USA > Delaware > New Castle County > Wilmington > The records of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, Wilmington, Del., from 1697 to 1773 > Part 33
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HOLY TRINITY (OLD SWEDES) CHURCH.
The above named Doctor and Provost Wrangel left here for London, September 3rd, 1768, when I and some few of the church accompanied him to New Castle, when he immediately went on board and we took an affection- ate farewell of him.
To bring about good order in the church and public worship, I called together the vestry or Church Council on the first of May A. D. 1769.
Ist. When the pastor with feeling and earnestness exhorted the council as well as others of the elders in the church that they should be an example for the other members both in doctrine and life, both in the house and out of the house, and especially with respect to the cold heart- edness and carelessness in using the means of grace which was shown by some of them, and particularly for the Lord's Supper, and earnestly urged that instead of the irregular and indifferent manner with which it was now re- ceived, they should be more thoughtful and have more consideration in a matter that will affect their eternal happiness.
2d. Since it had pleased the most high to call hence by death one of the vestry-men, John Lynan, John Stedham was elected in his place by ballot. The others who were nominated were Gabriel Springer, Joseph Stedham and Cornelius Stedham.
3d. They were reminded that the church needed re- pairing, particularly the roof which was in very bad condition. It was resolved that the money needed should be raised by subscription.
4th. There was talk about a bell, and a stove or Dutch oven for the church, but as there did not seem to be any way to get the money at present, it was postponed to some future time.
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5th. A letter from John Wistard was read asking pay for glass which he had furnished for the church win- dows ten years ago, to the then present Pastor Eric Un- ander. It was resolved that as it is shown in this church book, page 39, that the vestry settled with the Herr Pastor for the repairing of the church and this same glass account was paid to him as the settlement shows, it was believed that the pastor must surely have paid the said bill, although either he or his clerk had forgotten to give credit for it, and the present pastor, was requested to inform him of these facts and tell him that the vestry would not be responsible for such long stand- ing bills.
6th. Examined a part of the accounts of the attorneys or commissioners of the church, Nils Justice and Justa Walraven, i. e., up to April, 1768, the time of Provost Borell's death. But as these accounts included many items on which no settlement had been made, it was found to be of too much importance to undertake at this time, and therefore it was postponed.
N. B .- The pastor set before them the necessity of settling the accounts every year and that the whole in- come and rents of the church should be specified. That not only the income and outgo should appear plainly marked, but at the end of each year that which is back- standing should be plainly shown, so that the yearly balance may be clearly seen. It was resolved that here- after it shall be so.
7th. The vestry was asked if they believed it would be more profitable to lease out the remaining woodland or keep it for the use of the pastor as has been done thus far.
The answer was that they believed it would be more
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profitable to lease it out now while there is yet some wood upon it, but at this time would not come to any certain conclusion, but leave it to their attorneys, when an opportunity offers to act according to their best judg- ment and conscience.
8th. The pastor asked how much he could depend upon as yearly salary, a thing very necessary to be known so that hereafter he could regulate his house-keeping, and not like some of his predecessors, go in debt more than he could pay, as he would rather board if his prospective salary would not warrant his keeping house.
Then the vestry after having been left alone awhile to consult with each other, agreed that the pastor could not live on less than {roo currency per year, which was guaranteed, wherewith the pastor declared himself sat- isfied, so long as he had his wood from the woodland, as had been customary. However, it was thought that it could be bought somewhat higher to {120 or £130 at least, if not now, by-and-by, as the pastor should require.
9th. It was seen to be necessary and was agreed upon to have a better regulation of the pews in the church, and each one pay something yearly to the church for them, the Swedes to have law, right or liberty to choose first, and then the few English who lived among us. The money received should first be applied for repair- ing the fallen pews in the church, and then go to the priest as an increase of his scanty salary.
But there shall by an early notice be a general parish meeting called to confirm all this.
