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POLSTADIUS was the first minister at Racoon and Pennsneck. He was drowned in the Delaware River in 1706.
The following letter from Dr. Stevenson gives a pleas- ant account of the Swedish relations to an ancient church in New Jersey, while Judge John Clement's articles, which accompany it, contain an interesting delineation of Swedish and English times in New Jersey, giving due credit to the religious work of the faithful Swedes and their zealous pastors. In an article entitled "Old Racoon," the Judge argues from the record of a deed of a fishery property opposite the Swedes' Church, that the first Racoon church was near the mouth of the creek of that name, and that the second one arose near a half century later, in A.D., 1702, where the "King's road from Bur- lington to Salem crossed the creek about six miles from the river, where a rude bridge was built, it being near the head of navigation and where considerable traffic was carried on." This was afterwards Swedesboro. The article quoted appeared in the Woodbury Constitu- tion, August 17th, A.D., 1887.
Dr. Stevenson writes : " Your sketch of the clergy of New Sweden in the Standard of the Cross is of much historical interest, and induces me to send you articles upon the Swedes of New Jersey, written by the Hon. John Clement of this place. As they were only pub- lished in local newspapers you may not otherwise have access to them."
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DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY CLERGY.
"In the last number, June 15th, of the Standard of the Cross, page 11, is a notice of a service held at Coles- town Church, Camden County, N. J. This church was. largely attended by the descendants of Swedes, who settled at the mouth of the Penisauken Creek, upon whose head-waters the church stands. The three known oldest graves in its yard are of Swedish families. viz. : Philip Wallis and his wife, buried in 1746, Humphrey Day (Deay) and wife in 1760, and Elias Toy in 1762, all of whom lived on the Delaware where Palmyra now stands, or in its vicinity.
"There does not appear to have been any church in the last-named place, as the settlement was small. John Rudderow, mentioned in the papers, was an English lawyer, and adherent of the Church of England. He settled in 16So on the Penisauken, among the English Quakers, but alongside the Swedes. Holding services in his own house and being a man of education, wealth and influence, he attracted the neighboring Swedes to attend them ; and, naturally, they became the staunchest friends of the organization which eventually built Colestown Church."
Christ Church, Bridgeport, Pa., lies opposite Norris- town, and is also seen from the railroad. It has an ancient graveyard. The Sunday-school building is near, and the rectory is perched on a hill above, com- manding beautiful views towards Bryn Mawr.
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SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCH.
CHAPTER VI.
SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCHI.
R EV. JOHN LEADENHAM, assisted Dr. Clay before his death for some time, and became rector in A.D., 1863, after the doctor's demise, and held the position until 1865. Rev. John S. Reed was rector from 1865 to 1868. On December 13th, IS6S, Rev. Snyder B. Simes became the fifteenth rector of this church, and now ( 1890) continues in the rectorship. See Rev. Dr. Reynold's note Acrelius's " New Sweden," pp. 261-262.
ASSISTANT MINISTERS.
Rev. Charles Lute was appointed assistant to Rev. Andreas Georgeson in 1774. Rev. Joseph Clarkson was first assistant to Dr. Collin from 1787 to 1792. I suppose him to be the grandfather of Bishop Clarkson. Rev. Slator Clay was assistant in 1792, officiating monthly at Upper Merion (Bridgeport) and on fifth Sundays in the month at Kingsessing. He gave a part of his time to the Swedes, but served them until he died, in 1821. He was Rev. Dr. Clay's father. Rev. Joseph Turner, Rev. Dr. Prof. Samuel H. Turner's father, began work as one of the assistants in 1792, and held the place many years. Rev. J. C. Clay, in 1813, soon after ordination, was as- sistant for a year, and then accepted a call to St. John's Church at Norristown and St. Luke's, Germantown. From 1816 to 1820 Rev. James Wiltbank was assistant minister. In 1829 Rev. M. B. Roche acted as assistant
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TRINITY CHURCHI, WILMINGTON. (By permission of T. I'. (bandler, Jr., Awhiteet.)
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SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCII.
Maison communicated important information to Dr. Reynolds as to parish history, which may be found on p. 349 of Acrelius's " New Sweden."
