USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Church history of Audubon-Oaks-Perkiomen : Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1829-1909 > Part 1
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GO 974.801 M74c 1470888
M.L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01204 6691
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https://archive.org/details/churchhistoryofa00cres
Church History
OF Audubon-Oaks-Perkiomen
Church History OF Audubon-Oaks-Perkiomen
Pa.
Montgomery County
Pennsylvania 1829-1909
Written and Privately Printed by CALEB CRESSON, JR. 1909
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Foreword
I N presenting this sketch, the writer is quite aware that many improvements might have been made both as to text and pictures. The difficulties involved by waiting until everything should be perfectly satisfactory, however, offered such possibilities of delay and uncertainties regarding its defi- nite publication, that it seemed expedient-in order to accom- plish anything-to proceed at once.
This sketch is therefore now presented in a manner not altogether satisfactory to the compiler, yet with the hope that it may, at least, be of sufficient interest to hold the attention of those whose affections for the Church may pardon any short- comings in its compilation.
The compiler desires to particularly acknowledge the kindly encouragement and assistance of the following persons:
To his father, CALEB CRESSON, for the inspiration of his fifty years of uninterrupted attendance upon Divine Worship, and the splendid executive administration dis- played in parish activities. To him, more than to any other person, is given credit for having formed the con- necting links in the remarkable chain of events herein recorded; for there were numerous occasions when the continuity of the narrative would have been broken, had he not continued regularly steadfast in the parish administra- tion. He has always given of his means as well as time.
To his kinsman, WILLIAM HENRY WETHERILL, a grandson of the founder of the parish, who has ever held its traditions and associations in tender affection, the com- piler, also, owes a deep debt of gratitude for encourage- ment and generosity most heartily given.
To another kinsman and descendant of the parish founder, CHARLES WETHERILL, the compiler is also in- debted for suggestions of much valuable information, particularly concerning the Reverend James May, D.D.
CALEB CRESSON, JR.
Along the Perkiomen, near Oaks, Pa.
A Church History
I T has been said that "God made the country and man made the town." Truly the beauty in the handiwork of the Almighty which it is the pride of man to approach is not within man's power to reach.
A country landscape, with its hues that change with the season, cannot be transferred to paper or to canvas. The invigorating breezes of the early morning, the music of the birds or the lowing of the contented kine at nightfall, can only be appreciated in those whose souls have been reached by these particular charms. Even the buds that are cultivated by members of a family and that seem to shed a richer fragrance because they are home-grown, represent a care that can indeed be measured and therefore form an unbreakable link to bind human hearts in the love of nature and fullest appreciation of the Divine Providential Blessings.
Contemplating upon such thoughts, there is brought vividly before our minds the realization of many good deeds done and now being accom- plished in the cause of Christianity by devoted "Children of the Heavenly King," and as the result of such devotion and faith, there stands
MILL GROVE FARM HOUSE WHERE THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL WAS STARTED IN 1829
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to-day not far from Mill Grove Farm House,* on the Perkiomen Creek, a quaint old stone building, which is a " House-of-Prayer-for-all- People," so called "Union Church."
Feelings of rest and peace enter the hearts of not a few persons who visit this historic place of Divine Worship, for there are associated here tenderest memories of many good Christian peo- ple, and one feels that this indeed is "hallowed ground." Here does the weary soul find rest and quietness, far away from the turmoil of the busy city life. . Here may be heard the songs of the birds which Audubon loved to study as these sweet little winged choristers, which dwell among the grand old trees about the sacred building, sing the songs which one readily imagines tell of Peace, Good-Will to all men in the name of the Blessed Trinity.
It was primarily in order to encourage the worship of the Blessed Trinity, that on Septem- ber 13th, 1830, the foundation-stone of this old church was laid. For several years prior to this date, Mrs. Rachel Wetherill, a devout member of the Episcopal Church, had established a Sunday School which she nurtured and strength- ened by her own pious labors, at first holding
* Mill Grove was formerly owned by John James Audubon, the great ornithologist, and was his first home in America. The village and post-office nearby now bear his name.
RACHEL WETHERILL, 1829 FOUNDER OF THE PARISH AND PART OF ENDOWMENTS TAKEN FROM OIL PAINTING BY SULLY
meetings in the old Audubon homestead, Mill Grove Farm, which had been purchased by her husband, Samuel Wetherill (3d of the name).
