USA > New York > The centennial history of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of New York, 1785-1885 > Part 19
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for ordination, which began about 1744, "a temporary log house, with a fire-place in it," was erected. This building stood about two miles from the present location of the church.
In the year 1770 the Rev. John Sayre, being in charge of the mission, which was then known as "Newburgh and parts adjacent," obtained " a charter of incorporation " from George the Third, for each church, viz., " by the name of St. George's, Newburgh, in the County of Ulster, St. Andrew's Church, in the precinct of Walkill, in the County of Ulster, and St. Da- vid's Church, in the County of Orange ; all dated the 30th of July, 1770." By a change in the limits of Ulster County St. George's, Newburgh, and St. Andrew's, Walden, became sit- uated in Orange County. Accordingly, churches were imme- diately begun at St. David's and St. Andrew's ; but the former was never completed. St. Andrew's Church is de- scribed as follows in the quaint historical record: Having raised £400, " they immediately set about building a church and a house for a sexton on ten acres of land given by Mr. Peter Du Bois for that purpose, and in less than twelve months completed a very handsome church of 56 feet by 44, with pulpit, reading desk, chancel, and pews, and two rows of large glass windows, so as to admit of galleries when wanted, the whole well painted."
I will quote again from this history, written probably by Cadwallader Colden, Jr., on the effect of the Revolution upon, the Church. After speaking of Mr. Sayre's sudden departure just before war, he says : " The troubles that soon ensued put an end to all Church matters in this part of the country, for the pulling down and overturning the church seemed among many of the Dissenters the prevailing motives that often in- fluenced them in party matters. Indeed, it was the political engine of the day, consequently every Churchman was perse- cuted under the name of a Tory or Loyalist ; so that of the few that were heretofore zealous in the cause of the Church, most of them have either been driven entirely out of the coun- try, or are so reduced that it is not in their power to encour- age the re-establishment of Church discipline and worship, unless assisted by the more opulent brethren in other parts.
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Happily the church itself, or building at St. Andrews, escaped the depredation of the times, and remains in good condition, except most of the glass, that has been broken by some mis- chievous boys, chiefly since the war. But it serves now only as a monument, to show to what we were once aspiring, and to what we are now fallen."
In spite of constant efforts, the services were not resumed after the Revolution until 1790.
In 1826 it was resolved to erect a church edifice, to be called Trinity Chapel, in the village of Walden, about two miles from St. Andrews, the then site of St. Andrew's church. The new church was consecrated by Bishop Hobart, Sep- tember 3, 1827, and then became the parish church, and the old church at St. Andrews being abandoned, was afterward sold.
The wisdom of this change of location is proved by the fact that Village St. Andrews now consists of only a few houses, while Walden has a population of 2,500. In 1829 the parish sold all its property at St. Andrew's except the burying ground, and built a rectory in the village of Walden. The above-mentioned church and rectory were sold, and a beau- tiful brick church with a spacious rectory were built in 1871- 1872, upon a corner lot in the center of the village. In 1884 a fine parish house was built upon the same lot.