THE RECTORS OF CHRIST CHURCH, UPPER MERION, since its organization have been : Rev. Edwin L. Light- ner from 1844 to 1855 ; Rev. William Henry Rees, D.D., from 1855 to 1861; Rev. Thomas S. Yocum from 1861 to 1870 ; Rev. Octavius Perinchief from 1870 to 1873 ; Rev. Edward A. Warriner, elected in September, 1873. Sce " New Sweden," p. 350. George W. Holstein, then secretary of the vestry, a descendant of M. Holstein, one of the first Swedish settlers, gave Dr. Reynolds the above information. The clergy of this parish have a seat in Convention, but the laity are not members of that body. The Rev. A. A. Marple is now the rector, having succeeded the Rev. Mr. Warriner.
TRINITY CHURCH, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE .- Rectors succeeding Rev. Lawrence Girelius, the last pastor under the Swedish Mission : The Rev. Joseph Clarkson officiated from 1792 to 1799 ; Rev. William Pryce from I Soo to 1802; Rev. William Wickes from 1814 to 1817 ; Rev. Levi Bull, D.D., from ISI8 to 1819; Rev. Richard D. Hall from 1819 to 1822 ; Rev. Pierce Connelly from 1827 to 1828; Rev. Isaac Pardee from 1828 to 1835 ; Rev. Hiram Adams from 1835 to 1838; Rev. J.W. McCul- lough, D.D., from 1838 to 1847 ; Rev. E. M. Van Deu- sen, D. D., from 1848 to 1852 ; Rev. Charles Breck, D.D., from 1853 to 1870; Rev. William J. Frost, D.D., from IS71 to ----. See Acrelius, p. 313, note. I have not further dates; but Rev. Henry B. Martin, M.D., suc- ceeded Dr. Frost, and Rev. H. Ashton Henry was the next rector, and is now in charge of the parish.
Robert Shaw has made a beautiful drawing of Old Swedes' Church. It has a foreign look and is rustic in
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SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCH.
its city surroundings. The entrance gate is picturesque and the graveyard has a new interest as the burial-place of Bishop Lee, Delaware's first bishop.
Dr. Horace Burr has written a work entitled " Records of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes') Church, Wilmington," which he is now putting in press. It will be a valuable addition to local church history,
Rev. S. C. Stratton was a Sunday-school teacher in a lecture-room in Hanover Street, Wilmington, before his ordination. This was the first attempt at Sunday- school teaching in this town. Rev. Samuel Brinckle was one of the teachers before he became a clergyman. On June 6th, ISI8, a Sunday-school having fifty schol- ars was regularly organized, under the care of Rev. Levi Bull, rector of this parish. It soon had 300 pupils, and was moved to the academy. The Latin teacher, Joseph Downing, invited it there and assisted on Sun- days. The academy has been demolished. Rev. Levi Bull taught some German girls in their own language, and had an interesting class. Miss Montgomery notes this. Dr. Bull was a large man, of fine presence, and a striking preacher. He died at his country home near St. Mary's Church, Warwick, Chester County, Pa., of which he was once rector. Trinity Chapel was moved to Delaware Avenue in Dr. Martin's rectorship. Mr. Henry is crecting a new church near the new chapel. Rev. William Murphy and Rev. Jesse Higgins have been assistants of Trinity Church, in charge of Old Swedes' Church.
As St. Jolin's, Wilmington, was a colony of Trinity Church, the succession of clergy is given : Rev. Charles Breck, rector of Trinity Church, was also rector of St. John's, from Aug. 7th, 1855, to October 25th, 1858. Rev. Stevens Parker was rector from October 25th, 1858, to
1
W. JHCLE-PHILAT
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, WILMINGTON.
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SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCHI.
September 28th, 1863. Rev. James Chrystal was assistant for a few months. Rev. Thomas G. Clemson had charge of the parish during Mr. Parker's sickness and absence of about six months. Rev. Leighton Coleman was rector from November 29th, 1863, to No- vember 5th, 1866. Rev. T. Gardiner Littell, D.D., became rector December 2d, 1866, and continues to the present time. Rev. Edwin C. Alcorn was assistant from August 25th, 1879, to September 28th, 1880. St. John's Church. was erected in part by Alexis I. du Pont and family. Christ Church was, I believe, due to the interest of other members of the du Pont family for its erection.
