.W. Burkett Elementary School.

In the spring of 1929, the church petitioned Pittsburgh Presbytery to be dissolved as a Presbyterian Church and was reorganized as the Moon Run United Presbyterian church under the Monongahela Presbytery.  There were 71 members, including those who joined at that time and Rev. J. Hoy McElhinney, pastor of Union Church was also pastor at Moon Run.