TRINITY CHURCH, NEW ROCHELLE .*
No report was received from this parish, and the following particulars as well as those concerning Christ Church, Rye, are obtained chiefly from Bolton's History of the Church in Westchester County and from the Journals of the Convention. The first settlers in New Rochelle were a band of Huguenots or French Protestants, who had sought refuge in England in 1681. A church was organized at the beginning of the settle- ment, which maintained the Articles, Liturgy, Discipline and Canons of the Reformed Church in France. Their first church was built of wood about 1692-3. The pastor who ac- companied them was Rev. David Bonrepos, D.D .; nothing is known of his ministry and it must have been of brief dura-
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tion. His successor was Rev. Daniel Bordet, A.M., a French- man, but a refugee, who accompanied a colony which reached Boston in 1686. He had received Holy Orders in London from Bishop Compton. He probably reached New Rochelle in 1695. Negotiations working towards conformity with the Church of England were begun, in which Rev. John Bartow, Colonel Heathcote and others figure. This was consummated in 1709, and a license to erect a church was given in 1710, and the building of stone began at once and was finished in November of the same year. It stood a little east of the present church. The Venerable Propagation Society extended its usual generous grants in books and money. In 1714, Queen Anne granted the royal charter for the church and ground, and about the same time " the town gave a house and three acres of land adjoining the church for the use of this clergyman forever." Mr. Bordet died in September, 1722, having served the church nearly twenty-six years. Rev. John Bartow supplied services until a successor was ap- pointed, Rev. Pierre Stouppe, A.M., in 1724. A second church, of wood, was built during the incumbency of Rev. Lewis Pintard Bayard, A.M., about 1825. Still a third church, of elaborate Gothic design, in stone, was built but a few years ago. In 1761, Rev. Michael Houdin became rector ; in 1770, Rev. Theodosius Bartow; in 1819, Rev. Ravaud Kearney; in 1821, Rev. Lewis P. Bayard ; in 1827, Rev. Lawson Carter ; in 1839, Rev. Thomas Winthrop Cook, D.D .; in 1849, Rev. Richard Winstead Morgan, D.D., who retired in 1873; in 1874, Rev. J. Henry Watson, and in 1876, Rev. Charles F. Canedy, present incumbent.
From 1724, when the baptismal register begins, to 1853, 108 had been baptized. The communicants, in 1709, were 43; in 1724, 45 ; in 1733, 35 ; in 1750, 68 ; in 1804, 18; in 1819, 27 ; in 1847, 46 ; in 1853, 56, and in 1855, 220.
Under the charter, the wardens in 1762 were Jacob Bleecker and James De Blenz ; in 1793, Abraham Guion and David Guion ; in 1802, Lewis Pintard and David Coutant ; in 1811, David Coutant and Anthony Bartow; in 1821, An- thony Norroway and Herman Le Roy; in 1830, Newberry
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Davenport and Lloyd S. Daubeny ; in 1842, Peter R. Brinck- erhoff and Philip A. Davenport ; and in 1852, John Soulice and Richard Lathers.
CHRIST CHURCH, RYE .*
This parish originally comprised the townships of Rye, Bedford, and Mamaroneck. In 1702, Rev. John Bartow was licensed by the Anglican Bishop Compton to officiate as missionary at Rye. He was, however, transferred to West Chester, and Rev. Thomas Pritchow, A.M., of Welsh descent, who arrived at New York, in April, 1704, succeeded him. Col- onel Heathcote's name appears as correspondent of the Ven. Soc. for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. The new clergyman was heartily welcomed. He married Anna Stuyvesant, granddaughter of Peter Stuyvesant, in 1704, and died in 1705. He was succeeded by Rev. George Morrison, a Scotchman, who was ordained by Bishop Compton, of Lon- don, and reached New York on his return in July, 1705.
A license to erect an "English " church in Rye, bears date January 22, 1706. Every fourth Sunday Mr. Morrison preached at Bedford, he writes, adding, "and I am afraid without success for they are a very wilful, stubborn people in that town." "The town of Rye was very diligent in build- ing our church. It is of stone, 50 foot long, and 36 foot wide, and 20 foot high." He did vigorous missionary duty in all directions, penetrating as far as Stratford, Conn., on a baptiz- ing tour. After a ministry full of usefulness he died Octo- ber 12, 1708. Rev. Mr. Reynolds was licensed and appointed by the Bishop of London to take up the work in Rye, but he had scarcely reached his new home when his commission was revoked, for unknown reasons, and Rev. Christopher Bridge, from England, superseded him, having served a while in Boston and Narragansett. He did not enter upon his work until October, 1710. At his induction the wardens were Captain Joseph Theole, Captain Jonathan Hart and Cor- nelius Seely. The missionary died in May, 1719. His suc- cessor was Rev. Robert Jenney, displacing for some unex- plained reason Rev. Henry Barclay. He informs the Secre-
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tary of the Venerable Society that, since his admission in 1722, he has baptized 60 persons, and that the number of communi- cants is 26. The vestry, in July, 1724, issued the following order : " Whereas, several of ye parish have talked of build- ing pews in ye church, ye vestry have thought fitt to order that there be an ile, of five foot from ye west door to ye communion table, also, an ile of two feet from ye kneeling couch, round ye rails of ye communion table, also, an ile of six foot from ye south door to ye desk, also that there be a partition ile between each sett of pews on ye south side of ye church, of two foot, and that all pews be built to front ye desk." In 1724 it was decided by a majority of votes that "a drum be provided for ye church this year." Mr. Jenney died in January, 1762, after a ministry of more than nineteen years at Rye. The Venerable Society appointed Rev. Mr. Colgan to succeed, but Rev. James Wetmore having already accepted the invitation of the church at Rye, the society considered it withdrawn. After a fruitful ministry of more than thirty years in the parish, he died of small-pox, May 15, 1760. Rev. Ebenezer Punderson, after clashing with a Mr. Palms, appointed by the "Society," entered upon the field in 1762, having previously, after his conversion from Congregational- ism, rendered excellent service in Connecticut under the auspices of the Venerable Society. He died in 1764.