St. Andrew's Church was independent, but all our church work in Wilmington may be traced back to the Swedes. Calvary Church was a colony of St. An- drew's.
Bishop Lee preached a semi-centennial sermon in 1870, which was printed by Ferris Bros. at Wilmington. Many clergy from Delaware and other dioceses attended this anniversary. In addition to the memorial discourse by Bishop Lee, sermons were delivered by Rev. Wm. A. Newbold, a former assistant minister, and Rev. W. H. Gallagher, who was "a child of St. Andrew's Church," and Rev. Dr. Richard Newton, who taught in the Sunday-School under Rev. Mr. Coit.
In his jubilee sermon Bishop Lee stated that it was deemed desirable to have a church more convenient to many of the inhabitants of Wilmington in location than the Old Swedes' Church.
In A.D., 1828, Rev. J. Howland Coit became pastor of the new parish. A church was erected at the south- west corner of Shipley and Kent Streets ; Kent Street is now called Eighth Street. The church was conse- crated in 1829 by Bishop White. A number of clergy
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SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCHI.
of Pennsylvania and Delaware assisted in the services. Rev. Dr. Bedell read the service, and Rev. Dr. Bull preached impressively from I. Kings, 8: 27, "But will God indeed dwell on the earth ? Behold the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee ; how much less this house that I have builded."
In 1830, on Whit-Sunday, Bishop H. U. Onderdonk confirmed a class of fourteen. In IS31 the church was first represented in Diocesan Convention. The dele- gates were John B. Lewis and James L. Devou.
Bishop Lee finds no later public service performed by Bishop White in Delaware after the consecration of St. Andrew's Church. This bishop had "provisional charge " of Delaware, in addition to Pennsylvania, and the trio of revered names, White, Bull and Bedell, are pleasantly noted by Bishop Lee on this occasion.
In 1832 Rev. Mr. Coit resigned St. Andrew's. He was the father of Rev. Dr. Henry A. Coit, and the son says of this fervently pious, beloved and useful rector, that on October Ist, 1866, "he passed peacefully from this land of prayer and tears to the land of praise and rejoicing." He died on the thirty-seventh anniversary of the consecration of St. Andrew's, which was "his first church."
The death of the venerable layman, Dell Noblit in 1878 at "the patriarchal age of one hundred years," is noted by Bishop Lee.
After Mr. Coit the following rectors succeeded : Rev. Messrs. J. V. E. Thorn, C. S. Hedges, William C. Rus- sell, William James Clark and William II. Trapnell. Mr. Russell was very feeble when he was obliged to give up his work, and a parishioner of those days has described to me the solemnity of the parting words of this " man of God" to his congregation, when he was
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SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCHI.
obliged to address them, sitting, for he was unable to stand. He died about six months after. Bishop Lee names the following assistant ministers who have died : . The Rev. N. C. Pridham, James Leason Hood, Edward Hale, Charles H. Williamson, and Charles E. McIlvaine, the son of Bishop McIlvaine, and son-in-law of Bishop Lee. Rev. Samuel Hazlehurst must be added to the list.
Bishop Lee says : " The ministry of Rev. Wm. C. Rus- sell is worthy of especial mention as attended with holy influences and an abundant blessing." We may echo these words concerning the bishop himself. Any- one who saw his earnest manner of instructing his flock could well perceive that he was one of the most faith- ful rectors in this land.
St. Andrew's has ever been foremost in mission work, and Foreign Missions, and Africa and Mexico have received special care.
In IS40 the church was burned, but a new one was built and consecrated by Bishop H. U. Onderdonk in the same year, Bishop Whittingham, of Maryland, preaching the sermon. Bishop Whittingham had been consecrated four weeks before this event.
In 1843 Bishop Lee's long rectorate began, and he touchingly dwells on its solemn history marked in the spiritual life of so many souls. Sixteen clergy entered the ministry who had been teachers or scholars in St. Andrew's Sunday-school. Some became western mis- sionaries.
