USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 60
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The rector reports 18 baptisms within the past year.
Besides the church at Beechwood, Sunday services are now regularly performed at Pleasantville, in this parish, where a good congregation has been gathered and incorporated under the ti- tle of " St. John's Church in the town of Mount Pleasant." A lot has been purchased and a church edifice of stone is now
718
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
being erected upon it .. The rector of White Plains has been engaged on stated Sundays in performing divine services here.
St. Mary's Church, Beechwood. -
HISTORY
OF THE
PARISH AND CHURCH
OF
UPPER MORRISANIA.
St. Paul's church, which was formerly included in the paro- chial limits of St. Ann's, Morrisania, was on the 30th of May, 1853, erccted into a seperate parish. It was first organized by the fourth rector, in the new village of Morrisania, on the 8th of July, 1847. Services from that date were regularly held every Sunday afternoon, in a room engaged for that purpose, until Easter Monday, March, 31st, 1850, when the new and beautiful church building (the corner stone of which was laid by the Rt. Rev. William Rollinson Whittingham, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland, on the 15th of September, 1849) was opened for the first service; the rector reading prayers, preach- ing and administering the Holy Communion to a large number of communicants. On the 22d day of June it was solemnly consecrated to the worship and service of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, by the same Rt. Rev. Prelate, who in the preceding September had laid its corner stone.
Iterumque aut Christi Majorum Gloriam Individuæque Tri- nitatis. Amen.
-
720
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
The following notice of its consecration appeared in the Epis- copal Recorder for June, 1550 :- " Saturday, June 22d A. M., the Bishop consecrated St. Paul's chapel, in St. Ann's parish, Morrisania village. The Instrument of Donation was read by the Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, D. D., Morning Prayer was said by the Rev. Messrs. Rodman and Storrs, the Rev. C. W. Bol- ton reading the Lessons. The Ante-Communion service was said by the Bishop, the Rev C. D. Jackson reading the Epistle, the sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Hawks. In the ad- ministration of the Holy Communion the Bishop was assisted by the rector, Rev. Dr. Haight and Rev. Mr. Jackson.
This beautiful church, which reflects great credit on the architect, Mr. Jackson, owes its existence, under God, to the zealous and persevering efforts of the rector, the Rev. Mr. Car- ter. In the new village which sprung up in his parish, and which was rapidly increasing in population, he determined that the Church should be permamentty planted. He found some warm hearts and liberal hands to sympathize with and to aid him, and the result has been the erection of the edifice, which was this day solemnly dedicated to the worship and service of the Triune God."
St. Paul's church is erected upon an acre of ground which the vestry of St. Ann's had purchased from Charles Bathgate, Esq., as will appear from the records of the vestry. It was built from plans furnished by and under the direction of Thomas R. Jackson, Esq., an architect of New-York. Its full dimensions, including the tower and chancel, are 30 by SO feet, and is intended to seat between three and four hundred persons. It is con- structed of wood in the gothic style. The chancel window is a triplet filled with richly stained glass. In the compartments of the central light are represented the Spiritus Dei, the Cross and the Agnus Dei; the southern and northern lights contain the All Seeing Eye, the paten, emblem of the Trinity, and chalice, connected by scrolls bearing the following legend :- " We preach Jesus Christ, and Him cruci-
721
AND CHURCH OF UPPER MORRISANIA.
fied." The roof is of the simplest construction, displaying the open rafters and braces to great advantage. The font and cover are of black walnut. The bell, manufactured by Andrew Meneely, of West Troy, was purchased by subscription, and weighs 700lbs. The organ was built by Mr. Erben, of New- York, and cost $600.
Upon the 1st of September, 1853, the
REV. BENJAMIN AKERLY, A. M.
was called to the rectorship.
The number of Communicants belonging to this parish are 44
NIN
St. Paul's Church, Upper Morrisania.
46' J
HISTORY
OF THE
PARISH AND CHURCH
OF
PORT CHESTER.