On the 19th of December, 1764, Grace Church, Rye, re- ceived a charter from King George III. In June, 1765, Rev. Ephraim Avery was appointed to the vacant parish. Dying in 1776, he was succeeded by Rev. Isaac Hunt, ordained by the Bishop of London. He died in 1809. Meanwhile, the great political change having been consummated, Mr. Andrew Fowler, a layman, read prayers and sermons on Sun- days, for six months at the close of the war. The parish was reorganized and September 5, 1787, Rev. Richard Channing Moore was elected rector. During this rectorship the second church was erected, displacing the old stone build- ing. Raised to the Bishopric of the Diocese of Virginia in 1814, he was succeeded by Rev. David Foote, and upon his decease, Rev. John Jackson Sands was elected rector in 1793.
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In 1796, Rev. George Ogilvie became rector ; in 1797, Rev. Samuel Haskell; in 1801, Rev. Evan Rogers, who died in 1809. In June, 1809, Rev. Samuel Haskell again became rector, and was followed by Rev. William Thompson in 1823. His successor was Rev. John Murray Forbes, in 1830; in 1832, Rev. W. M. Carmichael; in 1834, Rev. Peter S. Chauncy ; in 1849, Rev. Edward C. Bull; in 1859, Rev. John Campbell White; a vacancy in 1864; in 1865, Rev. Reese Alsop; in 1873, Rev. Chauncey B. Brewster; and in 1882, Rev. Walter Mitchell, who resigned at Easter, 1886.
The corporate name appears to have been changed after the reorganization at the close of the war. The wardens in 1695 were George Lane and John Brondig ; in 1710, Joseph Theole and Jonathan Hart; in 1720, John Haight and Isaac Denham; in 1730, Daniel Purdy and John Glover; in 1740, Daniel Purdy and John Thomas; in 1750, Jeremiah Fowler and Joseph Sherwood ; in 1760, William Willett and Jonathan Brown; in 1770, Joshua Purdy and Benjamin Griffen ; in 1780, Peter Jay and Isaac Purdy ; in 1790, the same; in 1800, John Haight and Isaac Purdy; in 1810, John Guion and Jonathan Purdy ; in 1820, the same; in 1830, David and Hackaliah Brown ; in 1841, Peter Jay and Hackaliah Brown, and in 1852, John C. Jay and John A. Dix.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, EAST CHESTER .*
No report having been received, the following particulars are gathered from Bolton's History, and the Convention Journals. This parish was organized under the statute of the State, March 12, 1787. It had been the field of mission labor since 1700. Among the missionaries were Rev. Thomas Standard, who died in 1760, Rev. John Milne, and Rev. Samuel Seabury, afterwards Bishop of Connecticut. He writes to the Secretary of the Venerable Society, December 3, 1767, in the second year of his pastorate, as follows : "At East Chester, which is four miles distant, the congregation is gen- erally larger than at Westchester. The old church in which they meet, as yet, is very cold. They have erected and just completed the roof of a large, well-built stone church, on
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which they have expended, they say, £700 currency ; but their ability seems exhausted and I fear I shall never see it finished. I applied last winter to His Excellency, Sir Henry Moore, for a brief in their favor, but the petition was rejected." The rectors have been, 1702, Rev. John Bartow ; 1727, Rev. Thomas Standard; 1761, Rev. John Milner ; 1766, Rev. Samuel Seabury ; 1799, Rev. Isaac Wilkins; 1817, Rev. Ravaud Kearney; 1826, Rev. Lawson Carter; 1836, Rev. John Grigg; 1837, Rev. Robert Bolton; 1846, Rev. Edwin Harwood ; 1847, Rev. Henry E. Duncan, and in 1852, Rev. William S. Coffey, present incumbent. In 1728, there were 30 communicants ; in 1817, 48 ; in 1847, 35 ; in 1853, 46, and in 1885, 76. The present wardens are A. H. Dunscombe and Stephen P. Hunt.
