History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc, Part 38

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344

USA > Maryland > Baltimore County > Baltimore City > History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc > Part 38

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ary history, indeed a history running back to the first settlement of Maryland, and be- yond that to the first discovery of these American shores. For it is the distinct glory of the English Church that her ser- vices were the first held on this continent. It is also the glory of the English Church that her services were the first to be held within the borders of Maryland. For in 1629, five years before the colonists of Lord Baltimore arrived at St. Mary's, the services of the Church of England were established and maintained by a duly ordained clergy- man at Claiborne's trading post on Kent Island. That the English Church spread rapidly after the advent of Lord Baltimore's followers (most of whom were members of the Church of England) is testified by a Jesuit provincial who writes, in 1642: "By far the greatest number of the colonists are "heretics," that is, not Roman Catholics but "English Catholics," as they were then called.

In 1692 the Church of England was es- tablished by law in Maryland and thus be- came the "State Church." The same act which established the Church of England divided the colony into parishes, with defi- nite boundaries. The parish in which Bal- timore was afterwards to be situated was designated "St. Paul's Parish." Its boun- daries extended from the Patapsco river on the south to the Pennsylvania State line on the north, and from the then county line on the west to the Chesapeake Bay on the east, and to the Middle river, and Western run on the northeast. The same act which de- termined these boundaries directed the free- holders of each parish to meet by appoint- ment of the county justices to elect six ves- trymen. The freeholders of "Patapsco

Hundred," as this portion of the colony was then called, met at once and selected a ves- try. No record remains of that first meet- ing save in the copy of the records (the rec- ords being lost) of the Baltimore County Court for the year 1693, where it is record- ed: "We, the vestrymen of Patapsco Hun- dred, met together at the house of Maj. John Thomas" and determined "that at Pettete's old field was the most convenient place to erect a church and also appointed John Gay to be Clerk of the Vestry." Just where this first St. Paul's Church was erected is now definitely known. It was undoubtedly on Patapsco Neck, six or eight miles from the present city limits. Rev. Dr. Allen states it was at Dorsey's Mills. It was probably constructed out of rude logs, according to the customs as well as the necessities of the day. :

According to the official returns to the County Court for the year 1694, St. Paul's Parish contained two hundred and thirty- one taxable inhabitants, who paid for church rates 8,240 pounds of tobacco, which was equal to about $226.

The first clergyman who ministered in the county was the Rev. John Yeo, who was the rector of the adjoining parish of St. John to the northeast, about the year 1682; but in the year 1702 the first regular rector as- sumed charge of St. Paul's Parish in the person of the Rev. William Tibbs, who came hither from England and continued his successful ministry until 1732.

Several unsuccessful attempts were made to erect a permanent church edifice in place of the original log structure above men- tioned; but it was not until 1702 that a church was erected of brick on the same site. This building continued in use until

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the congregation removed to Baltimore Town in 1739. It gradually decayed until in 1765 it was in ruins, and the bones of the dead, who had been interred around it, were removed to the town cemetery.

It is evident that the congregation rap- idly outgrew its early home, for on the 2d of January, 1728, a committee was ap- pointed by the vestry to purchase a new site for a church. This committee bought two acres of ground on the Old York road, but in the following year decided to aban- don this site and to build at "Edward Fell's," who lived east of Jones' Falls. But the creation of a new town in this neighbor- hood the subsequent year led to another ac- tion, as is recorded in the following act passed by the General Assembly of Maryland on the 16th of June, 1730. It provided for "the building of a church in Baltimore county and in a town called Baltimore Town, in St. Paul's Par- ish." Bacon, in his history, says: "The act of 1727 having empowered the vestrymen to purchase one or more acres of land and thereon to erect a parish church, in pur- suance whereof land was purchased but not built on, and the same being inconvenient, the present act empowers the vestrymen and church wardens to purchase a lot in Balti- more Town, and to cause a church to be built thereon, which shall be the parish church of the said parish, and be called St. Paul's Church, and directs the tobacco to be raised by the aforesaid act to be applied to the building of a church in the town aforesaid." The town site was purchased in 1730 and lots were marked off, con- taining about one acre each. In the very first year of the history of the new town, and among the very first lots to be selected,

the vestry of St. Paul's Parish selected Lot 19, as numbered on the original town plot. This lot was the most elevated part of the town site and extended from Charles street to St. Paul street, and from Saratoga street to below Lexington street. As soon as the lot had been secured steps were taken to erect a church edifice upon it. The centre of the lot was set apart for the building, while the rest of the ground was to be con- secrated for burial purposes. The church was not completed until 1739. Its walls, built of brick, were fifty feet long, twenty- three feet wide and eighteen feet high. It faced Lexington street. As the first Ger- man Reformed Church (the next in Balti- more in point of time) was not erected until 1750, it will appear that St. Paul's Church was the only church in the town for almost twenty years.