The bishop closes thus: "And although we cannot expect to participate here in another Jubilee, we may through God's grace share in its joys, as, peradven- ture, in ours sainted ones to-day where they see the King in His beauty." On April 12th, 1887, Bishop Lee's rectorate and Episcopate terminated by his en- trance among the sainted company of whom he wrote.
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SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCHI.
Rev. Charles E. Murray, the bishop's assistant minis- ter, became rector of the parish, which he now holds.
For a time he was assisted by the Rev. Francis D. Hoskins, formerly Dean of the Faribault Divinity School.
Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, is a little way outside of the city at the powder-works. The rectors of Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, Delaware, have been Rev. S. C. Brinckle, who began as missionary in the Hundred, May, 1848, and was rector of the parish at its formation, May, 1851. He died March 14th, 1863. Rev. W. A. Newbold was rector from August Ist, 18.63,.until he resigned October Ist, 1869. Rev. I. Newton Stanger, the third rector, began his work March 4th, IS70; resigned November 14th, 1873. Rev. D. D. Smith, the fourth rector, began duty November 24th, 1873, and is still in charge.
Immanuel Church, Highlands, though outside of the city limit, is in a suburb. It is a Gothic brick building. It was a colony of Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, and the Brinckle family, children of the late rector of that parish, have been largely instrumental in the building of the church. Rev. Kensey Johns Hammond is the rector ; he accepted the charge June 11th, ISS8.
St. Michael's Mission, Wilmington, has an afternoon service and a Sunday-school in a room. It is in charge of Rev. Alexis I. du P. Coleman, the son of the bishop.
RECTORS OF TRINITY CHURCH, SWEDESBORO, NEW JERSEY .- The succession after Dr. Collin is as follows : John Wade from 1788 to 1789 ; John Croes (afterward Bishop of New Jersey) from 1790 to 1801 ; Henry James Feltus from 1802 to 1808 ; Simon Wilmer from ISOS to 1820; J. M. Douglass from 1820 to 1824; Norman
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SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCH.
Nash from 1829 to 1834; J. Long Woart from 1834 to 1835 ; John Woart from 1836 to 1840 ; George W. Free- man (afterward Bishop of Arkansas) 1841 ; J. W. Brown from 1841 to 1843; W. H. Trapnell from 1844 to 1847; E. B. Boggs from 1847 to 1855 ; W. J. Tim- mer from 1855 to 1857 ; Henry Tullidge from 1857 to 1864; C. W. Duane from 1864 to 1868; C. N. Chevrier from 1868 to 1872.
The new church was built under Dr. Collin's rector- ship. Mr. Chevrier gave the above list to Dr. Reynolds. Sce "New Sweden," pp. 344-345, notc. Mr. Chevrier died in 1872 on the 13th of November. C. W. Duane became rector a second time, and remained until Octo- ber, 1882. The Rev. F. D. Hoskins, held the rector- ship from January, 1883, to December, 1884. Rev. George W. Watson, D.D., is the present rector, having been in charge since April, 1885. Mr. Hoskins wrote a historical sermon of value which appeared in the Swedesboro local newspaper.
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HISTORY OF CALVARY CHURCH, WILMINGTON.
CHAPTER VII.
HISTORY OF CALVARY CHURCH, WILMINGTON.
N 1857 a mission was started in a portion of the city then ill-supplied with religious advantages. Ser- vices were opened in a carriage shop at Front and Justison Streets, and sustained by the rector, Rt. Rev. Alfred Lec, Bishop of the Diocese, and his assistant. The attendance increased and a large and flourishing Sunday-school was gathered. The fruit of this effort was the crection of Calvary Chapel on Washington, corner of Third Street, at a cost, with the lot, of over $5000, opened for divine service October 20th, 1859. The growing work there continued to be a part of the operations of St. Andrew's Church until April 15th, 1868, when it was organized as an independent parish and was received into union with the Convention of the Diocese, June 3d, 1868.