The original church remains in use. It suffered desecration during the Revolution, was turned into a court-house, bar- racks, and hospital ; was stripped and pillaged of every ves- tige of wood, but has been generously and thoughtfully re- stored and is among the most interesting edifices of the colonial period.
TRINITY CHURCH, FISHKILL.
This parish was incorporated first under royal charter, and subsequently, October 13, 1785. The church edifice was built and opened in September, 1767. On account of the destruction and loss of the earlier records it is impossible to present any complete statistics of clerical acts in the parish.
At present there are about 50 communicants. There has been unusual difficulty in collecting the statistics of this parish, as the rector is absent and an invalid. Mr. S. M. Davidson, clerk of Trinity parish, has provided the substance of this communication.
Trinity Church, Fishkill, is one of the oldest church edi- fices in the State of New York. It was the third church organized in the town of Fishkill, and the first of its denomi- nation in Dutchess County, or anywhere above the Highlands on the east side of the Hudson. As originally built, it had a
15
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CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
tall, tapering spire, surmounted by a ball and vane, as was usual a century ago. The early records are lost, but from the best evidence obtainable it is believed that the church was built about 1760.
The first service was held by the Rev. Samuel Seabury, in 1756. The first rector was Rev. John Beardsley, who was appointed by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and accepted the charge October 26, 1767. This church was connected with Christ Church in Poughkeepsie for nearly fifty years. Rev. Mr. Beardsley was removed to New York De- cember 16, 1777, by order of the Council of Safety. It ap- pears the church was then without a pastor over nine years, during part of which time it was used both by the military and civil authorities as a hospital for the sick and wounded, and a meeting place for the Constitutional Convention of this State.
The next rector was Rev. Henry Van Dyck, who accepted the rectorship January 22, 1787. He remained until the spring of 1791, and was succeeded by Rev. George H. Spieren, November 12, 1792. He in turn was succeeded by Rev. John J. Sayers, January 5, 1795. Mr. Sayers continued in the rectorship two years, and was succeeded by Rev. Philander Chase, afterward Bishop of Ohio and also of Illinois. Bishop Chase was the founder of Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio, and Jubilee College, at Robin's Nest, Illinois. Mr. Chase left here in 1805, and was succeeded by Rev. Barzillai Bulkley, August 6, 1806.
Mr. Bulkley was succeeded in 1812 by Rev. John Brown, who was followed in 1816 by Rev. Mr. Ten Broeck. He re- mained a short time, and left, when the church had no set- tled minister for a number of years, being supplied through missionary sources until 1833, when Rev. R. B. Van Kleeck, D.D., was duly installed as rector. He was succeeded in 1837 by Rev. Colly A. Foster, who was followed in 1838 by Rev. Richard F. Burnham. Rev. Robert Shaw succeeded Mr. Burnham in 1841, and was succeeded in 1844 by Rev. Wm. H. Hart. Mr. Hart remained about three years, and was fol- lowed by Rev. Christian F. Cruse, D.D., in 1847. Rev. F.
