USA > New York > The earliest churches of New York and its vicinity > Part 5
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St. Paul's Church and the "North Dutch" are the oldest houses of worship in our city, and were erected within three years of each other. It is said that a friendly social strife grew up between the respective denominations in building these sacred edifices, which would vie with each other in size and beauty. We do not know of two more noble or magnificent sacred edi- fices of their style among the hundreds of others in New York. They remain the same as when first erected- strong links between the present and the "olden time." Long, long may they continue the tabernacles of the Most High : The new Governor of New York, Benja- min Fletcher, arrived in 1692. Despotie, and a bigoted Churchman, his darling project was to make the Church of England the established one of the land, and to intro- duce, at the same time, the English language. This. of course, was contrary to the wishes of most of the people. who still spoke the Dutch and "went to the Dutch Church." The Colonial Assembly of 1693 passed an aet to build one church in New York, two in West-
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chester and Suffolk, and one in Richmond, cach to be settled with a Protestant minister, with salaries from forty pounds to four hundred pounds, raised by taxes on the inhabitants. Trinity was organized under this act. Its cemetery was to be kept neatly fenced, and the burial fees nover to exceed eighteen pence for children, and three shillings for adults. So great were the numbers in this city of the dead, as to amount to more than one hundred and sixty thousand at the period of the Revolution.
All citizens were now taxed for the support of "the Church" of England, whilst other Christians were pro- nounced "Dissenters." We might ask, Dissenters from what ? Is it not an historical fact that the Episcopalians are the Dissenters from the famous Reformed Churches of France, of Holland. Germany, and Switzerland ? They are, moreover, Dissenters from the Waldenses, Albigenses, and the ancient British Christians, who early withstood Popery in Ireland and Scotland. For- tunately for the Dutch, at the surrender of their colony to the British rule, in 1664, they took care to secure their religious rights with regard to the worship and discipline of their churches. The Episcopalians, then, were a mere handful, comparatively, mostly composed of the goverment officers. the military, and their de- pendones. Still. from 1693 to 1776, all Non-Episcopa- lians were compelled, by unrighteous law, to pay taxes for the support of their small church. By the glorious war of the Revolution, however, the people were set free from all union of the Church and State, and the establishment of any sect in these United States. During
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this British rule, many who loved the "loaves and fishes" left the communion of the other churches for the favored Established religion. Thanks to the bravery of our noble forefathers, we are delivered from all national or legal "High Churchism," "Puseyism," "Tithes." and " Popery."
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CHAPTER IV.
TRINITY CHURCHI-ITS PRINCELY LIBERALITY -- CHURCHES HELPED- QUEEN'S FARM-FIRST WARDENS AND VESTRYMEN-SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE BUILDING-NEW EDIFICE-GOVERNOR FLETCHER'S ARMS AND PEW-KING'S FARM-MINISTERS' SALARIES SMALL-FEES- REV. MR. VESEY AND HIS ASSISTANTS - - TRINITY ENLARGED, 1737- QUEEN ANNE PRESENTS COMMUNION SETS, AND THE BISHOP OF LONDON A PAROCHIAL LIBRARY-DEATH OF MR. VESEY.
CONCERNING "Old Trinity, " volumes might be written. The more we examine, the more do we reverence and admire this ancient and munificent religious corpora- tion. In its early history, Trinity parish needed help, and was not able to aid others. But, as far back as the year 1745, we find its first recorded gift of a com- munion, pulpit, and desk-cloth. to Mr. Peter Jay, for the church at Rye. Since that distant period, its dona- tions to needy congregations have been princely and very numerous. There is scarcely a form in which this liberality has not been manifested -- communion plate, baptismal fonts. Bibles, organs, bells, salaries. &c., &c. When Tom Paine's "Age of Reason" was popular (1797), the vestry purchased, for distribution, two hun- dred copies of the " Antidote to Deism," and soon after. five hundred of . Watson's Apology." At one time they appropriated five hundred dollars for a negro burial-ground ; and in 1786, three lots of ground for the use of the senior pastors of the Presbyterian con-
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gregations in this city (Nos. 255, 256, and 257 Robinson street, now Park Place); in 1765, two lots to the corpo- ration, for the ferry to Paulus Hook ; in 1771, five hun- dred dollars towards building a public market.