The Rev. Mr. Tibbs died in 1732 and was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Hooper, who died in 1739 and was buried in the new church. He had been rector for seven years. He was succeeded by the Rev. Ben- edict Bourdillon, whose administration last- ed from 1739 to 1743.

In 1741 the second Episcopal church was erected, not in the city, but a few miles dis- tant from it, to accommodate "the forest in- habitants," for whom the rector found the parish church inconvenient. This church was what is known as "A Chapel of ease," and was situated at Garrison Forest. It was built by private subscription with the understanding that whenever the Rev. Mr. Bourdillon's rectorship should terminate it was to be created a separate parish. This was done in 1745 and the new parish took the name of St. Thomas Parish.

The Rev. Thomas Chase became rector

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of St. Paul's Parish in 1744 and continued as such for thirty-five years. He died in 1779. His administration was most suc- cessful. His son, Samuel, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence from Maryland.

In the first year of the rectorship of the Rev. Dr. William West it was resolved to build a new church on the site of the old. A lottery was authorized and held, as was customary in those days, which netted $33,443 for the purpose. The new church was opened on May 30, 1784.

In 1791 a rectory was built on ground donated by John Eager Howard, Esq., on Saratoga street, at the head of Liberty street. This house is still in use, and is in an excellent state of preservation.

After the American Colonies had estab- lished their independence from England, it became necessary for the adherents of the English Church to conform themselves to the new political order of things. The dif- ferent colonies were constituted dioceses. In the year 1780 the first convention of Maryland was held at Chestertown, Kent county, on November 9th. At this conven- tion the earliest use was made of the legal title which has since become the name of the whole church throughout the land. The minutes of the convention state that "On the motion of the Secretary (the Rev. John James Wilmer, of Kent county) it was pro- posed that the church known in the prov- ince as Protestant be called 'The Protestant Episcopal Church,' and it was so adopted."

St. Paul's Church continued to be the only Episcopal church in Baltimore until 1797, when Christ Church was founded. Its congregation has always contained some of

the most prominent families of Baltimore, and although now far "down town" it is still a strong centre of religious life and energy, quite equal to any in the city. So rapid was its growth in the early part of this century that a new church was found neces- sary in 1814. The old site, in the centre of the lot, was abandoned and the new edi- fice was erected on the corner of Charles and Saratoga streets, about where the present church stands. Its dimensions were 126 feet by 84 feet. It is described as having been "spacious and noble," with a portico in front supported by four fluted marble col- umns. The steeple was regarded one of the handsomest in the country. It was by far the most imposing church in Baltimore and cost $142,500. It was dedicated in 1817. On the 29th of April, 1854, it was destroyed by fire, but was immediately replaced by the present noble structure, it being com- pleted in 1856. This is thus the fiftli edifice which has borne the name of St. Paul's Church. It is a remarkable fact that every rector this parish has ever had has died in office. No one has ever left it. It is also remarkable that all of its rectors who have died since the middle of the last century lie buried in the Parish Burial Ground, which is situated at German, Lombard and Fremont streets.

The honorable history of this noble par- ish will be thus seen to cover a period of over two hundred years. Its succession of rectors since the Rev. Dr. West has been: The Rev. J. G. J. Bend, D. D., 1791-1812; the Rev. James Kemp, D. D. (elected Suf- fragan Bishop of Maryland in 1814, but con- tinued to serve also as rector of St. Paul's until his death in 1827), 1812-1827; the Rev.

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William E. Wyatt, D. D., 1827-1864; the Rev. Milo Mahan, D. D., 1864-1870; the Rev. J. S. B. Hodges, S. T. D., 1870 to the present time.

In 1886 the parish house on Cathedral street, at the rear of the rectory, was erect- ed. Its lower rooms are used for parochial purposes, while its .upper stories afford pleasant apartments for working-women at very reasonable rates.