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W. Shelton succeeded Dr. Cruse in 1853, and was followed by Rev. John R. Livingston in 1855. Mr. Livingston served the church long and faithfully, and, dying in the harness, was succeeded in the ministry, in 1879, by Rev. J. H. Hobart, D.D., the present incumbent.
The wardens in 1785 were Jeremiah Cooper and Jeremiah Green ; in 1790, Jacob Van Voorhis and Robt. Mills ; in 1800, Daniel C. Verplanck and Peter Mesier ; in 1810, Matthew Mesier and Daniel C. Verplanck; in 1820 and 1830, the same; in 1840, William A. Bartow and Greenleaf Street ; in 1850, Gulian C. Verplanck and Greenleaf Street ; in 1860, Gulian C. Verplanck and William A. Bartow; in 1870, Wil- liam S. Verplanck and Isaac E. Cotheal ; in 1880, Isaac E. Cotheal and Adriance Bartow ; and in 1886, William S. Ver- planck and Adriance Bartow.
The church book comprises minutes of each vestry from 1785, and, like all old records, contains many curious entries :
" At a meeting of the Trustees of Trinity Church at Fish- kill, on the IIth day of August, 1788, present, John Cook, Peter Mesier, Jeremiah Cooper, James Cooper, and Elbert Willett, Jr., the following resolution was entered into, to wit :
" Resolved by the vestry, all voting, that the damages this church received by the publick was duly appraised by James Weekes, Isaac Van Wyck, and Capt. Cor's Adriance.
From the year 1776 to 1783 :
The use of the church £140 o o
" yard. 20 O 0
Damages to the same by the publick. 189 4 II
£349 4 II
" This statement given to John Cook, to be Liquidated by the Publick.
" Resolved-The compensation so obtained shall be ap- plyed in finishing and repairing the church so far as it will go, and for no other purpose whatever."
By a resolution passed in 1789 it was ordered that the
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church should receive two shillings from the parents for every child baptized.
In 1803 money was raised to repair the steeple, but if the work was done it does not appear to have been effectual, for in a few years after complaints were made that the spire was unsafe, and in 1817 it was removed. The base was left stand- ing, and from that time to about 1860 the church had a short tower with an ornamental balustrade. Then the building was repaired and this tower removed. Some years later the interior was consideraby changed also. The high pews were removed, and more comfortable ones substituted, and the tall pulpit, with its antiquated sounding board, which stood near the center of the church, was dispensed with.
In the burying ground which surrounds the church on all sides except the front a great many of the early residents lie buried. Forty or fifty years ago, when interments were fre- quent in this ground, it was no unusual thing to dig up pieces of blankets, which had probably been wrapped around the remains of those who died in this edifice when it was used as a hospital.
In September, 1865, the church celebrated its Centennial, when interesting services were held and an address was de- livered by Rev. Dr. Brown, who more than fifty years before had been its rector.
Mr. Gulian C. Verplanck was a warden of this parish for more than thirty years. He was long identified with that early period of our literature, not unmeaningly described as the Hudson River School; among whom Washington Irving, James K. Paulding, and James Fenimore Cooper, all Church- men, moved with great and permanent distinction. Mr. Ver- planck was eminent for the solidity and elegance of his at- tainments. His edition of Shakespeare holds its place in the collections of scholars, and there are other abiding evidences of his accurate and recondite researches in belles-lettres and various departments of scholarship. He was also for a while a lecturer or professor in the early years of the General Theo- logical Seminary, in New York City.
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PARISH HISTORIES.
ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH, BEDFORD.
This church-formerly in the parish of Christ Church, Rye, formed in 1694 under royal charter-was organized in 1789 and reorganized in 1796. The first church was built in Northcastle, 1761, and another in Bedford, 1807. The rec- tors have been : Rev. William Strebeck, 1804, who officiated six months ; Rev. Nathan Felch, 1809-1813; Rev. George Weller, 1814-1817; Rev. Samuel Nichols, 1818-1839; Rev. Alfred H. Partridge, 1839-1855 ; Rev. Edward B. Boggs, 1855-1866, and Rev. Lea Luqueer, 1866, the present incum- bent.
