John Elder (pastor)

The Reverend John Elder (January 26, 1706 – July 17, 1792[2]), known as the "Fighting Pastor", was the pastor for the Paxtang congregation, located in present-day Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg.

The First Great Awakening had reached the area shortly afterwards.

He stood firmly with the "Old Side" in the resulting split amongst Presbyterian churches, which lasted about twenty years.

Elder, though he had attempted to prevent the attack, afterward excused the killings, refused to identify suspects, and was relieved of his command.

[5][6] During the Revolution, he used his pulpit to round up volunteers, including two of his sons.