USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > A historical account of Christ Church, Philadelphia : from its foundation, A.D. 1695, to A.D. 1841 : and of St. Peter's and St. James's, until the separation of the churches > Part 17
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Ex Dono
LUDOVICI CHRISTIANI SPROGELL.
Ad
Bibliothicam Ecclesia Anglicanæ, in Philadelphia, Die Decembris, 24, 1728.
In 1741, several valuable works were presented by the Rev. Archibald Cummings, the rector. In 1753, a bequest was made to Christ Church, by the Rev. Charles Chambres, A. M., vicar of Dartford, in Kent, England, through the society for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, of three hundred and forty-seven volumes; viz. 121 folios, 19 quartos, and 207 octavos. Mr. Chambres appears, from several sermons of his in this collection, to have been a cler- gyman of talents and learning.
Some additions were made to the library at sub- · sequent periods, by various individuals, among whom
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APPENDIX.
we find the name of Jane Elizabeth, wife of the Rev. Dr. Robert Jenney, who died rector of the church, in 1762. .
In 1789, the Rev. S. Preston, Rector of Chevening in Kent, England, presented the library with a splen- did copy of Walton's Polyglott Bible, in 6 volumes folio, London, 1657; and Castell's Lexicon, in 2 . volumes, folio, London, 1659.
The Library is now arranged in suitable cases, in a room at the east end of the church, immediately over the chancel. The number of volumes is 784; viz. 272 fols., 120 4to's., and 392 8vos. and books of a smaller size.
£
€
CHRIST CHURCH HOSPITAL.
THIS noble charity was founded and munificently endowed, A. D. 1772, by Dr. John Kearsley, who died in January of that year, at the very advanced age of eighty-eight years. . He was for fifty-three years a member of the vestry of Christ Church, and always took an active interest in all its concerns. To him, more than to any other individual, we are indebted for the present beautiful edifice, he having superintended the building from the commencement to its comple- tion ; and oftentimes was in advance large sums of money, to defray the expenses of materials, and the bills of the workmen. When the present church was completed, under Doctor Kearsley's supervision, in 1747, the vestry passed a vote of thanks, and ordered a silver cup to be presented to him, of the value of forty pounds, " for his care and trouble in rebuilding and ornamenting the church, and as a lasting memorial and grateful acknowledgment of his services done for this church and congregation."
Dr. Kearsley left by his will a very large part of his estate, both real and personal, in trust, to the cor- poration of the united churches of Christ Church and St. Peter's, to found the institution which he named "CHRIST CHURCH HOSPITAL;" the design of which is to afford a comfortable home for respectable, aged, indigent females; or, in the language of the tes- tator, " for the support of ten or more poor or dis-
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APPENDIX.
tressed women, of the communion of the church of England, or such as the said corporation and their successors shall deem such ; preferring clergymen's widows before others, and supplying them with meat, drink, and lodging, and the assistance of persons prac- tising physic and surgery."
At present there are thirty-eight inmates in this asylum, which are as many as the building can com- fortably accommodate. They have every comfort that could be had in the best regulated private board- ing house. A physician attends them whenever his services are required ; and weekly religious services are performed at the house, to accommodate those who are too infirm to go out to the places of public worship. On these occasions the rectors of Christ Church and St. Peter's respectively, in their turns, read the daily service of the church, and deliver a lecture.
The first building occupied as an hospital was a small two story house, No. 111 Arch street, which could accommodate only eight persons. This was pulled down in 1785, and a three story building, 34 feet deep, was erected on the same spot.
This last building having become entirely inadequate to the accommodation of its inmates, a spacious edi- fice was erected on Cherry street, in 1818, and opened in March, 1819. It is 60 feet front by 40 feet in depth, and contains twenty-two rooms. The whole cost of the building alone was nearly nineteen thou- sand dollars.
In January, 1789, Joseph Dobbins, Esq. of South Carolina, gave to this institution five hundred pounds, and two lots of land in the city of Philadelphia.
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337
HOSPITAL.
