USA > Delaware > Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 1 > Part 17
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In 1800 on account of the difficulty of com- plying with the 7th Article of the Constitu- tion, requiring the standing committee to consist of four regularly settled and officiating clergymen, it was proposed to alter the Article so that two of each order should constitute that body, which amendment was adopted the year following. In the Convention of 1803 the Rev. William Pryce was appointed to attend the next Convention of the Diocese of Maryland and to propose, " if deemed exped- ient by that Convention that we cheerfully join and associate with the same, for the purpose of electing a Bishop for the Eastern Shore of Maryland and the State of Delaware."
To the Convention of 1804 the Rev. Mr. Pryce reported that he attended the Conven- tion of Maryland in June last, and was re- ceived with attention and politeness, but that convention " deemed a union of the two Dio- ceses at this time premature and inexpedient." Bishop Claggett however promised to visit congregations in Delaware as often as his extensive duties and infirm health would per- mit. The Convention of Delaware then put the Diocese under the charge of Bishop Clag- gett. I have not found any record of Episco- pal acts performed by him in consequence. As already stated the declining condition of the church was such that no Conventions assembled for five years 1811 to 1815 inclusive. This seems to have been the time of lowest ebb, and the tide henceforth is setting the other way, although not very rapidly. The Convention of 1818 passed a resolution "highly disapproving of theatres, public balls, gaming, and every species of dissipation, and urged members of this Church to avoid indulging in the use of vinous or spirituous liquors." The most notable feature in the Journal for 1821 is the Report of the Rev. Richard D. Hall, indi- cating the prospering condition of Trinity Church, Wilmington There had been two Confirmations hield by Bishop White, the whole number confirmed being 163, and he gives the number of Communicants as 170. This bright gleam does not seem however to have extended beyond Wilmington. In the
A missionary association was formed which issued an address to the diocese, but the re- sponse was feeble. In the convention of 1830, the Rt. Rev. H. U. Onderdonk, Assistant Bishop of Pennsylvania, preached the sermon and pre- sided. This is the first instance found in the Journals of an Episcopal Address. Bishop White sent a communication in which he mentioned that on the Ist October, 1829, he had consecrated to the service of God, St An- drews Church, in the borough of Wilmington. Bishop Onderdonk reports that on the sixth April, 1830, he liad consecrated Trinity Chapel in the same borough. With the increase of the population of Wilmington, the inconvenience became more felt of going the considerable distance, as it then seemed, to attend pub- lic worship at the old Swedes' Church. To that part of the congregation who drove in from the country the site was no objection. But the dwellers in the town were very anxi- ous for a house of worship nearer at hand. This led, after several years of agitation, to the founding and erection of St. Andrew's, and soon after to the building of Trinity Chapel.
In the Clergy list of 1830 are six names, and the list of churches and chapels numbers fifteen. The convention of 1832 was the only occasion on which Bishop White presided. Bishop Onderdonk was visiting a remote dis- trict of Pennsylvania, but forwarded a report of his third visitation of Delaware, during which he had confirmed thirty-seven persons. This convention was held in Trinity Chapel, Wilmington. It was then the rule to meet on Saturday and adjourn on Monday. On the Sunday thus included Bishop White preached. In the convention of 1834, Bishop Onderdonk presided, and reported quite a number of con- firmations in Sussex Co., also that the Rev. Jos. Glover had entered upon labors as a missionary at Seaford, Laurel, and vicinity. This is the first appointment of a missionary in Delaware since the abandonment of the field by the venerable Propagation Society. Mr. Glover's services, highly acceptable, were brought to a speedy end by his lamented death, Aug. 19th, 1834. His remains rest in the church yard at Seaford. Bishop Onderdonk reported the ordination to
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
the priesthood, April 27th, 1835, in St. An- | Bishop Onderdonk and seventeen layman. drew's Church, Wilmington, of the Rev. Wm. C. Russell, rector of said . church. In 1836 Bishop Onderdonk reported the consecration, January 26th, of Christ Church, Milford, which after remaining unfinished for nearly half a century had been handsomely remodled and completed. Also that a building had been purchased near the Northern line of the State to be appropriated to the worship of God un- der the name of Grace Church. The Mission- ary society had been revived with more spirit, had received over five hundred dollars, and was sustaining the Rev. Corry Chambers as Mis- sionary in Sussex.
In the convention of 1837 mention is made of a visit from Bishop Stone of Maryland, at Bishop Onderdonk's request, and his confirm- ing seventeen persons at Laurel and four at Seaford. The revised Constitution and Can- ons were adopted by this convention. These were again reviewed and put nearly in the present shape in 1844.
