On the 18th day of August. 1940, a century of service was traced in a fitting manner by members and friends of the Olivet Church. At the eleven o'clock service. Dr. RE. McClure of Blairsville. clerk of Pittsburgh Synod and oldest minister in point of service in Conemaugh Presbytery delivered the anniversary sennon in a forceful manner. The Rev. E. L. Ralston, a fonner pastor. presided at the afternoon session. Thirteen ministers were present. most of them former ministers or supplies. and when called upon reminisced briefly. Letters of regret were read for many others.

Early in the 1940's Jacksonville joined with West Union and Olivet forming a triple charge and in September 1941, the Rev. James G. McClelland was installed as resident minister. Rev. Jim, as he was affectionately called, was an enthusiastic leader of the young people and greatly interested in the life of the community. In December 1942 he resigned to serve his country as a Navy Chaplain in World War II.

Beginning with the fIrSt Sabbath of April 1943. the Rev. W. C. Work returned to serve as stated supply for more than a year. His outstanding method of presenting a sennon was to expound a verse or passage of Old Testament scripture and explain it further by the use of a New Testament text. During his pastorate, much emphasis was placed on evangelism visitations and joint services with neighboring churches.

The Harold S. Giffen became stated supply in 1946 and served faithfully in that capacity until July 16. 1950. At that time he was given a formal call to become the regular pastor and was installed on Nov. 21.1950. Before his coming, a joint missionary society with West Union was organized in October 1940. but in 1951 under the leadership of.Mrs. Giffen. Olivet formed her own society.

It was during Mr. Giffen's pastorate that Camp Fairfield was founded. As promotional agent, he was a tireless worker and inspired many of his parishioners to give of their time and talents with this project.

With the numerical growth of the church a renewed interest came in the work of the kingdom. it was deemed expedient to improve the interior of the church sanctuary and the first floor. The beauty of the interior was further enhanced by the installation of electric lights. The wiring of the church was done gratis by Messrs. Ira and Ralph Wilson of Apollo in memory of their forbearers. In July 1954 a young man who was just entering the seminary. Mr. Donald Steiner, of Olympia, Washington, agreed to come as stated supply and to spend as much time as possible in pastoral duties while continuing his theological education. Under his leadership Sabbath evening services were instituted with study groups for all ages. At first the three churches united in these services and the place of meeting rotated. Later they were held at West Union because of its central location.

Upon graduation from seminary Mr. Steiner accepted a call to the West. The Sabbath following his farewell sennon, Mr. David Kennedy filled the pulpit and became stated supply for a year. In all his activities Mr. Kennedy manifested his strong convictions and in his remarkably short time had endeared himself to the congregation. The offering received at the 100th anniversary formed the nucleus of a cemetery fund which grew to a considerable amount through gifts and the transferences of funds from an open account.

An amendment to the church charter to include the burying ground weas approved by Judge J. Frank Graff of Armstrong County. In January 1954 resolutions for forming a cemetery association drawn by Attorney Doyle Steele were accepted.

At infrequent intervals over a period of years, rumors of disbanding or merging with another congregation were heard. But no action was taken until September 1958 when plans were made, under the leadership of the Rev. Paul Beatty, for the merger of the Olivet and the Elders Ridge churches and later approved by the membership of the two congregations.

The last meeting of the Olivet session was held October 4, 1959. The service of merger was held at Elders Ridge and was known as the United Presbyterian Church of Elders Ridge. Thus concluded 120 years of Christian service by the Olivet church.

Statistics, although tedious, are, never the less, valuable criteria in determining the life of an organization. In 1958 a comparative study of 264 congregations having memberships comparable to Olivet's was made. The result of this study showed Olivet to be in fifth place contributing to the General Mission program of the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Her per capita given that year $93.59. The prayer offered at the merger service was in part: "moved as we have been by the mighty work God's hand to effect the union of our two churches, we dedicate this union to glorify God through worship, service, spiritual discipline and personal commitment; let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands; yea, the work of our hands, establish Thou it. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. " I)