Although advanced in life, Mrs. Wetherill was the prime mover in having the church built. It is said that she helped in person to haul stone for the foundations. The kindly Christian spirit of Trinitarian unity, which exists in this Parish to-day, was evidenced at that time by the co- operation on the part of friends and neighbors, many of whom aided in the work of building the church, for the worship of the Blessed Trinity, by freely giving labor and donations of material. The early missionary work and financial support of the church, however, must be attributed al- most entirely to four persons, whose names can never be forgotten in this Parish-Mrs. Rachel Wetherill, her daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Gumbes, and a grandson, Samuel Wetherill Gumbes, to- gether with his Godly wife, Mrs. Frances S. Dring Macomb Gumbes. Their works do fol- low them and may it never be said that their labors were in vain.
Patiently teaching and training the poor, lowly country children, who were in those days almost entirely separated from any educational or social environments of an uplifting nature, these good Christian people began a work which has resulted in the Parish of to-day. Their de-
EXTRACT FROM THE WILL
OF
RACHEL WETHERILL
DATED DECEMBER 18th, 1843
REGARDING THE
CHURCH IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY
AT AUDUBON, PENNA.
"Item, I give devise and bequeath to my Grandson Samuel W. Gumbes, his Heirs and Assigns, my lot or piece of ground and Church thereon erected, situate, lying, and being in Montgomery County and State of Pennsylvania aforesaid, To have and to hold the same with all singular the appurtenances, unto the said Samuel W. Gumbes, his Heirs and Assigns forever. In Trust nevertheless, to, for and upon the following use, interest and purpose, that is to say, upon Trust, that he the said Samuel W. Gumbes, his Heirs and Assigns, shall and will from time to time and at all times forever, permit and suffer the said Church to be used and occupied as a Church for Trinitarian Worship free from any charge whatever, and for no other use, intent or purpose, whatever.
"And for the purpose of keeping the said Church in suitable and good repair and for the further purpose of paying all ex- penses for opening, cleaning and maintaining the same as an Orderly House of Worship aforesaid, I do hereby empower, order and direct, my Executors hereinafter named, to pay to the said Samuel W. Gumbes, the sum of Two Thousand Dollars, which sum of Two Thousand Dollars, is to be held in Trust, by the said Samuel W. Gumbes, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, to be placed out at Interest in some safe Investment and the Income arising therefrom to go, and be applied to the purposes above mentioned, Forever, and to and for no other use, intent, or purpose whatever.
"And I do hereby further authorize and do empower my Executors hereinafter named, to effect a perpetual Insurance on the Church above mentioned, and assign the Policy of Insurance to the said Samuel W. Gumbes his Heirs and Assigns in Trust forever as aforesaid."
scendants are in the present (6th) generation en- deavoring to maintain this good work which they, one and all, feel is their sacred privilege to carry on to the Glory of God and in blessed memory of those Saints who have gone to partake of the joys of their Lord.
This Christian Missionary work, which in later years was to result in the organization of St. Paul's Memorial Church Parish, but which had begun with Mrs. Wetherill's work in her own home, was much strengthened by the open- ing of the "House-of-Prayer-for-all-People" for Trinitarian Worship during the summer of 1832. Owing to the fact that Mrs. Wetherill and many members of her family were "Church-people," those who most frequently officiated were clergy- men of the Protestant Episcopal Church; but from the early days we have traditional knowl- edge that ministers of Protestant organizations were permitted to preach the gospel of Christ provided their doctrine was in accord with the belief in the Trinity. As long as there was no organization or responsible authority to head the missionary work thus started, there were, of course, no recorded results, and as long as only visiting clergy officiated, the work was unsys- tematic and only sporadic seed was sown, but enough fell on good ground to bring forth abun- dant fruit in later years.
"UNION CHURCH," AUDUBON BUILT BY RACHEL WETHERILL, 1829-32
THE RECTOR OF THE PARISH CONTINUES TO HOLD REGULAR SERVICES. PHOTO TAKEN 1908
Perhaps it may be interesting to note that there are no known records of any regular ser- vices having been held in this old church other than those conducted in accordance with the Book of Common Prayer and by clergy of the Episcopal Church. During Mrs. Wetherill's lifetime, she provided that stated regular services by clergymen of the Episcopal Church should be held.