St. John the Baptist Church, on Barre street, is now under the care of St. Paul's Church. Here also a fine parish house has recently been erected. St. Paul's also main- tains an Orphanage for Girls, Charles and Twenty-fourth streets, and a School for Boys, on Franklin street near Charles, and has a mission chapel at Avalon. Its pres- ent number of communicants is 610. Its endowment fund is $35,000.

CHRIST CHURCH.

The second Episcopal church in Balti- more was organized in "Old Town" to ac- commodate those living east of Jones' Falls. In 1796 a church building was purchased by St. Paul's vestry from the First German Reformed congregation for $13,000. It was situated on Baltimore and Front streets, northwest corner. Improvements to the cost of $12,000 were made in this building before it was ready for use by the new con- gregation. A novel condition obtained in the conduct of the affairs of Christ Church. Its temporal interests were administered by the vestry of St. Paul's Parish, while both churches were administered spiritually by two clergymen who were called "associate rectors." They alternated in their ministra- tions at these two churches. This arrange- ment continued for almost thirty years, un-

til the Christ Church congregation estab- lished its independence in 1828. Its first rector was Rev. John Johns, D. D. In 1836 it was decided to obtain a new lot and erect a new church. A site on the corner of Fayette and Gay streets was selected and the present Church of the Messiah was built, at a total cost of $71,700. The Rev. John Johns, D. D., was then rector (1829) and continued in charge until 1842, when he was consecrated Assistant Bishop of Virginia. He was succeeded by the Rev. H. VanDyck Johns, D. D., 1842-1854; the Rev. Francis L. Hawks, D. D., 1854-1863; the Rev. Henry A. Wise, 1865-1869; the Rev. Thomas U. Dudley, D. D., 1869-1875. This church edifice is one of the most inter- esting in the city. It has remained unal- tered until this day, and there are still to be seen the "Slave Galleries" erected high up near the ceiling. It is perhaps the only church in the country where these second galleries are yet to be found. The church is also notable for a very costly marble pulpit and a reading-desk, exactly alike on either side of the chancel. In 1854 a large number of the members of Christ Church purchased a lot at the corner of Cathedral and Read streets, and erected Emmanuel Church. The Rev. Dr. H. Van Dyck Johns resigned the rectorship of Christ Church and accepted charge of Em- manuel Church. This loss greatly weaken- ed old Christ Church. In 1875 the congre- gation, or at least a portion of it, decided to move from this "down town" location to a more desirable portion of the city. The old church was sold by the vestry, but it was bought by various individuals, and is now held by a Board of Trustees appointed by the vestries of Christ and Grace Church-

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es. Its name was changed to the Church of the Messiah.

The Rev. Thomas U. Dudley, D. D., was rector of Christ Church when the change was made in its location. The new church, built out of white marble, is one of the most beautiful in the city. It cost $125,000. It has a parish house immediately in the rear, facing on St. Paul street, the church being on the corner of Chase and St. Paul streets. The Rectory is at 1014 St. Paul street. The Rev. Dr. Dudley was consecrated Assistant Bishop of Kentucky in Christ Church in 1875. He was then succeeded by the Rev. William Kirkus, who served until 1877, when he resigned and became rector of the Church of St. Michael's and All Angels. The Rev. W. F. Watkins, D. D., was rector from 1877 to 1880, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Walter Williams, D. D., who served until his death in 1891. The next rector was the Rev. C. George Currie, 1891 to 1897. He was succeeded by his faithful assistant, the Rev. Edwin Barnes Niver, who is now in charge. The congregation maintains a mission at Fell's Point, known as the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. Christ Church has 498 communicants. It has a Girls' Orphanage on Twenty-first street.

CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.

The good work begun by old Christ Church has been continued in the same edifice under its new name of "The Church of the Messiah," taken in 1875. Though the neighborhood has gradually ceased to be a residential portion of the city, there is still a large population, chiefly of the very poor, to which it administers. The Sunday- school has always been very large, and at present the charitable organizations and re-

ligious societies are in a flourishing condi- tion. One of the notable features of this church is the services for business men held daily except Saturday during Lent, at noon. They are largely attended and greatly ap- preciated. The rectors of the Church of the Messiah have been: Rev. C. C. Penick, from 1875 to 1877, when he was elected Bishop of Cape Palmas, Africa; and the Rev. Peregrine Wroth, who was the Rev. Mr. Penick's assistant, and who has faith- fully served this congregation ever since. Its membership is 518.