1866. The Rev. Charles E. McIlvainc, assistant to the Bishop, was in charge.
1868. The Rev. George A. Latimer was elected rector. In October of this year the chancel addition was fin- ished and furnished. In 1873 the benches were removed from the basement Sunday-school room, the floor car- peted, table desks furnished to the teachers and chairs for the scholars.
March, 1877, the Rev. George A. Latimer resigned, and was succeeded by the Rev. B. II. Latrobe in April, 1877.
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HISTORY OF CALVARY CHURCH, WILMINGTON.
September Ist, IS,8, the Rev. Mr. Latrobe resigned and was succeeded by the Rev. William G. Warc.
In November, 1879, the Rev. William G. Ware re- signed, and was succeeded by the Rev. George W. Du-" Bois, D.D., on December 30th, 1879. In December of the same year the Sunday-school room was renovated. The next year the church was painted and frescoed. Dr. DuBois resigned January Ist, 1885.
May ist, ISS5, the Rev. B. II. Latrobe was elected rector of the parish for the second time and accepted the election.
The present rector, the Rev. David Howard, took charge on Whit-Sunday, May 29th, ISS7.
Last August the church was repaired and beautified at an expense of twenty-six hundred dollars, which has been entirely paid, leaving no debt whatever on the church. The interior has been rearranged, a center and two side aisles made, where before there were only two, the chancel and nave newly carpeted, the old gas fixtures removed and replaced by two handsome Coronas, a two-manual pipe organ, with fourteen stops and twenty-four notes in pedals, built by John Brown, of Wilmington, Delaware, placed on the Gospel side of the chancel. The exterior has been greatly improved. The walls painted, a belfry twenty feet high erected on the church, a portico placed over the front door-all of which gives the building a decided churchly appear- ance.
Two years ago there were only fifty-eight (58) com- municants. There are at present ninety-four (94). The Sunday-school numbers one hundred and ten scholars. A Guild, composed of ladies and gentlemen of the congregation, was organized last November. Its object is to afford its members facilities for social
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HISTORY OF CALVARY CHURCH, WILMINGTON.
intercourse and instruction in Church History, also to aid in the temporal and spiritual growth of the parish. It meets every Thursday evening. Also a children's Guild, which meets every Saturday afternoon in the Sunday-school for the purpose of sewing and making fancy articles. This little class contributed eighty-five dollars toward the repairs of the church.
Last January the vestry purchased a rectory, No. 505 West Third Street, for thirty-one hundred and twenty- five dollars, having paid twenty-four hundred cash, leav- ing a mortgage of seven hundred dollars, which they hope with the aid of the Guild and friends, to pay off before the next Convention meets, in June, 1890.
Weekly celebrations of the Holy Communion at 7 A. M. were introduced last Lent, which are well attend- ed. Peace and harmony prevail throughout the parish, and there is every indication of life and growth.
The Church of the Ascension, at Claymont, was largely composed of those who had belonged to the ancient parish of St. Martin's, at Marcus Hook, Pa. A history of the parish is given in Scharf's History of Delaware, Vol. 2, pp. 912-913, which we abridge. In 1843 Bishop Lee preached in the Naaman's Creek, (now Claymont,) school-house. For several years services were occasionally held here. The building committee for the new church were Thomas Clyde, George Lodge, William Gray, George Williamson and William C. Lodge. Rev. Greenbury W. Ridgely was elected rector, and Rev. L. W. P. Balch succeeded him. Rev. Dr. John B. Clemson, rector of Marcus Hook, pre- sented the lot for the church, (which joined his place), and was for many years its rector, succeeding Dr. Balch. The church was consecrated by Bishop Lee, Sept. 14th, A.D., 1854. Dr. Clemson had a boarding
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HISTORY OF CALVARY CHURCH, WILMINGTON.
school for boys, and in 1860 Rev. S. F. Hotchkin be- came his assistant minister, in after years succeeding to the rectorship. In 1876 Rev. Mr. Hotchkin was suc- ceeded by Rev. Charles S. Betticher, who remained until 1878, when Rev. R. Heber Murphy followed from 1879 to 1882 and Rev. P. B. Lightner, from ISS2 to 1886; he was followed by Rev. Edward Owen, and at this date (1890) Rev. William H. Moffett is in charge of this church and Calvary Church. There is a pleas- ant rectory near the bank of the Delaware. Rev. J. Sturgis Pearce was the head of the boarding school after Dr. Clemson. Rev. Dr. Suddards had a summer home at Claymont. Rev. Marmaduke Hirst once lived on F. O. C. Darley's place, and Rev. Mr. Morris on Dr. Suddard's farm. Rev. T. G. Clemson, Rev. William Marshall and Rev. Thomas McKec Brown were members of this parish before entering the ministry as well as Rev. W. H. Graff.