As has been said before, practically the whole expense of maintaining this church as a reverent Place of Worship was borne by Mrs. Wetherill's family, and the neighbors and friends of moderate means in the vicinity were encour- aged to come and hear the Gospel message, without money and without price. This was the general policy followed, and gradually re- sulted in one or two persons carrying all the burden of the expenses, and it became necessary that there should be a Leading Head in the management of the church affairs. It may be seen, therefore, that even in these early days it was soon found impractical to have a place of Divine Worship to be used by everyone without a guiding influence and management. It was essential that there might be continued harmony in the community, and therefore was evidenced the need for a man who would alone appeal to everybody and whose words and actions might
INTERIOR OF "UNION CHURCH," AUDUBON PHOTO TAKEN 1908
be universally acceptable. That man was Sam- uel Wetherill Gumbes. He had labored almost as a clergyman amongst the people in this vicin- ity. He was loved and respected by everybody, and sincere spirituality permeated all his actions. Like his mother and grandmother, he was a de- vout member of the Episcopal Church, and being blessed with temporal means, he devoted him- self to furthering the cause of Christ, especially among the people about him. He started a library and gave free instructions in astronomy, explaining his lectures with colored stereopticon views which were rare in those days.
He also was intensely interested in the form- ing of musical classes and endeavored by his kindly, gentle Christian spirit to elevate the social life of his tenants and neighbors. Hence it was not strange that when a strong leader was re- quired to administer the temporal matters and provide for the spiritual welfare of the church, no man could have been chosen to fill that position better than Samuel Wetherill Gumbes. It must be remembered that this section of the country in those days was without railroad con- veniences, and postal communications also were very limited. At this time and for many years after, the communication with Philadelphia was by stage to Norristown and from there by rail. The stage carried the mail from Port Provi-
SAMUEL WETHERILL GUMBES AND WIFE FRANCES S. D. M. GUMBES PARISH LAY READER AND FIRST TRUSTEE OF "UNION CHURCH." OWNER OF "OAKLAND CHAPEL PHOTO TAKEN ABOUT 1850
dence, Shannonville (now Audubon) and Jeffer- sonville, coming down early in the morning and returning in the afternoon, that is, when the state of the roads permitted. These public high- ways were always either muddy or dusty in summer, and in winter and the early spring they were often completely blocked either by snow- drifts or mud-holes. Mr. Gumbes' work was therefore particularly praiseworthy, for many a heart was led to seek the Lord by the evangel- istic ministrations of this good man, who as- sisted all who sought the aid of his advice and means. Consequently he was appointed by Mrs. Wetherill (his grandmother) to be the first trustee of this church, and to his heirs and assigns was given the custody of the church.
An interesting episode is authenticated as having been the cause of his appointment. It appears that the use of the church had been abused by a certain preacher, not an Episco- palian however, who expounded doctrine con- trary to the belief in the Trinity and announced that he would again explain his teachings at the evening services to follow; whereupon Mr. Gumbes arose and stated that such preaching was most certainly distasteful and against the wishes of Mrs. Wetherill, and she, being the patron of the church, should first be consulted. Mr. Gumbes, it is stated, then locked the church
doors and, taking the keys to Mrs. Wetherill, ex- plained the matter. She was so pleased with his decision, knowing his usual deliberation before taking any determined action, that she not only showed her approval of his assuming charge of the building during her life, but also by her will granted him discretionary powers, with authority to act for years to come. The trusteeship of the church and leading associa- tions of the church work in the Parish have therefore remained to be carried on and assisted by the hands of his descendants.
Rachel Wetherill died in 1844. By her will she founded the endowment fund for the main- tenance of the church she had so materially assisted to build.
About a mile from the old church and across the Perkiomen Creek can be found to-day "Oak- land Hall," surrounded by a fertile farm and wooded estate. "Oakland Hall" was the country home of Mrs. Wetherill's grandson, Samuel Wetherill Gumbes, and had been presented to him by his mother, Mrs. Rebecca Gumbes (Mrs. Wetherill's daughter), when, in 1836, he married Frances Sarah Dring Macomb, the daughter of John William and Isabella Ramsay Macomb.