Mr. Dobbins died on the 29th of May, 1804, at Co- lumbia, S. C., aged seventy-one years ; leaving, as his will expresses it, " all his estate, real and personal, consisting of one hundred and seventy-six shares in the Bank of South Carolina, together with other pro- perty amounting to six thousand dollars or thereabouts, to the poor and distressed widows, supported by the bounty of Doctor Kearsley, in Christ Church Hospital."
Thus, through the pious munificence of two indivi- duals, one of the most useful benevolent institutions in our country, has been amply endowed, and the de- clining years of many a poor and aged widow, have been rendered comfortable and happy. " Blessed is the man that provideth for the sick and needy; the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble."
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ARCHITECT'S LETTER.
Referred to in page 247.
To the Committee on the alteration of Christ Church. Gentlemen,
IN compliance with your request, I have examined Christ Church, with reference to the proposed altera- tion of the gallery into 32 slip-pews, and find it prac- ticable without altering the present appearance of the church. It will be necessary to strengthen the gallery by trussing the front on the inside; this may be ac- complished without removing the panneling on the outside. In its present situation I think it unsafe ; it has already yielded to the superincumbent weight, and the deflection of the timbers composing the front is evident.
The galleries were originally supported by addi- tional columns; these should not have been removed without substituting some other support. The afore- said alteration of the pews and strengthening of the galleries, will cost four hundred dollars. This estimate does not include cutting down the front of the galle- ries, which I think would not be necessary in so par- tial an alteration. If the fronts of the side galleries be made lower, the organ gallery must also be altered in the same manner ; all which would cost fifty dollars additional.
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339
ARCHITECT'S LETTER.
You further requested me to suggest such other improvements as would tend to the comfort of the congregation, and the beauty of the house. This to me is by no means an unpleasant duty, as I have often looked with regret at the many innova- tions on the original purity of the architecture of Christ Church; and it affords me pleasure to think that there is some hope of its restoration to its pristine beauty.
1. First. I suggest that the organ be moved to within three feet of the west wall, the attic gallery taken away, and the bellows placed in the steeple ; the gallery for the choir reduced in width, and so arranged as not to mar the harmony of the original architecture ; and the stairs to the organ gallery from the steeple made more convenient. The organ at present being so far from the walls of the house, and the space behind it being broken up with the bellows gallery, the effect of the music is much injured ; it is also impolitic to have so many of the best pews in the house covered with the organ gallery.
2. The whole architectural effect of the interior is injured by the hanging of the galleries to those beau- tiful Doric columns. I therefore recommend that the whole of the galleries be taken down and rebuilt, so as to be lower at the front than they are at present ; and to clear the large columns, they may be supported from said columns by means of strong cast iron brack- ets, so fixed in the gallery front, as not to be seen. This arrangement will produce 36 comfortable slip- pews in the galleries, exclusive of ample accommoda- tions for the choir.
340
APPENDIX.
3. I propose that all the old pews on the principal floor of the church be removed, and 132 new slip- pews substituted ; these should be constructed with reference to the comfort and convenience of the con- gregation, the backs should be made not more than three feet high above the floor, and to deviate from a perpendicular line in the same manner as the back of an ordinary chair ;- the seats should incline back so as to make the pews comfortable.
4. I recommend that the whole church be floored and carpeted ; the stones in the aisles may remain where they now are, and be covered with the floor; should any of the relatives of the deceased wish the stones to appear, they may be inserted in the wooden floor without difficulty.
5. The present manner of heating the church is quite ineffectual, and the stove-pipes and flues mar the beauty of the architecture. I therefore suggest the propriety of removing all the stoves, the pipes and the flues in the N. W. and S. W. corners of the church ; and in lieu thereof, I propose to construct a large fur- nace for the purpose of supplying the church with rarified air. A cellar may be excavated under or near the door leading from the vestry room to the nave of the church, and the furnace built in this cellar, the rarified air to be admitted into the church through an iron grating made in the floor. This I believe to be the only method by which the church can be warmed effectually, the ceiling being so very high. By this manner of heating, we may obtain comfort, without marring the beauty of the
341
ARCHITECT'S LETTER.
church, or interrupting the worship, by making fires, &c.