The most note-worthy feature in the Con- vention of 1838 was the ordination of three Presbyters by Bishop Onderdonk, in St. Anne's Church, Appoquinimink-viz. The Rev. John Linn McKim, the Rev. Wm. Nel- son Pendleton, and the Rev. Wm. James Clark. Mr. McKim was officiating at Lewes, Georgetown, St. George's, I. R. and Dagsboro. Mr. Pendleton was Professor in Newark Col- lege. Mr. Clark was rector of St. Andrew's, Wilmington. .
Although there were reasons for encourage- ment in regard to the prospects of the church in the upper part of the state, yet in his address to the Convention of 1839 Bishop On- derdonk stated that the lower half of the Dio- cese was then entirely without Clergymen. No Church indeed south of Smyrna was supplied with a minister. ^This fact," he says, "may require greater vigor in your missionary oper- ations, and it certainly requires our fervent intercession to the divine Head of the Church." This convention consisting of two Clerical and twelve lay members met at Sea- ford, and commended the unfinished Church there to the assistance of the brethren in this and other Dioceses.
The showing at the Convention of 1840 was considerably better. It was held at Milford and consisted of eight Clergymen besides
The Rev. John Reynolds had taken charge of Milford and the parishes in the Eastern part of Sussex County, and the Rev. Samuel Cal- lahan, of Seaford and Laurel. Bishop Onder- donk reported the ordination of one Presby- ter, the Rev. Wm. H. Trapnell, and two Deacons, Mr. Callahan and Mr. Erastus B. Foot. He also reported the first Ecclesiastical trial ever held in the Diocese, which resulted in the deposition from the ministry of a very unworthy Clergyman. St. Andrew's Church, Wilmington, had been destroyed by fire, Jan. 25, 1840, but energetic measures had been taken to replace it.
PART THIRD.
In the Convention of 1841, held at George- town, steps were taken to complete the organization of the Diocese by the election of a Bishop. There were present, Bishop On- derdonk, seven Clergymen and twenty three lay delegates, representing thirteen parishes. St. Andrew's Church, Wilmington, had been consecrated and Trinity Chapel enlarged and improved. Thirty-nine persons had been confirmed.
The motion to proceed to the election of a Bishop was made by the Rev. Stephen W. Presstman, Rector of Immanuel Church, New- castle, and the proposition received the hearty concurrence of Bishop Onderdonk. The Rev. Alfred Lee, Rector of Calvary Church, Rock- dale, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, was nominated. He received. the unanimous vote both of the Clerical and Lay Deputies, the two orders voting separately, and was de- clared by the chair to be duly elected.
This election having taken place within six months of the session of the General Conven- tion, came before that body for confirmation. The General Convention met in St. Paul's Church, in the city of New York, October 6, 1841. Twenty-seven Dioceses were repre- sented. The Clerical Deputies from Delaware were the Revs. S. W. Presstman, J. Reynolds, J. W. Mccullough and W. H. Trapnell. The only lay deputy attending was Samuel Payn- ter. The House of Deputies signed the Testi- monials of the Bishop-elect of Delaware on the 8th of October. In the House of Bishops, the Testimonials being transmitted on the same day, it was resolved, on motion of Bishop Onderdonk of Pennsylvania, seconded by
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
Bishop Whittingham, "That the House con- sent to the consecration of the Rev. Alfred Lee to the Episcopate of Delaware."
The following Tuesday, October 12, was ap- pointed for the service in St. Paul's Chapel.
On the day named, October 12, 1841, both Houses of the General Convention met in St. Paul's at 10 a. m. Morning Prayer was read by the Rev. S. W. Presstman, of Delaware, assisted by the Rev. Dr. Crosswell, of Con- necticut. The Ante-Communion Service was begun by Bishop Onderdonk, of Pennsylvania, the Epistle being read by Bishop Chase, of Ohio, and the Gospel by Bishop Moore, of Vir- ginia. The sermon (from the text, I Tim. IV., 16) was preached by Bishop McIlvaine, of Ohio. The proceedings of the Diocese of Delaware, and of the House of Bishops, and of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies were read by the Rev. Dr. Wainwright and the Rev. Dr. Mead, Secretaries respectively of the two Houses. The Litany was read by Bishop Browneil, of Connecticut. The ques- tions were propounded to the candidate by Bishop Griswold, of the Eastern Diocese, the presiding Bishop, who consecrated the Bishop- elect : Bishops Moore, Chase, Brownell and Onderdonk, of Pennsylvania, uniting in the imposition of hands.