In accordance with the protocols of the last meeting of the Church Council, and particularly the 9th after these public announcements, a general parish meeting was held in the church on the 17th of June, 1769, to consult about better regulations in the church. The
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pastor who did not like to see one running over another without any order, and seeing the old pew list had become useless, and none except a few of the old Swedes knew their seats and others asked for them, and besides many trades journeymen came in crowds from the town and took possession of the best and foremost pews in the churches, advised that the congregation should with friendliness agree upon a pew for either one or two. families as is customary in the English church, and. even among Presbyterians who pay something yearly for them.
After I had prayed with thein and exhorted and per- suaded to order and unity I left them to kindly agree on what pew each one should have, which praise be to God they did tolerably well, and elected three modera- tors, Jonas Stedham, Jr., Gusta Walraven and John Hendricksson, to set a price on the yearly gift which should be paid for each pew. On the 9th of the follow- ing August the said moderators met and set a certain sum for each pew. This pew regulation is put in a separate book provided for the purpose, which was put in the keeping of Churchwarden William Vanneaman, who was to collect the pew inoney and keep an account of it in the same book.
The 25th of March is set for the yearly payment of the pew money, and each one is to keep his pew so long as he pays for it, but not longer be he Swede or English, and if not paid up for, the pew falls back to the church, and the pastor or church wardens may again rent it to whom it seems best of those who apply, with- out making any difference between Swedes or English, though if a Swede apply for such empty pew he may have the preference.
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HOLY TRINITY (OLD SWEDES) CHURCH.
On the 7th of October in accordance with the above mentioned Church Councils' Protocol 3, some of the members of the congregation met with me in the church to consult about the repair of the roof, and it was decided that both gable ends should be covered with new shingles, which was done. The cost and the names of those who subscribed may be found among the church accounts of the following year.
A. D. 1770 .- May 7th which was the first Monday in the month, the vestry met at the priest-house according to the charter, when
Ist. It was proposed that the church should be white limed as it had not been since the time of Provost Acre- lius, and then only the walls, and it now needed it very much. The proposition was agreed to and consequently the church was white limed all over except the arch, and the money therefor was taken from the pew money.
2nd. William Vanneamen stated that Wm. Tussey now required the money, 356, which he lent to the church when the late pastor built, and which he now could no longer do without. It was resolved to direct the agents Nils Justis and Gusta Walraven, to either make up so much out of the church money or to borrow what was needed for the payment of the above named debt.
3rd. A statement of the church property and debts was presented by Nils Justis and Justa Walraven which was deposited with the other accounts of the church.
4th. Cornelius Davis requested the settlement of his account for brick work for the former pastor, which was promised.
On tlie 2Ist of October which was Sacrament Sunday, the English fine green cloth was for the first time hung around the pulpit with fringes and tassels, and the
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pulpit had been painted anew a mahogany color, and also the altar railing, which altogether made a beautiful adornment. There was also a free will gift from the women of the church of a similar fine covering for the altar. A list of the givers may be found among the church accounts. The principal women who set forward this praiseworthy work were William Vanneaman's wife, Mistress Johanna Vanneaman, Mistress Springer; Gabriel Springer's wife, and Mistress Hedges an English widow, who now lived in Wilmington, and was a member of the church. After the sermon was ended the subject of a contribution for a stove was introduced and it was received favorably, and the next English Sunday was designated therefor, which was the first of November, and by a free will collection there were over eleven pounds raised, and the following days a little more was added thereto, wherefore Joseph Stedham immediately went up to Philadelphia and bought a stove which was set up at the end of the month.
The 28th of November the vestry met at the priest- house and settled the accounts for 1768 and 1769 and they were approved. But the old account for the time past they put into the hands of a committee to settle up on the 19th of December. In pursuance thereof the said committee composed of Jonas Stedham, Jr., Swen Justis, Peter Vandever, Jr., and John Hindricksson met at the priesthouse, and finally in the best way they could according to what they could gather from accounts as kept, made an end of the troublesome business.