Their donations to aged and infirm clergymen have been immense. In
1796, the Rev. William Hammel thus received £100 per annum for thirty years · $7,500
1801-1816. Bishop Provost (annuity) 5,000
1811-1816. Bishop Moore 66 6,230
1813-1819. Dr. Beach 66
24,000
Families of those dying in its (Trinity's) service . 36,900
King's (Columbia) College, 1752, grant of land, between Murray and Barclay streets, and from Church street to the North River, valued at 400,000
1802. Society for the Promotion of Religion and Learning, thirty-two lots of land on Barclay. Warren, Green- wich, Hudson, Beach, and North Moore streets . . 129,500
1808-1826. African Catechetical Institute . 7,072
1825-1835. General Theological Seminary 9,143
1836-1813. Episcopal Fund 58,800
1832-1817. City Missions . 18,900
These are magnificent sums and benefactions to the cause of piety and Christian benevolence : but what can equal Trinity's gifts to other churches ? We append a few :
1798. St. Mark's, money and lots . $150,770 1804 -- 1511. Grace Church, including twenty-five lots 120,000 (In fact, Grace Church was built by the corpo- ration of Trinity.)
1812-1813. St. George's, thirty-three lots 220,235
1795-1:00. St. Peter's, Westchester 21,750
1797-1409. St George's, Flushing . 21,750
1797-1809. Grace, Jamaica, Long Island 20,750
1792-1800. St. James's, Newtown . 21,250
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1797-1509. St. Ann's, Brooklyn . $16,000
1805-1816. St. Stephen's, New York 32,594
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EARLIEST CHURCHES IN NEW YORK.
1807-1825. St. Michael's, Bloomingdale, and St. James's,
Hamilton Square, including lots 75.100
1805-1847. Christ Church, New York 74,200
1811-1546. Zion, New York 39,370
1831-1342. St. Clement's, New York . 23,800
1820-1846. St. Luke's 56,800
1827-1312.
St. Thomas's
32,300
1827-1845. All Saints'
31,500
1835-1815. St. Philip's
18,110
1835-1246.
Church of the Nativity . 9,300
1837-1846. St. Bartholomew's 24,650
1833-1842. Annunciation 9,100
1845. HIoly Apostles'
5,000
These are authentic extracts from Dr. Berrian's His- tory, omitting smaller donations, from two hundred dollars and upwards, to Episcopal churches in every section of our great State. Their record fills a dozen octavo pages of the volume, and the Doctor estimated. in 1847, that the ."gifts, loans, and grants of Trinity Church, rating the lands at their present prices, consid- erably exceed Two Millions of Dollars-a sum more than equal, in the opinion of competent judges, to two- thirds of the value of the estate which remains." These figures speak volumes for the zeal, liberality, and piety of "Old Trinity," and as such we leave them, a com- ment on themselves.
What an inestimable benefaction was the munificent gift of "Good Queen Anne," in 1705, of the "Queen's Farm," to the corporation of Trinity Church! This property was then literally what it was called -a "farm," extending from St. Paul's Church, along the Hudson. to Skimmer Road, now Christopher street. It was of comparatively little value, but Jong since has become a valuable and compact part of our great city. Mere nominal rents, or long leases, have rendered the 5
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property much less productive' than is generally ima -- gined. What a blessing to the churches of our land. that the heirs of Anneke Jans, and speculators, did not succeed in their attempts to invalidate the title of Trinity to this vast and valuable estate !