Bisliop Lee took his seat in the House of Bishops, October 13th, making the number of members twenty-one, and being the 38th in succession of American Bishops. IIe offi- ciated in the Diocese for the first time in Immanuel Church, New Castle, October 26th, having, however, visited all the churches pre viously to giving his answer to the invitation of the Convention. He presided, for the first time, in the 5Ist Diocesan Convention held May 25th, 1842, in St. Andrew's church, Wilmington.
This Convention was attended by seven Clergymen, beside the Bishop,and by nineteen lay deputies from twelve parishes. Of ten Clergymen whose names were on the list in tlie Journal of the year preceding, two were not then residing in the Diocese, two were without charge, and two had resigned soon after, so that on his first visitation Bishop Lee found but four acting ministers (only one below New Castle) and only seven Parishes supplied with regular services. The number of Communicants reported to the General Convention of 1841 was three hundred and thirty-nine.
The progress of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Delaware during forty years, from October, 1841, to October, 1881, may be esti- mated from the formation of new Parishes, the erection, restitution and enlargement of church buildings, the number of baptisms and con- firmations, the number of ordinations to the ministry, and the amount of money raised for church support, Missions and charities. Under the first head, starting from the north- ern border of the State and going southward, we find the following marks of church exten- sion :
In Brandywine Hundred two Parishes have been formed and three churches built. Church of the Ascension, Claymont, Parish organized Nov. 7, 1850, church consecrated Sept. 14, 1854. Calvary Church, organized in 1862, the corner stone laid Sept. 25, 1862, and the church consecrated Jan. 29, 1863. The di- minutive frame building, the cradle of Grace Church, has been succeeded by a large and solid stone edifice of handsome architecture, situated about 5 miles from Wilmington, on the Concord Turnpike.
The corner stone was laid Oct. 1, 1874, and the church was opened for divine service Sun- day 4th, 1875.
In the city of Wilmington two new parishes have been formed. St. John's Church is a memorial of a most active and large-hearted layman, Alexis I. DuPont. The building is one of the finest church edifices in the State, constructed of the blue rock of Brandywine Hundred, in Gothic style. The corner-stone was laid by the Bishop, the convention of the Diocese present and assisting, June 4, 1857, and the church was consecrated Nov. 3, 1858. The earnest and generous founder had mean- while been suddenly removed from this world by an explosion, and sad regrets for the great loss occasioned by this mournful event min- gled with the joy of such a solemnity.
Calvary Church, in the southwestern part of the city, was originally started as a mission of St. Andrews. A chapel was built and opened for divine service, Oct. 30, 1859, which has been since enlarged and improved. In 1865 the church became an independent Parish and was admitted into union with the Convention. The venerable Old Swedes' Church was put in good repair in 1842, and made convenient and comfortable for use. It has since, for most of
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
the time, been opened for worship. Trinity Chapel was much enlarged and improved in 1848, and again in 1866. St. Andrews, of which Bishop Lee has been Rector since August, 1843, was enlarged and renovated in 1854. Five Episcopal Churches are now open in Wilmington every Sunday, with accommo- dation for about 2200 worshipers.
In his address to the Convention of 1851, the Bishop stated that a Parish had just been organized at DuPont's Mills. The Rev. Sam- uel C. Brinckle had been officiating there as Missionary in a building wherein one of the earliest Sunday Schools established in this country had been regularly taught. The Par- ish was admitted, with the name of Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, and a church was erected and opened for divine service May 4, 1856, which in the words of the Bishop's address, "for beauty of situation, good archi- tecture, chaste and simple elegance and com- pletentess of finish was not surpassed by any in the Diocese."
Immanuel Church, New Castle, of venerable antiquity, has been enlarged to double its for- mer capacity and greatly improved. In 1869 a chapel was built in West New Castle at a cost of $2300.
A church had been partly finished in New- port before the era of the Revolution. After the battle of the Brandywine the incomplete building was used as a stable by the British Cavalry. On the 17th June 1875, the corner stone was laid upon the old site of St. James' Church, Newport, and a modest structure of much beauty and convenience was opened for divine service Oct. 23rd, of the same year.
At the convention of 1843, the parish of St. Thomas, Newark, was received into union with this Diocese. The corner stone of the church building was laid August 24, 1843, and it was consecrated to the worship of God, Feb. 25, 1845. It has been since enlarged and im- proved.