A. D. 1771 .- May 6th the vestry met at the priest- house and among other things decided that Jonas and Cornelius Stedham should rent the new pew No. 22 below the pulpit, and of the other new pews that were made Mrs. Hedges should rent one-half of the pew No.
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HOLY TRINITY (OLD SWEDES) CHURCH.
23 on the south or men's side and Gese Bush the whole of 23 on the other side, Jacob Dericksson and John Welch No. 24, which was the last made.
Also it was agreed that a kitchen should be built at the priest house and a subscription was begun for the pur- pose.
On the 13th, 14th and 15th, of May this week the church was white-limed up to the arch viz: 1770, which was now the second time since the church was built.
Also several loose seats or benches were made for the aisles.
June 23rd after closing Divine service in Swedish, after the congregation had been requested to remain in their seats I informed them that by a letter from Sweden the sad news that the Most High had been pleased to call hence by death, His Royal Majesty of Sweden Adolph Fred- rick King of Sweden, now of glorious memory worthy, and asked if the congregation would as has been custo- mary petition the new King Gustavus for the continua- tion of the same care and privileges under his reign as had been enjoyed by the church under the Glory-worthy predecessors. Whereupon the congregation unani- mously expressed their hearty thankfulness tothe Royal House of Sweden and that they would by no means let such an opportunity go by without testifying the same, and request for their children and posterity the continua- tion of the gracious privilege hereafter as heretofore of obtaining their pastors from Sweden and to this end the following was drawn up, subscribed and sent off the 18th of November, together with the petition of the ministers and of the congregations reading as follows:
To His Most Sacred Majesty
Gustavus, King of Sweden, of the Goths and Vandals
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Heir of Norway, Duke of Sehieswig Holstein Stormaril and Ditmarschen Count of Oldenburg Delmenhorst etc- etc. etc.
The most humble address of the rector, church- wardens and vestry-men of Christina congregation in New Castle county upon Delaware in North America.
May it please Your Majesty:
The many Heavenly blessings showered on the descendants of the ancient Swedes in this country from those illustrious kings that have adorned the throne of Sweden, we acknowledge with the warmest sense of gratitude.
More especially Sire has the unwearied zeal and singular care of your Royal Father in providing for our souls the word of truth, so bound and knit our hearts unto him that his name has always been precious unto us as it is this day. With hearts yet bleeding for the loss of so great a King, a patron and protector of Zion permit us Sire to approach your Royal Throne, conde- scend to accept of our most cordial condolence with your Majesty on the sudden departure of your Royal Father together with our sincere congratulations on your happy accession to the throne of Sweden. It is only the appearance of your Majesty at the helm of so great an Empire as of the sun in his strength, that again enlightens our darkness, dispels the fogs and mists of sorrow. The truly divine virtues that adorn your Sacred person, your unparalleled attachment Sire to the noblest rights of your native country, to the no less joy and delight of your happy subjects, than Glory of the North, than envy of Europe, than admiration of the most distant parts of the world, gives us the firmest assurance of your Majesty's gracious attention to those who though born in another
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country think themselves happy in that their forefathers were born in Sweden.
Filled with this persuasion, Sire, we venture in the most humble manner to implore your royal countenance and protection of the Swedish Church in this country, and that under your auspicious reign we may continue to share the same fatherly care which our ancestors have been happy enough for above a century to enjoy under the beneficial government of your illustrious pre- decessors.
May the King of Kings bless your Majesty with all public and domestic happiness in this world, and when the race is at an end, may your Majesty exchange his earthly crown for a Heavenly one that fadeth not away, are the ardent wishes and earnest prayers of
May it please your Majesty
Your Majesty's most obedient and Most devoted servants, In the name and on behalf of Christina Congregation, LAWRENCE GIRELIUS, Rector. WILLIAM VON NEAMEN, PETER VANDEVER, Church-wardens.
On the 2d of October we had the misfortune that the hangings of the altar and pulpit, which had only a year ago been placed tliere, were shamefully stolen by a de- praved and Godless person, who between one and two in the night, broke in through a window into the church, where there was also a fine altar cover of white linen, which was stolen. At the same time the church at New Castle suffered the same loss, and soon after St.