ST. PETER'S CHURCH.

The third Episcopal church was erected in 1804 at the southeast corner of Sharp and German streets, and was called St. Peter's Church. From the beginning it was a very strong congregation, and was served by very able rectors, three of whom were elevated to the Episcopate. This church was built in the form of a Greek temple, and was a very stately edifice for its day, having a large seating capacity. For sixty-four years it remained un- changed, but the encroachments of business rendering the situation no longer desirable, it was sold in 1868, and a new edifice was erected in a more populous part of the city, at the corner of Druid Hill avenue and Lan- vale street. The new church, and chapel adjoining at the rear, were completed in two years time, and are among the finest church properties in the city, having been built of white marble. The seating capa- city is very great. A few years ago the in- terior was entirely renovated and enriched and a fine organ erected near the chancel. The number of communicants now is 640. It maintains a Girls' Orphanage. The rec-

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tors of St. Peter's Church have been: The Rev. George Dashiell, 1804-1816; the Rev. J. P. K. Henshaw, D. D., 1816-1844 (when he was consecrated Bishop of Rhode Is- land); the Rev. Thomas Atkinson, D. D., 1844-1853 (resigned to become rector of Grace Church, Baltimore, which he found- ed; in 1853 consecrated Bishop of North Carolina); the Rev. J. D. Morrison, 1853- 1859; the Rev. George D. Cummins, D. D., 1859-1866 (when he was consecrated As- sistant Bishop of Kentucky); the Rev. Ju- lius E. Grammar, D. D., 1866-1892; the Rev. Frederick W. Clampett, D. D., 1893 to the present time. St. Peter's Church has long been remarkable for the large number of men it has furnished to the ministry, over sixty having presented themselves for Holy Orders up to this time.

TRINITY CHURCH.

The first Trinity Church was established in 1809 by the Rev. E. D. Rattoone, to ac- commodate those residing in the extreme eastern part of the city, near Fell's Point. In 1836 this church was sold to Trinity Lutheran congregation. The present Trinity Church was started as a Sunday- school by the Rev. George Leakin, D. D. Its first edifice was on Bank street, west of Broadway, but in 1854 it was sold and the present edifice was built on the corner of Broadway and Pratt street. The Rev. Dr. Leakin continued to serve as rector of this church until 1887, almost fifty years. It was the only charge he ever had. For the past five years the church has been enjoy- ing the rectorship of the Rev. Dr. Gram- mar, formerly rector of St. Peter's Church, under whom the edifice has been greatly improved without and within, and the con- gregation largely increased.

ST. JAMES' FIRST AFRICAN CHURCH.

The history of this church is most inter- esting. In 1824 William Levington, a col- ored man, born in New York, was ordained priest in the Episcopal Church at Philadel- phia by Bishop White. He was the third colored man who had up to that time been admitted to the priesthood in America. Im- mediately he came to Baltimore to seek an opening for work among his people. Mary- land was a slave State, and there was great prejudice against separate churches for the colored race. Notwithstanding great ob- stacles, the Rev. Mr. Levington began to hold services in an "upper room" at the corner of Park avenue and Marion street on the 23d of June, 1824. He also organized a Sunday-school. After much discourage- ment a lot situated on the corner of North and Saratoga streets, was purchased on April 19th, 1825, by James Bosney, Esq., for $2,000, and donated for the erection of a church for colored people. The Rev. Mr. Levington then made a tour to the cities of the North, and raised sufficient funds to erect a brick edifice. This building was consecrated on the 3Ist of March, 1827, and was the first Episcopal Church for colored people south of Mason and Dixon's line. The number of communicants was not more than twenty. On December 12, 1828, thirteen were confirmed, and in 1834 the number was only twenty-one. The Rev. Mr. Levington was rector until 1836, when he died. He was succeeded by a white clergyman, the Rev. Joshua Peterkin, who served only a year. Another white man succeeded him, the Rev. J. N. Mc. Jilton. His rectorship lasted until 1857, and was marked by great vigor. The number of communicants had increased to seventy- eight. The Rev. H. B. Webb served from