To the list of Parishes, Christ Church, Dela. ware City, was added in 1848, and a neat and commodious church edifice, the fruit of much exertion and self denial, was finished and con- secrated, Dec. 13, 1857, to which a convenient Rectory was afterward added.
St. Anne's Church, Appoquinimink, erected in colonial times, has been preserved in good condition, but as mentioned above the loca-
tion became inconvenient to the large major- ity of the worshipers.
A beautiful and good sized church was there- fore built in the village of Middletown, and consecrated on the 4th April, 1872. It was consumed by fire in 1882.
At Smyrna, the old chapel at Duck Creek was succeeded by a church of rather small dimensions in the town. The necessity of enlargement was felt, and the church, almost wholly rebuilt on a larger scale and much im- proved appearance, was consecrated, May 6th, 1859.
The revival of the church at Dover has been already noticed. The renovated church edi- fice was consecrated on the 17th of May, 1860.
Christ Church, Milford, sprung from the old Mission Chapel upon Mispillion Creek, was re- built upon an improved model during the rec- torship of the Rev. J. Leighton McKim in 1866. A neat, inexpensive chapel was conse- crated at Harrington, June 6th, 1876.
The first church at Georgetown, a frame building, was erected in 1794. It was suc- ceeded by a brick edifice which was conse- crated November 19th, 1844. This, like the first, becoming decayed and unsafe, has been entirely rebuilt under the rectorship of the Rev. B. J. Douglass. The present church of beautiful architecture was opened for divine service October 13th, 1881.
The old church at Lewes, of quaint appear- ance and arrangement, in which the Mission- aries of the Propogation Society ministered for so many years, was moved from its foundation to the rear of the lot and replaced by a church of brick, which was consecrated July 15th, 1858. This again was rebuilt and improved by the erection of a tower and spire in 1870.
The church at Dagsboro', a large edifice of wood, erected during the colonial period, is unfit for use, although still standing. Two Parishes have been organized in the vicinity ; St. Mark's, Millsboro', and Grace Church, Bal- timore Mills. A church building was erected in Millsboro' in 1849, and has been since re- placed by a much better one, now occupied by the congregation but not quite finished. Grace Church, Baltimore Mills, was conse- crated May 2d, 1853. St. John's Church at Little Hill or Greenville, an offshoot from Christ Church, Broad Creek, was founded by the Rev. Hamilton Bell, an earnest, faithful
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
laborer, who died in 1811 at an early age. |less character left a deep and lasting im- The church, not completed, became decayed pression. He finished his course November 9th, 1857, and was interred in the church yard of St. Luke's, Seaford. At the time of his decease he was engaged in building a modest sanctuary in Little Creek Hundred. This was consecrated by the name of St. Mark's Church, May 28th, 1858, and remains as a memorial of this faithful servant of Christ. and ruinous, and services were discontinued for a number of years, insomuch that the Par- ish was pronounced defunct by the Convention of 1841. Upon a visit made by Bishop Lee in July, 1842, so large a congregation gathered, and there were such indications of vitality that immediate measures were taken to repair the church and make it a missionary station. The St. John Baptist Church, Milton, which was consecrated June 5th, 1877, a neat and convenient frame building, may be considered the resuscitation of the vanished chapel of the same name, built in the forest by one of the early Missionaries, the Rev. Mr. Beckett. result of these efforts was the completion and consecration of the church Nov. 5th, 1843, and the confirmation within the year of forty-five persons, many of whom were heads of families. The congregation has ever since continued good, and is now proposing to erect a new church.
Besides these churches, two chapels have been built in Sussex County. One on Long Neck, attached to St. George's Parish, was consecrated by the name of the chapel of the Comforter, May 25th, 1847. St. Andrew's Chapel, Ellis Grove, Little Creek, a neat and attractive rural sanctuary was opened for public worship, June, 1880.
SUMMARY. 1841-1881.
During this period of 40 years there have been :
Churches Consecrated 23
built
24
left incomplete, finished ...