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Paul's Church in Philadelphia, had its fine red antiqu .: hangings stolen
From love and reverence for God's house, the before mentioned Mrs. Hedges immediately after gave a beau- tiful white altar cloth to the church.
On October 13th, the ministerium and some gentle- men of the Wicacoe congregation in their own namne and in the name of the other churches, called on the new Governor, the Honorable Richard Penn, with a mutual congratulatory address, which was very favora- bly answered by him and both were inserted in the pub- lic papers.
A. D. 1772 .- On the 22nd of January the Church Coun- cil or vestry met in the rectory, to settle the accounts of tlie past years and especially of 1770. The Churchwarden Wm. Vanneamen's account for church reparation of roof and pews, &c., which were looked over and ap- proved as good and correct, and subscribed, but the account of Nils Justis and Justa Walraven for the church property were given to a committee to settle up, next Wednesday the 29th, which was done on the 29th fol- lowing, and Jonas Stedham, Jr .. Swen Justis, Peter Van- dever, Jr., were the committee men.
On the 25th of March we had a general parish meet- ing in which we laid before the congregation (who com- plained that they were left in ignorance how the rector and Church Council manage affairs,) the accounts for the years that I had been here I768, 1769, 1770, and also reminded them of some increase of my salary, as everything now was nearly twice as dear as four years ago. I reminded them of the promise of the vestry that when the needed repairs we.e finished on the church, the pew money which was left should be given to the
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pastor for the increase of his meager pay, see page 49, Sec. 9, and I asked the congregation if they had any- thing against it, and they answered nothing, and gener- ally consented to it; two or three however are always like rotten eggs in the nest, and unwilling to help towards the pastor's salary or support the public religious wor- ship (whose names in hope of their improvement, ) I will not record this time.
The same day the congregation began a subscription for a new bell for the church, which by the . XI of May, amounted to 35{ currency, which was sent by Captain Falconer to London with directions to purchase one as good as he could get for the money, but if it seemed best to give 3 or 4{ more than the sum sent, if he will advance it the congregation will make it up when he should return with the bell.
On the 12th of April, which was Palm Sunday, I preached in Swedish in the forenoon, and in English in the afternoon, and after the close of public service I gathered the youth in the choir in accordance with a public notification given out some Sundays preceding, to examine them in the presence of the whole congre- gation, as I had formerly examined in private on week days Certain of the older also were questioned, par- ticularly on repentance and the Lord's Supper. The youth who were gathered round about the altar did very well in the Catechism, Athenatian creed, and many gave beautiful answers out of the little book, the Bap- tismal Vow, which I had distributed among them, see page 48, among which were in particular Christina Lidenius from my house, Catharine Parlin the late Provost Parlin's daughter, Swen Justis' children, Brita, Debora and Anna, Wmn. Vanneaman's child Johana, John Hendrickson's child Isaac, etc., etc.
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On the 4th of May the Church Council met in the church according to the charter, but as there was noth- ing in particular to be done, after reading and examin- ing the charter, it was resolved not to meet the first Monday in May, except it was necessary to elect new vestrymen, or something of importance required the meeting of the Council.
November 8th. After the close of Divine service in Swedish, the Council informed the congregation that the bell which was sent for to London at the expense of the congregation, had arrived with Capt. Falkoner, in safety, and was now in the church. It was found to be four times as large as the old one and gave a very good sound, that it was believed might be heard five or six miles around if it could be hung properly and suffi- ciently high. But where could we hang it? The old steeple was so rotten that it would be dangerous to hang it therein, besides being so low that the church took away a great part of the sound on the south side. So the pastor suggested a general parish meeting, which was agreed to, and appointed the 18th of this month when the members of the church came together, though not so many as were wished. It was resolved that we would try to build a new steeple or tower at the west end of the church, and of stone.