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1859 to 1872. He was a colored man. I11 1870 a mission was started by some of the laymen of St. James in a hall on Howard street, where the City College was after- wards built. This mission took the name of St. Philip, and after a checkered existence passed under the charge of Mt. Calvary Church, when its name was changed to the Chapel of St. Mary the Virgin. The Rev. John Rose (white), served both St. James' and St. Philip's for a year. Then applica- tion was made by the Vestry of St. James to the Vestry of St. Paul's to be constituted a mission of St. Paul's. This was granted, and for twelve years St. James was served by the assistants of St. Paul's, the first of whom was the present Bishop of Mil- waukee, Rt. Rev. I. L. Nicholson, D. D. In 1888 the church edifice was pronounced unsafe, and the congregation removed to Howard Chapel, on Park avenue, near Hoffman street. In 1886 the old church · was sold for $5,000, and the present edifice on High street near Lexington was pur- chased in 1890 from the Fourth Baptist Church. It cost $10,000. It was remodel- led and embellished and opened for divine service in December of that year. The rec- tor then was the Rev. J. C. Anderson (white); but he was succeeded in 1891 by the present rector, the Rev. George F. Bragg, Jr. (colored), whose marvelous zeal and devotion have increased the communi- cants to 165. The Board of Missions lends some financial support, but the congrega- tion is fast moving toward independence. Several young colored men have entered Holy Orders from this congregation.

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

In 1837 this church on South High street

was established by the Rev. Dr. John Johns, rector of old Christ Church. It had a very successful history for almost half a century, but the large influx to that neigh- borhood of Polish Jews has recently serious- ly impaired its useful career. Its membership is not large, but it is exceedingly loyal, and has resisted all attempts to remove the church to another site or to abandon its ser- vices. Its later rectors have been : The Rev. John S. Miller, the Rev. H. Page Dyer, and the Rev. Robert G. Osborne. Its present rector is the Rev. J. Woods Elliott. The first rector was the Rev. Horace Stringfel- low, Jr.

CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOUR.

The growth of the city towards the north- east called for the erection of another church east of the Falls in 1844. At first the new congregation took the name of Cranmer Chapel, but it was afterwards changed to the Church of Our Saviour. Its location on Broadway, just opposite to the Johns Hopkins Hospital, renders it a con- venient place of worship for the officers and nurses of this large institution. Its rector has charge of the services of the Episcopal Church held in the hospital. The last rec- tor was the Rev. Carroll E. Harding, who resigned January 1, 1898. The member- ship is 262. The first rector was the Rev. B. H. Latrobe.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

The rapid growth of the village of Hunt- ingdon, now called Waverly, led to the erection of a beautiful stone church there in 1846. The Rev. H. Hewitt was the first rector. A large tract of land was secured, upon which has also been erected a rec-

James. S. Angrand.

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tory, a parish school, and an orphanage, while a goodly portion has been conse- crated for the cemetery. The village is now included in the city. The church has done a good work in thecommunity and is still full of activity under the rectorship of the Rev. Francis H. Stubbs, who has been in charge since 1879. The number of communicants is 226. It maintains an orphanage for boys.

ST. MARK'S CHURCH.

The first church to be erected in the west- ern portion of the city was St. Mark's Church, in 1846, on Lombard street near Parkin. Its first rector, who was largely instrumental in its erection, was the Rev. Dr. McFarlane. The edifice is built of stone, and has a chapel at the rear. A com- fortable rectory was built a few years ago next to the church on the west. The more prominent rectors have been: The Rev. Fleming James, D. D .; the Rev. George Kinsolving (now Bishop of Texas). The present rector is the Rev. George M. Click- ner, who has been in charge six years. The membership is 202.

CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION.

This important congregation began its life in 1839. It worshiped in a room for several years. A church on Lexington street near Pine was erected in 1846. This property was sold in 1869, and a new white marble church and chapel were erected on Lafayette Square. A beautiful stone rec- tory was built some ten or twelve years ago immediately adjacent to the church. In 1873 the church was almost totally de- stroyed by fire; but it was immediately rebuilt. The congregation has always been a vigorous one and greatly given to good

works. Its Sunday-school has long been notable for its numbers and efficiency. The most prominent rectors have been: The Rev. Mr. Calloway and the Rev. Campbell Fair, D. D. The present rector is the Rev. Charles Coleman Griffith, whose adminis- tration began about a decade ago. The membership is 642.

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Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1344

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344