I
virtually abandoned, reoc-
cupied 2
enlarged 8
Baptisms reported, 10,082
of which were adults, I 379
Confirmed 4,327
Ordained, Deacons
35
Presbyters 31
At present there are living Parishes .- 27 Churches and Chapels 36
Ministers, Canonically resident. 27
Rectors, Assistants, and Missionaries 21
Candidates for Holy Orders 2
Sunday Schools, Teachers 290
Scholars 2500
Contributions reported for year ending June Ist, 1881 :
'Missions $4,432 03
Disabled Clergy Fund and Charities. 1,255 05
Bible and Education Societies, &c ... 700 00
Diocesan Charges 1,523 00
Parochial objects. 18,164 91
As some of the Parochial Reports do not embrace the items of ministerial support and
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St. Luke's Church, Seaford, was organized in 1835. There had been churches in the neighborhood at St. Johnstown and Chapel Branch, which had fallen into ruins. Meas- ures were taken to erect a substantial brick church, which in 1841 was still unfinished. The work on the church was resumed, and the building completed and consecrated, May, 28, 1843 ; the missionary appointed to the charge, Mr. John Long, being at the same time ad- mitted to the Diaconate. A handsome and convenient rectory was added in 1873. Christ Church, Broad Creek, is a venerable relic of Colonial days, and although built of wood, is still in excellent preservation. It is of large dimensions, beautifully situated, about two miles distant from Laurel. The centenary of the church was celebrated by the Bishop and a number of the Clergy, and an interesting historical discourse delivered to a large congre- gation by the Rev. Benj J. Douglass, July 2d, 1873. As the village of Laurel was more con- venient for most of the worshipers, a building was erected there and consecrated as St. Phil- ip's Chapel, May 22d, 1850. This was found to be too small for the congregation, and was replaced by a more spacious and desirable ed- ifice, the corner stone of which was laid at the close of the session convention, June, 1874. This is a church in the possession of which the congregation may be congratulated.
In 1853 the Rev. Richard F. Cadle, who had been the first missionary of the Church to the Indians, took charge of the mission in the South Western part of the State. He was abundant in labors and his holy and blame-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
current expenses, from $12,000 to $15.000 may for bare existence. She has risen from the be added to this amount, making the average dust, and is wakening to the responsibility im- of contributions about $40,000 per annum. The Diocese has now an invested Fund for the endowment of the Episcopate of $14,500, and one for the Relief of Disabled Clergy, their widows and orphans, of about $3000.
posed by her high privileges, her goodly herit- age of pure scriptural doctrine, primitive order and worship. There is growing courage, zeal and hopefulness. While her numerical strength, although still small, is steadily in- This imperfect historical sketch is closed with an extract from the Bishop's Address in 1879. "There is much in the present aspect creasing, and sanctuaries once deserted are now filled with devout congregations, her power for good is developing still more largely and and condition of the Diocese to call for thank- i rapidly. And if we are faithful to our trust, a fulness. Our church is no longer, as some of wider and more effectual door, we may well us remember her, a feeble remnant, struggling believe, will be opened unto us.
July, 1882.
THE REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
BY REV. J. L. ESTLIN.
EORGE DAVID CUMMINS, D. D. was the founder of this denomination. He was born in Smyrna, Delaware, 1822, graduated at Dickinson College, took orders in the Episcopal Church, in 1845, and in the same year was ordained by Bishop Lee of Delaware. He was Rector of several Episcopal churches in Virginia, Washington and Chicago. He was chosen Assistant Bishop of Kentucky in 1866. He was an earnest, eloquent preacher, and one of the ablest de- fenders of the principles of the low church party, in the P. E. Church. He resigned from the ministry of the P. E. Church in 1873, and withdrawing from the denomination, founded the Reformed Episcopal Church, on December 2d, 1873, of which he became the Bishop. He labored very hard to establish new churches all over the country, and died after a brief ill- ness in 1876. Up to this date this denomina- tion has over one hundred ministers. The parishes, not counting those in England, dot the Dominion of Canada, as well as our own country, extending from Nova Scotia to Van- couver's Island in British America, and from New England to South Carolina. In the last
mentioned State there are twenty-two con- gregations of colored people. The number of communicants is between 6000 and 7000. At- tendants on public worship between 10,000 and 12,000. Sunday School scholars nearly 10,000. Contributions for two years, $200,000 and over. Property, exclusive of that in Eng- land, nearly $1,000,000. Delaware may well be proud of Bishop Cummins under whose brave leadership it was that so many came forth out of the P. E. Church, and who be- queathed to the denomination he brought into existence, these dying words, "go forward, and do a grand work."
The Reformed Episcopal Church of the Covenant, located on 2nd street near West street, Wilmington, was the first church of this denomination organized in the State of Dela- ware. About thirty members of Calvary P. E. Church, located at 3rd and Washington streets, withdrew for the purpose of organizing a Re- formed Episcopal Church. The first service was held in the Masonic Building, on Market street, in July, 1878. On September 26th the church was regularly organized, and September 27th, 1878, the Rev. J. L. Estlin was elected as Rector. The congregation bought the church
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