A subscription was started by those present, and 120£ was raised. It was resolved that in the meantime the old steeple should be so repaired that the bell could be hung in it for the present, which was done.
November 9th, I sent 3£ by Mr. G. Springer to Capt. Falkoner to pay what was lacking on the bell. If that should not be enough Mr. Springer is to make it up.
After much labor and riding around among the more
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wealthy parishioners, I have succeeded in getting new hangings with all their appurtenances for the pulpit, of crimson silk damask, and they are so made that they can be taken down by the wardens every time they are used and not left in the church to be stolen as the others were. Money was also collected for an altar cov- ering.
The material could not be found in Philadelphia, but Mr. Fleeson, the upholsterer, sent to New York. The greater part of the congregation are very much pleased. The list of those who have given for these as also for the bell and the tower (if that shall go up), shall be collected together and deposited with the church acts and accounts, so that in time to come it may be seen who they were that honored God's house.
N. B .- The altar coverings were ready the 29th of May following, 1773, and were of the same stuff as that on the pulpit.
December. IIth, vestry met in the priest-house at which time,
Ist. The accounts for the last year, 1771, were ex- amined and settled.
2d. Nils Justis, the attorney resigned his agency for time to come, and Peter Petersson wished to withdraw from the Church Council before the 16th of January, 1773, when the rents for this year would come in.
Therefore the present trustees or attorneys ought to bring in to the vestry a statement of all the church's bonds and give an exact account of all the yearly income that the church now has, and a new power of attorney be drawn up for a future trustee or collector of ground rents, &c., &c. What had thus far been given to two men, the pastor believed could now be done by one
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alone, since, finally the accounts have been set on a tol- erably good footing.
It was resolved that for the transaction of the above mentioned business, the vestry should meet at the rec- tory the 5th of the incoming January.
3d. John Augusta asked if he might not be released from paying burial fees for his father-in-law, John Springer, at the rate required of strangers, because he had been prevented from frequenting the church by blindness, which was assented to, and also for the two blind sisters-in-law, when they should die.
Joseph Stedham exhibited a drawing of the intended church tower which was approved of.
December 12th the new bell was hung in the old church steeple.
A. D. 1773 .- January 6th at a meeting of the vestry in the parsonage house according to appointment.
Ist. Mr. Nils Justis and Justa Walraven declined as joint attorneys for the church, delivered up the book of accounts, bonds, etc., to the minister and vestry, and the thanks of the vestry being voted to Mr. Nils Justis and Justa Walraven for the faithful performance of their duty during the 12 years they had been in office, were accordingly discharged.
2d. Mr. Justa Walraven was chosen collector and at- torney for the congregation and after the vestry had executed to him a power of attorney and taken a bond of trust for him for the faithful performance of his office, the bonds and book of accounts, etc., were delivered to him again.
3d. Upon a motion being made with the consent and permission of the minister if more English might not be preached, and English service oftener performed in
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this church at least during the winter season, when on account of the roughness of the weather, but few of the Old Swedes can go out. After some debate upon this matter it was resolved, that henceforth there should be English services two Sundays and the third Sunday Swedish, during the winter season when the minister shall think proper or begin to preach in the afternoon.
4th. A motion was made that whereas those who by birth have a right to the benefits and privileges of this church, but by withdrawing themselves from the public worship in it without lawful let or impediment for months and years and from contributing yearly to the support of the minister and upholding of the church, have by the ancient laws of this corporation forfeited the same, and are ipsofacto not members at all of this society.
Whether upon the same principle of justice and equity those who cordially join in worship of God in this church as many have done for several years past and now do, if they should not be invested with those privileges for- feited by the former, chiefly be buried, they and their children free from paying for breaking of the ground as strangers.
Resolved unanimously that they who are orderly in their conduct of good moral life frequent the public worship in this church and yearly contribute toward sup- port of minister and the church have henceforth though not by birth, yet by virtue of this law, a right to be buried free from paying for breaking of the ground, as long as they continue in the communion of the church and perform the before-mentioned duties, they and their children forever.
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