This church (after existing for nearly eighteen years as a chapelry of Christ Church, Rye) was organized agreeable to law in 1853. Services were first established here by the Rev. Peter S. Chauncey, in December, 1836. · The present rector is the
REV. ISAAC PECK. 1
The church edifice is a small and very unpretending struc- ture of wood, not distinguished either externally or internally by architectural elegance ; and consists of a nave and chancel only, and has a bell in its wooden tower, which crowns the northern end.
HISTORY
OF THE
PARISH AND CHURCH
OF
TUCKAHOE.
This parish (after existing for more than half a century, as a chapel of St. John's, Yonkers; having had its connection with the above mentioned parish severed by an act of the vestry thereof ) was organized according to law on the 18th of July, 1853, and the
REV. CHARLES JONES, A. M.
1
chosen rector.
The church edifice was erected A. D. 1798, during the rector- ship of the Rev. Elias Cooper, upon land, the gift of the late John Bowne, Esq. It has lately undergone considerable repairs, a chancel and commodious vestry room having been added, and the pews remodelled. Upon the 29th of June, 1847, it was consecrated to the service of Almighty God, under the name of St. John's Chapel, Tuckahoe, by the Rt. Rev. William Heath-
.
724
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
cote de Lancey, D. D. L.L. D. The consecration sermon being preached by the Rev. Thomas W. Coit, D. D. late rector of New Rochelle.
Half an acre of land has recently been presented to the Cor- poration by John and Elias Cooper, sons of the late John Bowne, Esq., upon which the vestry have erected a neat parsonage. The number of Baptisms for the year 1835, were three. Com- municants, sixteen.
St. John's Church, Yonkers, erected by Col. Frederick Philipse, A. D. 1753.
1
HISTORY
OF THE
PARISH AND CHURCH
OF
FORDHAM.
The manor of Fordham, which now forms one of the three divisions of West Farms, was originally included within the parish limits of Westchester. The name itself is of Saxon origin, and compounded of the two words Ford (ford) Ham (mansion.)
In 1646, we find the whole of Fordham as well as the Yon- kers land in the possession of Adriaen Vander Donck, whose widow, Mary, conveyed them to her brother, Elias Doughty. The latter, in 1666, sold them to Mr. John Archer, of Westches- ter, who, in 1669, obtained a confirmation thereof from the In- dian sachem Sachareth. In 1671, Francis Lord Lovelace, Governor of the Province, erected the same into the manor of Fordham. From the Archers, the manor passed through the Steenwycks in 1684, " to the Nether Dutch Reformed Congre- gation, within the city of New York, for the support and main- tenance of their ministers, ordained according to the Church orders of the Netherlands, &c." Through the liberality, how- ever, of Mrs. Margaret Steenwyck, three hundred acres were
726
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
exempted from the conveyance to the Dutch Church, upon which was situated the old manorial residence, where a des- cendant of the original proprietor now resides.
The family of Archer is of English origin, and held, for many centuries, large possessions in the county of Warwick. Fulbert L'Archer, the first of whom anything is known, came into England with William the Conqueror. 'The representative of the senior branch A. D. 1600, appears to have been John Archer, of Warwickshire. At what period they emigrated to this country is uncertain, but as early as 1630, occurs the name of Samuel Archer, a freeman of Salem, Mass. John Archer, the first proprietor, accompanied the early settlers from Fairfield to Westchester in 1654. He died in 1685. His eldest son, John Archer, was elected a vestryman for the precinct of Yonkers in 1703, an office which he held for nearly seven years.
Little is known concerning the early history of religion here except, that as early as 1671, the inhabitants residing between the two kills of Harlem and the Bronx, were obliged to con. tribute towards the support of a minister. In 1696, a society was organized here by the Collegiate Dutch Reformed congrega- tion of New York, the Rev. John Montaigne, being minister.