The first wardens and vestrymen of Trinity were ap- pointed in 1697 : Thomas Wenham and Robert Lurting, wardens ; Caleb Heathcote, William Merret, John Tudor. James Emmot, William Morris, Thomas Clarke, Ebene- zer Wilson. Samuel Burt, James Evets, Nathaniel Mars- ton, Michael Howden, John Crooke, William Sharpas, Lawrence Read, David Jamison, William Hudleston, Gabriel Ludlow, Thomas Burroughs, John Merret, Wil- liam Janeway, vestrymen. The property of this inecr- poration was then unproductive, the English inhabitants few, with scanty means, but they were zealous for their Church. Trinity was originally a small square edifice. founded 1696, and a special subscription of three hundred and twelve pounds thirteen shillings and seven pence was made to build the steeple, with a contribution of five pounds twelve shillings and three pence from the Jews. Yes, from the sons of Abraham! This is a remarkable historical item, and we record their names : Lewis Gomez, one pound two shillings; Abraham D. Luiena, one pound : Rodrego Pacheco, one pound : Moses Levy, eleven ponce: Mordecai Nathan. eleven pence : Jacob Franks one pound : Moses Michael, eight shillings three pence: total. five pounds twelve shillings and three ponce. Some gave their means and others their time to the pions undertaking. Mr. Samuel Burt was ordered to " goe down to Huntington with all expe-
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Enlarged in 187.
Destroyed by fire in Fii.
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dition, and purchase all the Oyster Shell Lime he can get - there, not to exceed the rate of 8 or 9 shillings pr Loade for the use of the Church : and that his expences in trav- elling and horse be defrayed out of the Publiek Stock, he desiring nothing for his time and trouble." Colonel Peter Schuyler subscribed "five pounds, to be paid in boards." One hundred and seventy pounds two shil- lings and three pence were remitted from Holland to London, the amount collected for the "redemption of slaves ;" but, failing that use, was assigned to Trinity Church, New York. At London, this sum was invested in "Strouds," thirty-eight pieces, and upon their arrival here sold for four hundred and forty-eight pounds. Another singular way was devised to increase the funds. Governor Fletcher granted the church wardens "a Com- mission for all Weifts, Wrecks, and Drift Whales, as should come on shoar on ye said Island."
The new edifice was about one hundred and forty- eight feet long and seventy-two broad ; the steeple one hundred and seventy-five feet high ; and over the door facing the river this inscription :
"PER AUGUSTAM.
" Hoc Trinitatis Templum fundatum est anno regni illustrissimi." &c.
"This Trinity Church was founded in the eighth year of the Most Illustrious Sovereign Lord William the Third, by the grace of God King of England, Seot- land, France, and Ireland. Defender of the faith, de. and in the year of our Lord 1696; and built by the voluntary contributions and gifts of some persons. and chietiy ene mraged and promoted by the bounty of his Excelleney Colonel Benjamin Fletcher, Captain-General and Governor-in-chief of this Province; in the time of whose government the inhabitants of this city of the Protestant religion of the Church of England, as now established by law, were incorporated by a charter, under the seal of the Province, and many other valuable gifts ho gave to it of his private fortune."
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EARLIEST CHURCHIES IN NEW YORK. .
On the walls were hung the arms of some of the prin -- cipal benefactors, and among these, conspicuously, Gov- ernor Fletcher's, and under them the above legend. A pew, next to the chancel, was also presented to him, "to remaine forever to the aforesaid use." About this period Trinity received some valuable gifts : from Gov- ernor Fletcher, a Bible ; the Earl of Bellamont, "a parcell of Books of Divinity, sent over by the Right Rev. Henry, Lord Bishop of London ;" "paving stones from the Pink Blossom lodged in the steeple, being the gift of ye Lord Bishop of Bristol to Trinity Church ;" Lord Viscount Cornbury gave "a black Pall, on condition no person dying and belonging to Forte Anne should be deny'd the use thereof, Gratis."