The glebe of forty acres and house was bought in 1803. This house became the rectory and has been repeatedly en- larged. The number of baptisms recorded is 498, and 232 have received confirmation. There is no list of communi- cants before 1855. In that year there were about 52 ; in 1865, about 70; in 1875, 75, and the present number is 94.
The wardens in 1796 were : Charles Haight and William Miller ; in 1806, William Miller and James McDonald ; in 1816, Benjamin Isaacs and Aaron Smith ; in 1826, the same ; in 1836, Aaron Smith and Samuel Brown ; in 1846, Samuel Brown and William Jay ; in 1856, William Jay and Charles Raymond; in 1866, Charles Raymond and John I. Banks ; in 1876, John Jay and William P. Woodcock, and in 1886, the same.
The glebe in Bedford was bought in 1803 with the money bequeathed to the church by St. George Talbot in 1767. In 1807 the church known as St. Matthew's was completed under the direction of William Miller, David Olmstead, and Peter A. Jay. As there was difficulty in defraying the ex- penses that had been incurred, application was made to Trinity Church, New York. The appeal was courteously answered by a gift of $500.
ST. JOHN'S, YONKERS .*
This parish was organized September 15, 1787, and the church edifice was built in 1753, repaired and consecrated in
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1792 ; repaired again in 1804, enlarged in 1849, and again en- larged to its present dimensions in 1872.
The rectors have been : Rev. Andrew Fowler, 1786; Rev. Elias Cooper, in 1788; Rev. William Powell, 1816-1819; Rev. John Gregg, 1820-1823 ; Rev. John West, 1823-1828; Rev. Alex. H. Crosby, 1828-1839; Rev. Smith Pyne, 1839-1841; Rev. Henry L. Storrs, 1841-1852; Rev. Abr. Beach Carter, D.D., 1852-1868 ; Rev. Thos. A. Jagger, 1869-1870 ; Rev. W. S. Langford, 1870-1875 ; Rev. A. B. Atkins, D.D., 1875-1879; and Rev. James Haughton, since 1879, and present incumbent.
The first rectory was procured in 1766, and the present one in 1845. During the ministry of Dr. Carter a chapel was erected, in 1859.
Since 1820 there is record of 2,476 baptisms; and, since 1829, confirmation has been administered to .1,008 persons. In 1806 there were 40 communicants; in 1816, 56; in 1827, 75; in 1837, 77; in 1844, 94; in 1856, 250; in 1865, 350; in 1875, 350; and the present number is about 500.
The parish records previous to 1820 are not in existence.
The wardens in 1795 were: Augustus Van Cortlandt and William Constable; in 1805, Augustus Van Cortlandt and James Valentine ; in 1815, Henry White and James Archer ; in 1825, Joseph Howland and Elijah Valentine; in 1835, Augustus Van Cortlandt and Joseph Odell; in 1845, Abra- ham Valentine and John Bowne ; in 1855, Abraham Valentine and Thomas O. Farrington ; in 1865, Thomas O. Farrington and John Gihon; in 1875, Henry Bowers and John T. War- ing ; and in 1885, Sylvanus Mayo and Walter H. Paddock.
Rev. John Bartow commenced services in this precinct in 1703. He wrote, in 1717: " Yonkers has no Church, but we assemble for Divine Worship sometimes in the house of Jo- seph Bebts, deceased, and sometimes in a barn when empty, but the people begin to be in a disposition to build a Church."
During the incumbency of his successor, the Rev. Thomas Standard, inducted 1725, the parish church was built. The next rector, Rev. John Milne, informed the Propagation So- ciety, in 1761, that "one of his Churches is a new edifice raised by the generosity of Col. Frederick Philipse who has
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given to its service a fine farm as a glebe, consisting of 200 acres, upon which he proposes to build a good house for a minister."
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