Col. Lewis Morris, writing to the Society in 1709, says :- " I have used some endeavours to persuade the Dutch in my neighborhood into a good opinion of the Church of England, and have had that success, that they would, I believe, join a great part of them in the sacraments and worship, had they Dutch Common Prayer Books and a minister that understood their language. I have taken some pains with one of their ministers, one Mr. Henricus Beyse, and have prevailed on him to accept of Episcopal ordination."
" The old Dutch meeting house, erected in 1706, which has long since been destroyed, stood on the farm of Mr. James Valentine.a Its last minister, prior to the Revolution, was the Rev. John Peter Tetard.
a The following inscription is taken from the foundation stone of this edifice :--- "I. V. S. 1706."
727
.
AND CHURCH OF FORDAM.
Numerous residents of the manor of Fordham experiencing much inconvenience in attending Episcopal services, on account of having no place of worship, and considering moreover, in the great increase of the population, that the cause of the Church might suffer by having no spiritual provision made for her members where the wants of other Denominations are so amply considered, called a meeting which assembled at the house of William Alexander Smith, Esq., on the 5th of July, 1853, for the purpose of organizing a parish, and adopting such measures as would most effectually conduce to the same. Oswald Cam- mann, Esq. in the chair, William Watson Waldron, acting as Secretary. It was then and there resolved :- " That the per- sons present do proceed to incorporate themselves as a religious society in communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and that the said Church and congregation be known in law, by the name and title of 'the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of St. James' Church in the manor of Fordham, town of West Farms, county of Westches- ter.' The meeting proceeded to choose two churchwardens and eight vestrymen for the said Church, when the following per- sons were elected : Lewis G. Morris and William Alexander Smith, churchwardens. Oswald Cammann, Francis McFarlan, William Watson Waldron, George Bement Butler, Samuel R. Trowbridge, Gulian Ludlow Dashwood, William Ogden Giles, and Nathaniel Platt Bailey, vestrymen."
The vestry have recently purchased two acres of ground, on which it is intended to erect a church edifice in place of the present building they now occupy, which was originally the old manor school-house.
In November, 1854, the vestry called the
REV. JOSHUA WEAVER, A. M.
to the rectorship.
There is a very handsome communion service of silver, con-
728
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
sisting of two chalices, a flagon and paten, on which is in- scribed the following :- " Presented by the ladies of the parish, A. D. 1854."
A baptismal font and a lectern were presented by the rector.
William W. Waldron, by the donation of two hundred vol- umes, has founded a parochial library for the benefit of all young persons resident in the parish.
St. James' Church, Fordham, from a sketch in the possession of Wm. W. Waldron, A. B.
1
APPENDIX A.
MR. WETMORE TO THE SECRETARY.
(EXTRACT.) "New- York, June 24th, 1726. REV. SIR,
I wrote by the last ship to acquaint you, that the people of Rye had given me a call, and my acceptance of it on condition the Honorable Society will give leave for my removal from New-York, which the churchwardens and vestry of that parish having petitioned for, I concur with them, and request that I may know the Honorable Society's plea- sure therein before the winter. Upon the urgent desire of the church- wardens and vestrymen, with Mr. Jenney, I have promised to officiate there every third Sunday, 'till the Society's further pleasure be known ; and for securing the glebe, and to prevent any difficulties that might herat arise by the different factions in the parish, I have received in- duction as Mr. Jenney did at Hempstead, immediately upon his call there, which is thought necessary to prevent the destruction of the glebe, and to preserve the peace of the parish, or resisting any attempts that the enemies of the Church might make, for the Dissenters in that par- ish are numerous, and would do what lies in their power to raise diffi- culties ; and though the chief of that party seem now well pleased, and gave their vote in my call, yet we may expect Dissenting ministers in the neighboring towns will be very busy among the people while destitute of a minister, and I am told they have already concluded to fix and ordain within the parish, one who is a very troublesome man."*
* New York, MSS. from archives at Fulham, vol. i. p. 27-36. (Hawks.)
APPENDIX B.
