USA > Delaware > New Castle County > New Castle > Sketch of early ecclesiastical affairs in New Castle, Delaware, and history of Immanuel Church > Part 9
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(EXTRACT.)
Mr. Aeneas Ross to the Secretary.
"New Castle, Ioth October, 1759.
Rev'd & Good Sir.
It is with great pleasure I can now acquaint you that, thro' the divine assistance, I have been better en- abled to go thro' the Service of the Church and preach- ing than I have been for these two years past, & that I live in good esteem with the people here, both of our own and the Presbyterian Church, which is by far the most numerous Congregation. But I am in great hopes I shall see the Congregation of the Church at New Cas- tle flourish, to accomplish which my endeavors shall never be wanting."
(EXTRACT.)
Mr. Aeneas Ross to the Secretary.
"New Castle, 8th October, 1761.
Rev'd Good Sir.
In May last the Congregation of St. James' made
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application to the Clergy of Pensylv. then met in Con- vention at Philada., to join them in an address to the Honorable Society for a missionary for St. James' & Fog's Manor. The circumstances of my family were such that I could not leave them at the time of the Convention, which deprived me of the opportunity of informing the Clergy there of the situation of this intended mission, the circumstances of the people & such other weighty reason, as I conceive, would have prevented any application being made to the Honoura- ble Society on that head, or the trouble I now give you on the occasion.
The Mission of New Castle was early fixed on the first settling of this country, & this Church of Eng'd has been constantly encouraged, as far as the circum- stances of the people could admit, to which a hand- some Glebe now belongs; and as it is the ancientest Town, so it is the seat of Government, & where, at Publick times, there is a great resort of persons of the highest rank among, as well as the common Parish- ioners. The Chappel of St. James', at the extent, is not more than eight miles distant from this town, & so much out of repair, as well as ill situated, that the congregation there purpose to build a new one at New- port, a small Town four miles from this Town; so that it is very apparent when that is done one Missionary may attend both places, as is frequently done at a much greater distance, in many parts of this Country. I need only name my brother Reading, whose mission is in the country, & who has for many years served two churches, twelve miles distant from each other. I am, therefore, of opinion that missions established so near each other would rather be an injury than service to the
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church. The Harvest is very great & the Labourers few. The country is of great extent, & inhabited by People in great distress, both in respect of themselves & their children, other Religions spreading among them, and however well inclined, the Church of England little established. These are the places that. loudly call for the charitable assistance of the honoura- ble Society. We are most humbly thankful for the care taken of us. We have two Missions in this County, within twenty miles of each other.
The deplorable condition of our fellow creatures at a much greater distance, & in more real want than those now recommended, engaged me to give that account of the state of the Church in this neighbourhood, fully satisfied with whatever the Hon'ble Society, in their wisdom, shall think fit to do.
I am, etc., AENEAS ROSS."
Mr. Ross remained in charge of the Church until his death which occurred in 1782. He, therefore, was incumbent during the trying period of the Revolutionary War. He is said to have been a true patriot and to have preached many patriotic sermons. Unlike most Church of England Missionaries at that time he was a native of the Colony and identified in every way with his people and their interests. His brothers early espoused the cause of independence, one of whom, George Ross, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Immanuel Church was the only Episcopal Church on the Peninsula which was kept open during the whole of the Revolu- tionary War. The first clergyman at New Castle after the Revolution, and successor to Mr. Ross, was the Rev. Charles Henry Wharton. Mr. Wharton was really the
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first rector of the parish as the ministers before him were missionaries. He was a man conspicuous in ecclesi- astical affairs, and became prominent in the Protest- ant Episcopal Church. Born of a Roman Catholic family in St. Mary's County, Maryland, in 1748, he was educated in France and Flanders and ordained a priest in that Church in 1772, and assigned work as priest in England. He became a convert to the Protestant Episcopal faith, and his writings at the time attracted almost world-wide interest. A sketch of his life may be found in Sprague's, Annals of the American Pulpit. The full proceedings at Mr. Wharton's reception into the Protestant Episcopal Church which occurred at Immanuel Church are given in the records of the parish, and as they are interesting as the first proceedings of their kind in this Country, after this Church ceased to be controlled by the Bishops of the Church of England, they are here copied.