The "King's Farme" was let on terms which seem singularly strange, contrasted with the high rents, high taxes, and high price of property now in that section of the city. George Ryerse was to have the farm a part of the year, with " his winter and summer grain, provi- ded he plant no Indian Corne next spring therein ; that he sew no more summer grain next spring than winter grain, .. . he paying for the same the sum of thirty-five pounds -- twenty pounds the first of November, and fif- teen pounds the first of May next ensuing."
At that early day the salaries were very small. The rector's income was only one hundred pounds per an- num, with an allowance of twenty-six pounds from the Government towards his house-rent. The clerk's fees were: for attending a funeral, five shillings sixpence : a marriage, six shillings sixpence ; christening, nine pence. The sexton's fees: for ringing the bell, three
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EARLIEST CHURCHES IN NEW YORK.
shillings ; digging a grave, six shillings ; marriage, three - shillings sixpence ("every stranger pay double fees"). "For burying a man or woman in the chancel," the rector's charge was five pounds ; a child, two pounds ten shillings ; under ten years, one pound five shillings ; "a marriage in the parish," thirteen shillings.
The Rev. Mr. Vesey, the first rector of Trinity Church, was also the Commissary of the Province of New York, so that his labors were twofold. In 1715, the Rev. Mr. Jenny was appointed an assistant to Mr. Vesey, at a sal- ary of fifty pounds a year. After several services, he was removed to the parish of Rye. The Rev. Mr. Wetmore succeeded him in office, also attending to the catechising of the blacks every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday evening. At times, nearly two hundred attended his instructions. In 1726 he was inducted in the parish of Rye, Mr. Jenny being transferred to Hemp- stead. The Rev. Mr. Colgan was appointed catechist for Trinity in 1726.
In 1737 Trinity was enlarged from its old square form to an oblong, seventy-two feet wide and one hundred and forty-eight long. During the reigns of William and Mary, Queen Anne, and one of the Georges, the royal bounty had presented to Trinity three communion sets, inscribed with the arms and names of the donors. The old communion cloth. &e .. were given to the church at. Rye. A present of valuable books for a parochial library was made by the Bishop of London, and increased by other gifts, until their catalogue fills nine folio manu- script pages. For a long time they were kept in an upper corner of St. Paul's Chapel, but removed to the
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General Theological Seminary, as a foundation of its présent valuable collection.
In 1732 Mr. Colgan was removed to Jamaica, and the Rev. Mr. Charlton appointed his successor, who contin- ued the humble but important office of catechist to the slaves. In eight years he baptized two hundred and nineteen "blacks."
The Rev. Mr. Vesey continued in the service of Trinity Parish, without interruption, for fifty years. His Chris- tian labors must have been great and abundant, but we have no written record of them, as the register of the baptisms, marriages, and funerals he attended, is said to have been destroyed by the great conflagration of 1776. After a long life of honor and usefulness, he was gath- ered to his fathers in peace. A notice of that day styles him "a most tender, affectionate husband, a good, indul- gent master, a faithful, steady friend, and beneficent to all."
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EARLIEST CHURCHES IN NEW YORK.
CHAPTER V.
REV. HENRY BARCLAY INDUCTED INTO TRINITY CHURCH, 1746-CHAPEL OF EASE, ST. GEORGE'S-DRS. MILNOR AND TYNG-WASHINGTON AN ATTENDANT HERE-DR. SAMUEL JOHNSTON, AN ASSISTANT MINISTER OF TRINITY-GULIAN C. VERPLANCK. HIS GRANDSON, NOW A VESTRY- MAN-DR. JOIINSTON THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE- NEW ORGAN FOR TRINITY-DR. BARCLAY'S DEATHI-REV. JOHN OGIL- VIE, HIS DEATII AND BENEFACTIONS-ST. PAUL'S BUILT, 1763-HERE GENERAL WASHINGTON ALSO WORSHIPPED - REV. MR. VARDILL, BENJAMIN MOORE, AND DR. BOWDEN, ASSISTANT MINISTERS IN TRINITY -MR. BEACHI, OF CONNECTICUT, A BOLD CHURCHMAN-DEATH OF REV. DR. AUCHMUTY.