The consecration of the new church at Rye took place March 15th, 1855. The following notice of the event is taken from the Churchman for March 22nd :-
" NEW-YORK .- On Thursday, March 15th, the new and beautiful building of Christ Church, Rye, was consecrated by the Provisional Bishop, attended by twelve of his elergy, all in surplices.
The procession, headed by the Bishop, entered the church from the sacristy, moved down the south aisle to the west door, and thence up the central alley to the chancel. The instrument of donation and request was read by the rector, the Rev. E. C. Bull. Morning prayer was said by the Rev. Mr. Chauncey, formerly rector of the parish, and the Rev. Mr. Purdy, a scion of one of the oldest families in the place. The ser- mon was preached by the Bishop, from the words of the Psalmist, 'O how amiable are thy dwellings : thou Lord of Hosts.' (Psalm 84, 1.) It set forth the duty and the delight of thus setting apart, for ever, one little spot of clay which should thenceforth be sacred to the service and honor of God, and whence should flow forth sources of comfort and spiritual joy in the Church, to innumerable souls in future ages.
The weather was unfavorable, but the attendance was large, and all present took evidently a deep interest in this evidence of the prosperity of an ancient parish. The presence of the choir of Christ Church, New-York city, added not a little to the services of the day.
The new building is after the design of Mr. Dudley, and is a remark- ably fine specimen of his tastefulness and skill. The material is brown stone, hammercd, with sills and dressings nicely cut. It consists of chancel and sacristy, nave, aisles and porch, with bell turret and spire, all of stone. Orientation is observed. There is no clere-story proper, but the triple division is given in the interior by posts and arches sup- porting the stecp roof, and giving an excellent effect. The inside is finished plain, with simple color. The chancel is deep, having a three light window over the altar, and a similar one at the west end of the
732
APPENDIX.
nave, over the organ loft. The windows are all filled with pattern glass, that over the altar bearing in a medallion the monogram. The nave is of three bays, the aisles having a two light window in each bay. The chancel arrangements are not altogether satisfactory, there being a reading-pew on the north side and a pulpit on the south. This pew, the pulpit and the Bishop's chair, on the right of the altar, are all but- ternut. The chancel is properly divided into choir and sanctuary by a light rail. The tower is at the south-west corner of the nave, and pro- jects diagonally from the western wall. In the upper stage it is broken into an open octagon, and finished with a stone spire, the treatment of the whole being the boldest, most original and most successful feature of the design. The church will seat about 350 persons. It has cost about $13,000, which is nearly all paid, and the small balance is suffi- ciently provided for."
INDEX.
Akerly Rev. Benjamin, 721. Adams John, a promoter of Episco- pacy, 98.
All Saints, Briar Cliff, chapel of, 662, 663, 664.
Anabaptists, conversion of, 269. Antinomians, persecuted by Indepen- dents, 131.
Archer John, 725, family of, 726. Ashurst Sir Henry, notice of; pre- sents bell to French Church, N. Y., 478.
Assembly, act of, for settling a minis- try, 4, 135; better explanation of, 32
Auchmuty Rev. Mr., his letters to Secretary of V. P. S., 470, 496, 497.
Avery Rev. Ephraim, birth of, &c., teaches school in N. J. 313 ; Or- dination of, and appointment to Rye, 314; admission, institution and induction of, by Gov. Cold- den, 315 ; salary of, 316 ; literary honor awarded to, 318 ; persecu- tion of, 320 ; murder of and exe- cution of the murderer, 321, 322; Mr. Seabury details circumstan- ces of his death, 322 ; inscription· to wife of, 323, 324.
Avery, his letters to Secretary of V P. S., 217, 321.
Babcock Rev. Luke, birth of, &c., 504; conforms to the Church, 239; his voyage to England for Holy Or- ders, appointed to the mission of Philipsburgh, 504; receives the degree of M. A. from King's Col- lege, N. Y. ; protests against the Whigs; his letter to the Secre- tary of V. P. S,. 505; seizure, cruel treatment and death of, 506, 507, 508 ; monument to, 523.