GRACE CHURCH, BRANDYWINE HUNDRED.
(Abridged from Scharf's History of Delaware, p. 912.)
In 1835 a meeting was held in Talley's school house to organize this church. Dr. A. Prince was chairman, and James A. B. Smith, secretary. In 1836 the school house was bought and fitted up as a church, and consecrated by Bishop H. U. Onderdonk. Isaac Smith and Dr. Abner Prince became wardens. Rev. William J. Clark, rector of St. Andrew's, Wilmington, was the first rector. Rev. Samuel C. Stratton, Rev. Dr. Kencey Johns Stewart, Rev. W. H. Trapnell and Rev. Zebadiah HI. Mansfield, (who taught a classical school in Wilmington) were successive rectors after Mr. Clark. In 1861 Rev. Dr, J. B. Clemson became rector, the
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HISTORY OF CALVARY CHURCH, WILMINGTON.
parish being under the care of his assistant minister, Rev. S. F. Hotchkin, who was afterwards rector. He resigned in A.D., 1875, Rev. C. M. Callaway, Rev. Dr. William M. Jefferis, Rev. H. Greenfield Schorr and Rev. Robert H. Wright followed, and, in 1886, Rev. L. H. Jackson was rector, at this date (1890) Rev. Jeremiah Karcher is rector. Rev. Samuel H. Griffith and Rev. Joshua Cowpland also had charge of the parish for a time. In 1872, a lot of 10 acres was bought on the Concord pike for a church and cemetery. The corner- stone of the new stone church was laid by Bishop Lec, October Ist, A.D., 1874, and the church was opened July 4th, 1875. Henry M. Barlow was the builder. The previous Sunday final services were held in the old church, a place endeared by sacred associations to many souls as "the gate of heaven." Louis Smith and William P. Cresson, were largely instrumental in this good work. Miss Mary Jane and Miss Elizabeth For- wood have long been faithful Sunday-school teachers. Colonel Thomas Robinson and William Smith in carly days, and Valentine Forwood, and Francis Tempest and Hugh Ramsey and John Saville in later times must be mentioned as helpful vestrymen. Mrs. W. P. Cresson presented a nice rectory and an infant Sunday-school room. There is "a good sexton's house." Mr. F. Pearson was a Sunday-school librarian in the old church. 1
CALVARY CHURCH, BRANDYWINE HUNDRED.
Services were held in Newark Union Meeting House, near this church, by Rev. G. W. Ridgely, Rev. Asa S. Colton and Rev. Samuel Hazlehurst. The latter clergy- man was assistant minister to Bishop Lce in Wil- mington. In November, A.D., 1855, this parish was
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HISTORY OF CALVARY CHURCH, WILMINGTON.
organized with the bishop's approval, under Rev. Mr. Hazlehurst. See journal of convention, 1856, pp. 23- 24.
In 1860 Rev. S. F. Hotchkin took up this work under the nominal rectorship of Dr. Clemson, but afterwards as rector. In 1862, (Sept. 25th, ) the corner-stone of the new church was laid on land presented by Mrs. Barbara Carr, whose farm joined the lot. Bishop Lee conse- crated the church, January 29th, 1863, preaching an im- pressive sermon. Rev. Dr. Charles Breck, of Trinity Church, Wilmington, assisted in the service. A large amount of the needed money was raised in small sums. Joseph Shipley aided generously. The building is a neat one of stonc. The parish has been generally under the care of the rectors of Claymont, though Rev. Dr. William Jefferis, when rector of Grace Church, served it faithfully for a time. Under Rev. P. B. Light- ner's rectorship, the church building was much im- proved in the interior.
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