THE Rev. Henry Barclay was inducted into Trinity Church on the 22d of October, 1746, George Clinton, Governor of the province, signing his certificate of induction. A few years after, his congregation had increased so much as to need the erection of a chapel, although the old church would accommodate two thou- sand hearers. At this period there were only eight houses of worship in New York city. In 1748, the wardens were authorized to buy six lots of ground fronting Nassau street and Fair street, from David Clarkson, Esq., to build a Chapel of Ease to Trinity Church thereon. Five hundred pounds was the price paid, but it was thought that other lots of Colonel Beekman, " fronting on Beekman's street and Van Cliff's street, would be more commodious," when these were purchased for six hundred and forty-five pounds. 1 number of presents were made to the new undertaking.
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EARLIEST CHURCHIES IN NEW YORK.
and among these, ten pounds from the Archbishop of. Canterbury ; Sir Peter Warren, one hundred pounds, to whom a pew was assigned for his liberality. The chapel was called St. George's. Its dimensions were ninety-two by seventy-two feet, the steeple lofty, but It irregular, one hundred and seventy-five feet high. was built in a then new and crowded section of the city, near Beekman's Swamp (Ferry street). The venerable edifice was destroyed by fire in January, 1814, except- ing its walls ; but was rebuilt the next year. The writer, then a child, and living in John street, well remembers that burning, from the peculiar and brilliant effect of the fire upon the snow falling at the moment.
St. George's has been the spiritual home of many lib- eral, useful, and pious Christians. Here, for a long time, lived, and labored, and died, near God's holy altars, that eminent servant of Christ, the Rev. Dr. Milnor. His parsonage was next to the church, and from its hallowed walls he was buried. Here, the Rev. Dr. Tyng fearlessly preached the truth, until he removed to his magnificent church at Stuyvesant Park. General Washington was a frequent attendant at St. George's during his revolutionary residence in New York. Next to the Middle Dutch (Post-office), this is now the oldest sacred temple in our city.
Let it not be forgotten that St. George's still belonged to Trinity Parish. In 1747, Mr. Charlton was removed to St. Andrew's, Staten Island, when the Rev. Samuel Auchmuty took his place as catechist to the blacks, with directions to assist the rector. The appointment was made at the particular request of Governor Clinton.
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He was born in Boston, and educated at Harvard Col: lege, and ordained by the Bishop of London. On Fri- day afternoons he gave catechetical lectures in St. George's Chapel.
In the year 1753, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnston, of Stratford, was called as an assistant minister of Trinity, with a salary of one hundred and fifty pounds per an- num. In consequence of his advanced years, and his professorship in Columbia College, he was to read prayers only on Sundays, and preach one Sabbath in a month. Gulian C. Verplanck, an honored New Yorker, is his great-grandson, and is, we believe, now a vestry- man of Trinity. He has written a memoir of this distin- guished clergyman." Mr. Johnston was educated at the College of Connecticut, then at Saybrook ; and in 1716, became a teacher in the institution removed to New Haven. He was ordained a minister of the Congrega- tional Church in 1720, and settled at West Haven. At that period the Independent Calvinistic Church was the only sect known and tolerated in the colony. But after long and laborious investigation of the controversy be- tween his own and the Church of England, he changed his views, and joined the latter. He was admitted to priest's orders in England, and, returning to America, settled as a missionary at Hartford. He was for some time the only clergyman of the Church of England in the colony, and was the pastor of the first Episcopal church in Connecticut.
In 1729, a remarkable circumstance occurred in the life of Mr. Johnston. Dean Berkeley. afterwards Bishop. * Churchman's Magazine, 1813.