"At a meeting of the Congregation of Emanuel Church at New Castle on Delaware, held the 22d day of September, 1784, the Rev'd Charles Henry Wharton, having produced and laid before the Congregation his Letters of Orders from a Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church, havingexhibited ample Testimonials of his Life and Conversation, and subscribed the annexed Declara- tion, was received and accepted by the Congregation aforesaid with all due respect and satisfaction. It was de- termined at the same meeting that the Commencement of Mr. Wharton's Ministry should bear date the seven- teenth day of August, 1784. Declaration-I, the under written, do hereby profess & declare, that I do acknowl- edge and believe, that the Word of God contained in the Old and New Testament is and ought to be the sole
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Rule and Standard of Christian Faith. I do therefore admit no point of doctrine as an Article of Faith which is proposed or enforced by any other authority, than that of the Bible. I approve the tenets and Liturgy of the Protestant Episcopal Church as now commonly taught and practiced in America. The first as containing nothing repugnant to the written Word of God; the second as very conformable to the Worship of the Primi- tive Church. I will conform to the Ordinances & Liturgy which may hereafter be adopted by a General Continental Convention of this Church provided always that they be agreeable to the known Doctrine of this Church.
CHARLES HENRY WHARTON."
At the same meeting a letter from the Rev. Wil- liam White, Rector of Christ Church, Philadelphia, from Rev. Samuel Magaw, Rector of St. Paul's, & from Rev. Robert Blackwell of the City aforesaid, to the Rev. Mr. Wharton, was read to the congregation of which the following is a copy.
"Rev'd Sir.
In answer to your inquiry as to the proper manner of your admission to our Communion, we inform you that on your producing Testimonials of your Life & Conversation to any Congregation of the Protestant Episcopal Church inclined to receive you as their Pastor, your exhibiting to them your Letters of Orders from a Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church; your making before any credible witnesses, a Declaration contained in a certain paper drawn by yourself & approved by us, under our signature, and your giving proof to us, that such your Testimonials, Letters of
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Orders and Declaration have been registered by the Church Wardens of the Congregation receiving you, we think ourselves in duty bound to consider you a Minis- ter of the Protestant Episcopal Church & at liberty to ask you to officiate in the Congregations respectively under our care. With our Prayers to Almighty God that entire peace of mind may arise from the sincerity with which you seem desirous of embracing our Communion, and that your usefulness therein, may be in proportion to the opinion we entertain of your talents & learning, &c.
Rev'd Sir, your friends & humble servants,
W. WHITE, ROBERT BLACKWELL, SAM MAGAW."
Philadelphia, June 4, 1784."
Letters of Ordination. (Copy.)
Extractum e Registro officii Sigilli anni 1771, 1772 in quo habetur, ut sequitur-Sequientur Promoti ad sacros majores ordines ab Illono et Remo Domino Carolo S. R. I. Comite ab Arberg et Vallengin Episcopo Amii; Zonensi Suffraganeo Leodiensi, &c.
IO Maii 1772 Subdiaconus F Carolus Wharton Rel Soc. Jesu Collegi Leodiensis.
13 Junii 1772 Diaconus F Carolus Wharton Rel Societatis Jesu Collegii Anglicani Leod.
In Registro anni 1772 habetur, ut Sequitur 19 7 bris 1772 Presbyter F. Carolus Wharton Rel. Societatis Jesu Collegii Anglicani Civit Leod.
Per Extractum ut supra quod testor C. LeBrun Sub-
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Secretarius Synodi Leodiensis et authe apostolica Notarius in fidem.
True copy, Attest. JOSEPH TATLOW, Wardens.
JOHN STOCKTON,
These are to certify that the Rev. Charles Henry Wharton a native of Saint Mary's County, in the State of Maryland, and descended from a very genteel and respectable family, ever since his arrival from Europe, whither when very young, he was sent for the benefit of his education, has resided at his seat in this neighbor- hood, for these twelve months last past; during which time, his life and conversation, as a Christian, has been irreproachable and examplary, while the easiness and affability of his deportment, as a gentleman, have very deservedly, gained him the esteem and affection of the sensible, the cool and thinking part of the professors of every denomination, who unfettered by the prejudices of education dare to exert that most valuable prerogative of human natures; the liberty of thinking and judging for themselves. In justice therefore to real merit we the subscribers unasked and unsolicited do freely and voluntarily from a conviction of the Rectitude and integrity of his heart, and of his general usefulness to society, both as a Minister of the Gospel of Christ, and as a scholar present him, at his removal from this settlement with this small Testimony of our esteem and regard. Given under our hands this 26th day of July, 1784.