With pious and devout associations and again with a view of developing practical mis- sionary work looking towards the spiritual ad-
-
vancement of the people, many of whom were his tenants, this noble man, Samuel W. Gumbes, and his good wife had already become, as has been shown, the mainstay, chief workers and leaders in continuing the Church services. Each Sunday would find this good man and his wife regular in their attendance at Divine services, and upon occasions when no visiting clergy were obtainable, the services of the Church were read by this good layman, who was indeed a man full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. During these early days Mr. and Mrs. Gumbes also started a Sunday School at "Oakland Hall" for those children who could not attend the services at the old church, because the Sunday School at the old church was discontinued after Mrs. Wetherill's death. This Sunday School first met in the summer time out-of-doors, under the cool shade of the grape arbor, which to-day serves as an entrance to the attractive, old-fashioned flower garden at "Oakland Hall." When the weather was inclement the Sunday School ser- vices were held in the basement of the "Hall." Every Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania has been entertained at "Oakland Hall" with the exception of Bishop White, who died in 1836, the same year in which Oakland Hall was built. Could these walls of the "Hall" speak, they would tell us of the many times when through
VIEW OF "OAKLAND HALL" GARDENS BUILT 1836
SAMUEL W. GUMBES AND WIFE HELD A SUNDAY- SCHOOL IN THE ARBOR REGULARLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS UNTIL 1852, WHEN THEY BUILT THE "OAKLAND CHAPEL." PHOTO TAKEN 1908,
them resounded the voices of the clergy and Bishops of Christ's Church, who were enter- tained by the hospitable host and hostess, whose main object in life was to do good.
Of the early officiating clergy it may be in- teresting to note the names of the Rev. G. W. Ridgely, Rev. William N. Diehl, Rev. Rees C. Evans, Rev. W. R. Carroll, Rev. William Philips, Rev. Richard Newton, Rev. Jacob Douglass, Rev. Dr. Wm. A. Muhlenberg, Rev. Dr. Fowles, Rev. Dr. Richard Hall, the Rev. Samuel E. Appleton and Rev. Alfred Elwyn. The Bishops of the Dio- cese also occasionally held confirmations. But so successful was the work which had also been started at "Oakland Hall," that in 1852 Mr. Gumbes built a little chapel on his lawn and determined to start a Parish organization com- prised of the two places of worship.
In this little chapel Mr. Gumbes delighted to do his missionary work, assisted by his wife and the visiting clergy, who were continually as- sociated in this work. In 1852, or the year that the Oakland Chapel was built, the Rev. George Mintzer (who had for several years prior to that date been Rector of St. James' Perkiomen Church, near the village of Evansburg, Pa., which is about five miles distant from "Oakland Hall") was requested to take charge and estab- lish a regular mission of the Church by holding
THE DAY THAT "OAKLAND CHAPEL" WAS REMOVED JUNE, 1896
The stones of this building now compose the Memorial to Mr. and Mrs. Gumbes, built as a transept to St. Paul's, the Me- morial Church at Oaks to Rev. Dr. May.
services at the so-called Union Church and in the Oakland Chapel. He ministered to the spiritual edification of those persons attending the two places of Divine Worship. After Mrs. Rachel Wetherill's death, the Rev. George Mint- zer's financial maintenance was guaranteed by Mrs. Rebecca Gumbes and her son, Samuel Wetherill Gumbes. It was due to Mr. Mintzer's organizing ability that the congregations meeting in the two places of worship became a Mission of the Church, and admission to the Diocesan Convention as a self-supporting Parish was steadily contemplated, but not realized until 1869. Mrs. Rebecca Gumbes was so gratified with the results shown by Mr. Mintzer's earnest work and the untiring interest of her son, Samuel Wetherill Gumbes, and his good wife, that she purchased a house for a Rectory wherein the Rev. Mr. Mintzer might dwell. Here the good parson ended his earthly labors. This Rectory, along with the Sunday School building, which had already been built by her son, is to be credited to a desire on the part of Mrs. Rebecca Gumbes for the spiritual good of the neighborhood; not a mere sentiment, but a practical, permanent prin- ciple surviving in the daughter of precious mem- ory no less than in her mother, Mrs. Rachel Wetherill, and we trust still surviving and to survive in the generations yet to come.
"
REBECCA GUMBES DAUGHTER OF RACHEL WETHERILL
MRS. GUMBES BUILT THE CHURCH AT OAKS, ALSO GAVE RECTORY AND MAJOR ENDOWMENT. PHOTO TAKEN ABOUT 1860.
PHOTO TAKEN ABOUT 1857, SHOWING "PORTE COCHÈRE," OAKLAND HALL
The figures, reading from left to right, are: Bella Gumbes (later Mrs. Caleb Cresson), Mrs. Bloomfield, Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg (Founder of St. Luke's Hospital, New York), Mrs. Rebecca Gumbes, Miss E. W. Hall (niece of Rev. George Mintzer), Miss Shief on either side of Rev. Mr. Cruzey, and Mrs. Samuel W. Gumbes (known later as Mrs. Frances Gumbes). Photo taken by Samuel W. Gumbes.