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visited America. when similar views and studies pro- duced an intimate acquaintance between them, which continued until the death of the Bishop, in 1752. In 1743, through the recommendation of Archbishop Secker, the University of Oxford conferred on Mr. Johnston the degree of D. D. This was indeed a literary honor from that ancient university, and never lavishly bestowed. There it is still regarded with high respect, cheap as such "degrees" are now in our own land. In 1753, a charter was obtained for old Columbia College, when Dr. John- ston became its president ; and on the 17th of June, 1754, he commenced the collegiate course with a class of twelve students. What multitudes since have grad- uated from her venerable classical walls; and among them have been some of the master spirits in our land. For nine years he filled his important stations with ability, but his age and infirmities increasing, he re- signed these in 1763, retiring to Stratford, Connecticut. In this quiet country retreat, he once more resumed the duties of a parish priest, at the age of seventy, with the same zeal he had manifested forty years before. After a short indisposition, in 1772. he expired without a strug- gle, and his remains were interred in the burying-ground of his church, where a neat monument was erected to his memory, with a Latin inscription, by his grandson, William Samuel Johnston.
Dr. Johnston was warmly attached to the Church of England in her present form. His controversial writings exhibit a spirit of mildness and urbanity very delight- ful, and too seldom found in polemic theology. In 1761, the vestry of Trinity voted five hundred pounds
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towards purchasing a new organ, several gentlemen proposing to increase the sum to seven hundred guineas. A Mr. Thomas Harrison was organist, with a salary of eighteen pounds, current money of New York, per quarter, to commence the first Sunday he should begin to "play." Old Trinity has always had fine choral singing, and she still maintains this reputation. We do not admire the intoning of her sublime services, as a mere matter of taste, but her solemn chants and singing boys, to our non-Episcopal ears, are most im- pressive and refreshing. Reader, we love music, and pardon this digression !
The next event in the history of Trinity Church was the death of Dr. Barclay, its rector, in 1764. He exhib- ited ardor and fidelity in the discharge of his duties ; he was meek, sweet-tempered, devout, and his life exem- plary. During his incumbency, St. George's Chapel was built and St. Paul's designed. Immediately upon his death, the Rev. Samuel Anchmuty was chosen to fill his place. The Rev. Charles Inglis was called to be his assistant, with a salary of two hundred pounds per an- num, and "twenty pistoles for travelling expenses." A second assistant was thought necessary, when the Rev. John Ogilvie received the appointment, with the same salary, and entored on his duties in 1765. Mr. Inglis commenced life as a teacher in the Free School, Laneas- ter, Pennsylvania, was ordained by the Bishop of Lon- don, and settled at Dover. Maryland. Here ho minis- tered during six years, baptizing seven hundred and fifty-six children, and, with "unwearied diligence." "attended four churches."
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Mr. Ogilvie was educated at Yale College, and had been a devoted missionary among the Mohawks for seven years. Early in life he devoted himself to the service of God's altar, and with unwearied industry he discharged the duties of his sacred office. His conduct was regulated by the calm dictates of prudence, benevo- lence, and piety ; hence few clergymen were so useful or beloved. This good rector literally fell at the altar of the Lord. Going to church, as was his practice on Fridays, and apparently in good health, he read prayers and baptized a child. He gave out his text: "The Lord is upright, He is my rod, and there is no unrighteous- ness in Him," and this was his last message on earth. The unfinished sentence hung upon his dying lips ; but his Master came, and his work in the sanctuary was forever finished. Deprived of speech by apoplexy, he languished several days, and, without struggle or groan, calmly passed away, November 26, 1774. aged fifty-one years. IIe bequeathed three hundred pounds to the Charity School, one hundred pounds to King's (Colum- bia) College, and one hundred pounds to the widows and children of clergymen. Thus he exhibited in death the same attention to the happiness of his fellow-men which had regulated his conduet through life.
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