Jeremiah Jordan, Rich'd Barnes, J. A. Thomas, Philip They, Rev. George Goldie.
Geo. Plater, John Llewellin,
True copy, JOHN STOCKTON, - Attest. JOSEPH TATLOW.
Wardens.
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Mr. Wharton, according to a custom then estab- lished, was elected Minister for the term of one year, and this custom continued during his residence and during the residence of his successor until 1824. So that we find by the records of every Easter Meeting that "the Vestry, Wardens and Congregation proceded to the elec- tion of a Minister for the ensuing twelve months, etc." Services were held but once in two weeks in the church at this time, and this custom also continued until about 1824.
Mr. Wharton took an active interest in establishing the organization of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, as it now exists. Soon after his com- ing to New Castle he attended one of the first general meetings in this behalf, at New York in October, 1784, in company with Rev. Mr. Thorne and Robert Clay. He was also a delegate to the first general Convention in Philadelphia Sept. 1785, and again at the very im- portant general Convention held at Wilmington, Del., in 1786. In all these Conventions he was prominent on the floor and in important committees, and his great learning and well balanced conservative mind were of inestimable value at this crucial period of our church's existence. Repairs to the church had again become very necessary and at the Easter Meeting of the congregation in 1786, it was resolved that an address should be drawn up and subscriptions solicited for the purpose of "new shingling the roof & repairing the enclosures around the grave yard of the said Church."
Mr. Wharton continued rector of the church until 1788. In 1796, he became rector of St. Mary's Church Burlington, where he remained, except for one year,
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IMMANUEL CHURCH.
while President of Columbia College, New York, until his death in 1833.
On Easter Monday, March 24, 1788, the Rev. Robert Clay was elected "minister for the ensuing year upon such terms as may be agreed upon by the said Minister, Vestrymen and Wardens." Immediately after his elec- tion Mr. Clay appeared and "declared his willingness to undertake that duty so far as to officiate as Minister of the church here every other Sunday through the year." He also produced certificates from Bishop White of his admission as Deacon, Dec. 23, 1787, and of his or- dination as Priest, February 17, 1788.
Mr. Clay's salary was fixed the first year at 50 pounds in lieu of the use of the Glebe which was left in the hands of the vestry in order that repairs and im- provements might be made on it. A clerk had usually been appointed, and on this occasion James Webb was appointed both Sexton and Clerk to receive 5 pounds as Clerk and 3 pounds as Sexton.
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NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE.
CHAPTER IX. 1788-1843.
Title to Church Property. Act of Legislature. Wall built around Grave-yard. Repairs and Alterations made with Funds fur- nished by Rector. Extensive Repairs commenced in 1820. Appeal for Subscriptions. Repairs completed in 1822. Minutes from Vestry Records. List of Subscribers. Church consecrated by Bishop White. Pewholders in 1822. Mr. Clay resigns. Rev. Stephen W. Presstman called. First Organ. Sunday School Room built. Hour of Service. Death of Rev. Mr. Presstman. Character of Vestrymen.