Babcock Col. Harry, notice of, 508. Baptisms, early records of, where found, 3
Baptists, persecution of, by Indepen- dents, 132.
Baptism, the cross in, how styled by Puritans, 143.
Baptism, license of, to perform in Conn., 165.
Baptists Quaker, why so called, 201. Bartow Rev. John, birth of; inducted to the vicarage of Pampsford, Cambridge; removes to Ameri- ca; Bishop of London's admis- sion of, 10; license from Bishop of London to officiate in N. Y .. 11; mandate from Gov. Corn- bury to induct, 12; first ap- pointed to Rye, 13; commen- ces services at Westchester, 15; attempts of Independents to disturb, 16, 17; confirmed in benefice, 25; free gift of town to, 32; services at New Rochelle, 46; answers to queries of Bis- hop of London, 47; violent op- position to, at Eastchester, 365; admission of at Christ College, Cambridge, 125; death of, &c., 50; his descendants; last will of; 51
Bartow, his letters to Secretary of V. P. S., 13, 15, 22, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 42, 44, 49, 50, 189, 369, 434; letter to Bishop of London, 77.
Barclay Rev. Henry, appointed mis- sionary at Rye, 214; conformity of. 238; his letter to. Secretary of V. P. S., 68.
Bartow Rev. Theodosius, birth of; appointed lay reader ; ordination of; salary; how paid, 473; re-
735
INDEX.
signs his office; vote of thanks to for long service ; death of, 474. Bartow Basil, appointed school-mas- ter at Westchester, 65; liberal donation of, 123.
Barlow Rev. William, obituary notice of, 604.
Bayard Samuel, donation of, 129.
Bayard Rev. Lewis P., birth of, &c .; joins the Church, 476 ; ordination of; officiates at Eastchester ; called to New Rochelle; removes to Geneseo; organises St. Cle- ment's Church, N. Y .; receives honorary degree of D. D. from Geneva College; embarks for the Holy Land; dies at sea on his return, 477, 478.
Baxter Stebbins, bequeathes lands to St. James' Church, North Salem, 572.
Bede the Venerable, describes early mode of building churches, 9.
Bedford, General Court orders, the lay-
.
ing out of; early provision for erection of meeting-house and support of minister ; Mr. Prud- den, Mr. Denham and Mr. Am- bler called; drum and conch shell used instead of bell, 616; annexa- tion of to Rye; obstinate resis- tance to royal edicts ; public pro- perty vested in established min- istry ; choice of vestrymen for ; quota of; town agree to buy house and lot of minister, 617; town taxed for support of min- ister ; forty acres of land voted for minister ; Mr. Morgan called, and agreement with ; proposes to conform ; determination of in- habitants to free themselves from Established Church ; Mr. Jones called, and violation of law for support of; Rev. Alexander Stuart appointed miss., 618 ; Mr. Pritchard protests against ap- pointment; treatment of Mr. Pritchard by Dissenters, and affi- davits in proof of, 619; Mr.
Muirson reports compliance of Dissenters, 620 ; state of Presby- terian Society at; Dissenting teachers officiate without qualifi- cation ; letter from parishioners to Secretary of V. P. S. 621; Mr. Lamson appointed missionary at ; disposition of Dissenters, and removal of New Light minister, 622 ; visited by Mr. Dibblee and St. George Talbot; liberal bene- faction of the latter; great con- fusion attendant on Revolution ; parishioners dispersed ; incorpo- ration of church at; Mr. Bar- tow officiating minister at ; glebe purchased, 623 ; endowment from Trinity Church; Mr. Stre- beck called ; erection of present church edifice ; Mr. Felch settled, 624; succeeded by Mr. Weller ; description of church edifice at; gift of communion silver, 625 ; list of ministers and rectors ; no- titia parochialis, &c., 626; St. Mary's Church attached to, &c., 627.
Bellamont Earl of, author of act for erecting Eastchester into parish, 44.
Beza advocates conformity, 412; ad- dress to Queen Elizabeth, 430.