REV. GEORGE MINTZER RECTOR OF THE PARISH, 1852-1861
After the death of Mr. Mintzer, we next come to the name of the Rev. James May, D.D., who acted as Rector from June, 1861, to De- cember, 1863, when he died. He was known far and wide as "Dear Dr. May," for he was as loving and kind as he was learned, as gentle as he was able. And here it is most fitting to speak briefly of this spiritual and scholarly man who, after most successful pastoral charges in Wilkes-Barre, and also in Philadelphia, became a professor in the Theological Seminary at Alexandria, Virginia, from 1842 to 1861, and during the time that Dr. May had charge of this Parish as Rector he was also a professor in the Philadelphia Divinity School. Dr. May was a quiet, unassuming Christian gentleman. In person he was tall and slender, with an erect and dignified carriage, strongly modeled fea- tures, a grave but very kindly and benign ex- pression of countenance, rather dark complexion, and white hair. He was a man of striking and most attractive appearance. As a preacher, his most remarkable gift was the power of explaining the subject of his discourse with such clearness as to make the matter plain to the simplest understanding. He was very kind in his man- ner to children and young people, and was evi- dently much interested in them. Having con- ducted services in the morning, he always taught
REV. JAMES MAY, D.D.
RECTOR OF THE PARISH, 1861-63 THE CHURCH AT OAKS IS A MEMORIAL TO HIM
+
the Boys' Bible Class at the Sunday School in the afternoons, and he had the happy faculty of so attracting their affections that the boys looked forward to their Sunday School as one of their principal pleasures. The end of his work in this world was strongly characteristic. The Civil War was at its height, and thousands of wounded and sick soldiers lay suffering in the hospitals near Philadelphia. Dr. May, as might have been expected of him, visited them regularly, conducting religious services for and with them. Hospitals were at that time entirely without the modern appliances for cleanliness, antiseptic surgery and proper care against contagion, and typhus fever, called "spotted," "camp," or "hospital" fever was prevalent. The vener- able doctor contracted this malady in the course of his labors for the soldiers and died after an illness of a very few days. As an Episcopal clergyman he was indeed eminent, being a forcible preacher and universally beloved. Nearly all ministers have some preferences, more or less marked. Dr. May nearly always commenced the morning service with the beautiful hymn,
"My opening eyes with rapture see
The dawn of the returning day,"
which some more recent revision has omitted from the present Church Hymnal.
INTERIOR "OAKLAND CHAPEL" BUILT 1852. REMOVED 1896
LAST VIEW OF INTERIOR OF "OAKLAND CHAPEL," 1852-1896 THE STONES AND FURNITURE NOW COMPOSE THE WEST TRANSEPT TO ST. PAUL'S
The following is an abstract from the "Life and Letters of Dr. May," alluding to his work in this Parish:
" The little flock taken under his instruc- tions, he continued to look after to the last. Residing still in Philadelphia, he spent what- ever holidays he could command amongst the people of his Parish, and always went up on Saturday in time to see some of them before Sunday came. His custom was to ride to Norris- town, eighteen miles, in the railway and there take a stage for seven miles additional. Then he would alight and see as many of the families as possible before he rested for the night. On Sunday morning, service was held in a place of worship known as 'Union Church,' before or after which he generally contrived to have a friendly word with almost every one. Then came a hasty dinner and after it a Sunday School, in which he took a class of boys, and one who visited it said it was beautiful indeed to see the Doctor of Divinity and Professor of Church History sit meekly in that quiet country school, instructing the plain farmers' boys, their faces bent on his with eager interest and his beaming with mild benevolence, tender feeling or playful humor as he taught."
Dr. May died in 1863, closing his minis- terial labors in connection with this Parish,
REV. C. N. CHEVRIER RECTOR OF THE PARISH, 1863-66
and subscriptions were immediately started to erect a church in his memory. After Dr. May's death, the Rev. C. N. Chevrier followed as Rector, doing a good work, and although only ministering in this Parish for about three years, he made many friends. He was a sincere and devoted pastor. During Mr. Chevrier's rec- torate, the question of incorporation and admit- tance to Convention was steadily contemplated and practical ways and means for the erection of the Church to Dr. May's memory were discussed.
In 1866 the Rev. Joel Rudderow became Rector of the Parish, succeeding Mr. Chevrier, and a charter being granted to the "Rector, Church Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Paul's Memorial," the Parish three years later was duly admitted in 1869 to the Convention, with Caleb Cresson, Esq., and Dr. Charles Wetherill Gumbes as Wardens.
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