It will be remembered that the ground where the Church stands was originally a part of the Market Square property which had been dedicated to the public, and upon which in 1672, the Fort was built; and we have seen by the letter from Rev. George Ross that the Church of England people decided to erect their Church there "from a persuasion that, as it belonged to their sovereign, it was not in the power of any of their troublesome neighbors to disturb them." The congre- gation appears to have had no title to the premises, other than by possession, until June 13, 1772, when the General Assembly passed a bill vesting the market square in four sets of trustees. In one, a portion of the square for the purpose of a State House and Jail to hold the General assembly, Courts, etc. In another set, a certain portion, for the purpose of a school: in another set, the unappropriated portions, for the use of the inhabitants of the town of New Castle, for fairs, etc. The sections
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of the law granting the trust in favor of Immanuel Church are as follows:
"Sec. 3. And whereas another lot of ground situate also in the Market Square, in the town of New Castle, whereon Immanuel Church stands, and the grave yard or burying-ground of the said Church is laid out, bounded as follows, to wit, Beginning at a corner stake of the herein before described school-house lot, being also the northwest corner of the grave-yard or burying- ground belonging to Immanuel Church aforesaid, on the southwest side of Mary Street, and running thence south forty-five degrees west, ten perches along the line of the said school-house lot to another stake set for a corner; thence south forty-six degrees east, ten perches and eight-tenths of a perch to a post in the Market Square; thence north forty-seven degrees east, ten perches to Mary Street aforesaid; and thence along said Mary Street north forty-six degress thirty minutes west to the place of beginning, hath been and is now set apart and appropriated to and for the use of the members of the Episcopal Church of England, residing and dwelling in and about the said town of New Castle who being desirous that the same should be forever here- after confirmed to and for the uses aforesaid.
SECT. 4. Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the legal estate and inheritance of and in the said Church, burying-ground and last described lot, with the appurtenances thereto belonging, shall be and is hereby declared to be from henceforth vested in the Reverend Aeneas Ross, Richard McWilliam and Joseph Tatlow, and the survivors and survivor of them and the heirs of the survivor forever, in trust nevertheless, to and for the use, benefit and behoof of the members of the
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NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE.
Episcopal Church of England, residing and hereafter to reside in and about the said town of New Castle, as a place of worship and burial ground forever, and to no other use, intent or purpose whatsoever." On the 8th of September 1788 the congregation appointed trustees to be a body corporate pursuant to the act of Assembly passed February 3, 1787, providing for the incorporation of religious societies, and by the terms of that act, all the property of the Church became vested in the corporation and has so continued ever since.
On June 27, 1789, James Webb, having declined to act as Sexton, etc., William Sellinger was appointed Sexton at fifty shillings per annum, and Joshua Perry was appointed clerk at five pounds per annum "and inasmuch as he did not reside in the town of New Cas- tle, it was agreed that he should receive a reasonable allowance for his necessary expenses in attending at the stated times of worship at the Church."
During the year 1791, the brick wall was built around the grave yard. As no repairs had been made to the Church for many years it had become very dilapi- dated so that on April 19, 1802, the congregation resolved "that unless timely repairs are made, it will become inconvenient as well as dangerous for the inhabi- tants to assemble for public worship, and whereas the mode of raising money by subscription has been hither- to found ineffectual towards making the necessary repairs, which gives the melancholy prospect, if some other mode is not adopted, of the house and brick wall that surrounds the burial ground, going to decay and the consequent dissolution of the Society belonging to the af's'd Church."
In this extremity the rector, Mr. Clay, came to the
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relief of the church and made a proposition to advance the necessary amount of money-sixteen hundred dol- lars. With this money the church was thoroughly repaired and cap stones put on the wall of the grave yard. All the credit for this enterprise seems to be due to Mr. Clay as it was entirely at his expense. If the loan was ever repaid, it was from the revenues from the Glebe to which he was justly entitled as rector. Joseph Israel was the contractor for the work and it appears by the settlement with him in the vestry minutes that he was paid just $1600. Extensive repairs were made to the north-east end of the church-yard wall in 1817, and a new roof put on the church at the same time. In the year 1820, it was decided by the congregation to make extensive changes and improvements in the church. Two plans were submitted by Mr. William Strickland, then the leading architect at Philadelphia. One of these plans was adopted; a building committee ap- pointed and James Booth junior was selected as Treas- urer to receive subscriptions for the work. The appeal made to the people at that time, which contains matters of historical interest, was as follows: "The Episcopal Church in the town of New Castle, State of Delaware, styled Immanuel Church-for the repair and enlarge- ment of which subscriptions are solicited by the vestry and wardens of the Church, in aid of the contributions on the part of the congregation, was founded in the year 1689, and patronized by Queen Anne at an early period of her reign, who presented it with the commun- ion plate, now in possesion of the resident minister. This church received early attention from the Society instituted in London by King William 3d, in 1701, for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts as it appears that the Rev. George Ross, one of the Society's first
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NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE.