Bishop's, Prot. Am., first consecration of, 97.
Bishop Suffragan, charge of maintain- ing, 155 ; recommended for Colo- nies, 259.
Bishop's great want of in Plantations, 179, 184.
Bolton Rev. Robert, first services at Pelham, 695; birth and family of, &c., 697.
Bolton Abby, inscription to, 698 ; notice of, 700.
Bolton Elizabeth Rebecca, notice of, 700.
Blackwell Rev. Dr. notice of, 512.
Bondet Rev. Daniel, birth of, &c .; receives Holy Orders from Bis- hop of London ; accompanies
736
INDEX.
French emigrants to Boston, Mass. ; employed by Corporation for P. C. F. I. at New Oxford, 397 ; missionary among Nipmug Indians ; removes to New Ro- chelle; Westchester vestry refuse to call, 398; serves the Frenchi Church at New Rochelle; desti- titute condition of; petitions Lord Cornbury, 399, 400 ; order and report thereon, 401; first Episcopal minister in the county ; manorial tenants pay their pro- portion towards support of, 402; commission of 413; death of wife ; ill treatment of by Dissen- ters; death and interment of; will of, 432 ; bequeathes library to church, 433.
Bondet, his letters to Secretary of V. P. S., 403, 404, 414, 424, 425, 426, 427.
Bonrepos Rev. David, D. D., accom- panies Huguenots in their flight from France ; first French minis- ter at New Rochelle; addresses Gov. Leisler in behalf of French settlers, 395; removes to Rich- mond, Staten Island; conveys his property in New Rochelle to his son Elias; letters of den- ization granted to ; death of, 396. Bonrepos Elias, licensed to keep school at New Rochelle, 396. Brewster Rev. Mr., invited to East- chester, 358.
Bowers Mr. John, 158.
Brown David, epitaph to, 346.
Bridge Rev. Christopher, birth, and education of, 190; appointed as- sistant minister of King's Chapel, Boston; proceeds to England to solicit subscriptions; misunder- standing with Mr. Miles ; re- moves to Narragansett; settle- ment at Rye, 191; commission from Society ; Col. Heathcote, high testimonial in favor of; in- duction at Rye by Gov. Hunter, 193, 194; his summary method
of dealing with Sectaries ; death; of; last will and testament of, 207, 208.
Bridge, his letters to Secretary of V. P. S., 195, 201, 204, 206, 207.
Brooks Rev. Mr., 156, 179, 184.
Buckingham Mr., 212.
Brown James, extract from will of, G11.
Calvin advocates conformity, 412 ; good advice to English reformers, 431.
Camp Rev. Mr. 291.
Carter Rev. Lawson, 478.
Catechising publicly on week days, 18 when and where performed, 48, 57, 228.
Carter Rev. Abraham B. 521. Catechists high testimonial of, 282.
Church, first organization of, in West- chester county ; great progress in New England, 236, 237, 238, 259; terrible confusion and dis- order of during Revolution, 90, 319; preservation and re-organ- ization of, and congeniality with free institutions, 327.
Churchwardens, first election of at Westchester, 9; ibid at Rye, 135. Church rates, protests against collec- tion of,
Churches, law for the erection of, 7, 362; early form of, as described by Bede, 9; provincial method of building, 59.
Churches, closing of during Revo- lutionary war, 91.
Church Bibles, presentation of, by Queen Anne and others, 122, 602, 573.
Church trustees of, rights belonging to, 125.
Church, method of introducing in Conn., 168 ; reformation and de- formation of, 197.
Clark Daniel, appointed catechist at Westchester, 37.
Chandler Mr., catechist at Bedford, 278.
-
INDEX.
737
Chandler Rev. Dr., his letter to Isaac Wilkins, 102.
Clark Rev. Richard S., birth, pa- rentage and education of; sails to England for Holy Orders; li- cense from Bishop of London ; appointed missionary at New Milford, Conn .; removes to Gage- town, New Brunswick; death, and family of, 555.
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