missionaries, was officiating as its minister so early as 1704; from that period of time until the present æra, amidst all the vicissitudes that have occurred in the lapse of one hundred and sixteen years, eventful of changes and revolutions that involved the safety of both church and State, the congregation of Immanuel Church tho' very small in number and extremely limited with respect to funds, have never suffered their church to be vacant, but always maintained in it a minister of the Gospel of Christ. In truth during the arduous struggle of the revolution that terminated in the Inde- pendence of the United States-it stood alone in the midst of the dilapidation of the churches of the Dela- ware peninsula, the prop and pillar of Episcopacy there, surrounded with dissenting congregations whose num- bers overshadowed it, and were too often the cause of great dismay to its members, particularly when the storms of war burst with violence over the land.
It has experienced a continued sum of multiplied struggles for its existence, from its infancy and during its progress until the present time. Animated with zeal for the Christian religion, and devotion to the Gospel of Christ, its humble followers of this Church have never for a moment withheld their scanty means from its sup- port, without adverting particularly to the expenses that were incurred for repairs in its earlier annals. We may assume a degree of credit with our Episcopal brethren and friends in the different parts of the Union in com- municating the fact, that after sustaining the shock of the revolutionary war there was expended for enclosing the Church-yard and repairs at various times to the church upwards of $4000 and that in consequence the congregation hath become involved in a debt of perhaps
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IMMANUEL CHURCH,
one thousand dollars and more which they have not as yet been able to discharge. This debt incurred in the state of adversity of our church and before the dawn of a brighter day which has since promised to gild with prosperity the Episcopal Church in future time, did not discourage the members of Immanuel Church from pro- jecting the repair and enlargement of their building so as to produce sufficient accommodation for the increase of the congregation by the accession of numbers, which the recent revival of religion generally and the growing popularity of the Episcopal system particularly, have afforded good cause to expect, and they have accordingly commenced the work of repair and enlargement, which, although they feel their funds inadequate to the accom- plishment of, yet with the sanguine hope that they will receive the merited assistance in this commendable undertaking, from pious, well-disposed and liberal brethren to enable them to perfect in a manner that would redound to the credit of the church, the proposed improvements :- they are encouraged to go on with confidence in the good work, flattering themselves they will not be disappointed in their just expectations."*
The work of remodeling the Church began in the fall of 1820, under the direction of the architect Mr. Strickland, Mr. Jeremiah Bowman being the Contrac- tor. The work proceeded slowly owing to the difficulty of procuring funds. The following extract from the minutes of March 7th, 1822 will tell the whole story. The minute was written by the Secretary James Booth, then a young man who afterwards became Chief Justice of the state, who loved the Church, and was always fore- most in devotion to its interests. The story is pathetic
*The original appeal is still in existence and in the possession of a lady in New Castle.
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NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE.
and at the same time full of encouragement to those who do not weary in well doing. "On the seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty two, at seven o'clock in the even- ing, a meeting of the vestry and wardens of Immanuel Church in the Town of New Castle, was held, pursuant to public notice, at the house of James Frazer, Inn- keeper, in the said town. Invitations to this meeting had been given to all who were solicitous for the com- pletion of the repairs and enlargement of the Church edifice : and several persons attended in consequence thereof, who did not belong to the vestry. This meet- ing was called to take into consideration the present gloomy situation of the Church, which fills the mind of every one with despondency, who is interested in its welfare in New Castle. The repairs of the Church had ceased. No progress had been made in them for up wards of two months for want of funds : the building was not protected against the weather: part of the frame work of the steeple had been raised in the month of November preceding, without being properly strength- ened or secured : it remained exposed during the winter, storms of rain and snow beating through it and into the tower, to the great injury of the timbers and walls. In addition to this the zeal of several who had been active in their exertions for the completion of the Church, seemed to subside : creditors to whom the Church had become largely indebted were urgent and importunate in their demands for the payment of their claims, and no pros- pect existed of raising funds adequate to discharge them. The affairs of the Church were reduced to that deplorable condition, that some with keen regret, had predicted its downfall, and the dissolution of a congregation, which although small in number had maintained and supported
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