6. The eastern window opening into the church, is altogether useless for purposes of light, and must be a great annoyance to the congregation, yet it is of im- portance to the architecture to retain it ; this may be done and its inconvenience avoided, by placing per- manent blinds, each slat to be so wide as to prevent any possibility of seeing through from any attainable position in the house ; by this means, all the glare of light may be destroyed, and the beauty of the window preserved. I also suggest the propriety of making an additional sash in the window, on the outside of the blinds, for the purpose of keeping out the noise from Second street.
7. If these alterations are made, it will be necessa- ry to paint the whole interior of the Church, including the walls.
I have estimated the expense of making all the aforementioned alterations and improvements, and am of opinion, that the whole may be accomplished for three thousand dollars.
The propriety of reducing the heighth of the ceiling and making it a flat surface, has been suggested ; this would make the house easier to speak in, and it could be warmed with more facility; but this al- teration would completely ruin the architecture of the building, and destroy all that dignity and ecclesi- astical effect so completely attained in this venerable fabric.
It has also been proposed to remove the stairs on each side of the pulpit, and extend the galleries to the
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APPENDIX.
east wall of the house ; this would also mar the sym- metry of the work ; it is now a beautiful arrangement ; all the parts in the ceiling of the chancel repose on corresponding parts in the sides ; there is now perfect symmetry and harmony in all the proportions, which I would regret to see violated.
I have proposed nothing but what would have a tendency to restore the church to its pristine beauty. I cannot conceive that the original architect ever in- tended to put the organ in the middle of the church, and support it on columns that have no sort of anal- ogy with the rest of the architecture ; neither do I think that he intended to mar his beautiful and massive columns by thrusting into their sides a tremendous gallery. He no doubt intended to have a gallery, from the fact of his making two stories of windows, but it is just as certain that he intended the gallery to fall back from the columns.
The detail of the arrangement of the pews and the church floor, are of minor importance, as it regards the architectural effect; comfort and convenience should govern us in this particular.
As it regards the manner of heating the church, the plan suggested approximates nearer to the designs of the original architect than we can attain to in any other way. It is a fact well known, that when Christ Church was erected, no fires were used in churches warming places of worship is a very late improve- ment, consequently, in the architectural disposition of the parts, no provision was made for flues &c., the introduction of which can be considered as nothing less than an interpolation in the original design.
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ARCHITECT'S LETTER.
It would afford me great pleasure to see the interior of Christ Church restored to its primitive beauty, and made to combine the comfort and conveniencies of modern times.
I am, gentlemen, with great respect, Your obedient servant, THOS. U. WALTER, Architect. Philadelphia, April 29th, 1834.
To Messrs. Kempton, White and Wheeler, committee on the alteration of Christ Church.
,
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REPORT OF A COMMITTEE
ON THE STEEPLE.
Referred to in page 270.
Ar a meeting of the vestry of Christ Church, on Wednesday, Sept 5, 1838, the following report was laid before them by the committee of repairs :
The subscribers having been applied to by a com- mittee of the vestry of Christ Church, to make a sur- vey of the steeple belonging to that edifice, in order to ascertain its actual condition,
REPORT:
That after a careful examination of the said steeple, they are enabled to say, and they do so with peculiar satisfaction ; that they found it to be in an excellent state of preservation.
The lower part, or brick tower, appears to be in as good or better condition than it has ever before been in ; the improvements lately made being well calcu- lated to preserve, as well as to adorn it, the interstices between the bricks have been carefully filled, wher- ever required, with durable cement; a substantial copper roof has been laid over the wooden one; the windows throughout have been furnished with new sashes, glazed with thick and strong glass, and the whole painted in the best manner.
REPORT ON THE STEEPLE. 345
The interior of the tower has also been thoroughly repaired ; the vestibule and belfry have been newly plastered, painted, and generally put in neat and per- .fect order.
In the examination of the superstructure, the sub- scribers were highly pleased, as well as surprised, to find no symptoms of decay ; the timbers and framing are evidently sound and strong, and show every indi- cation of enduring for a very long period. Some tri- fling repairs and works of precaution, suggested by the subscribers, after a previous inspection, have been - completed, and seem to embrace all that is neces- sary to secure the structure from accident or decay. Amongst these it may be well to notice a new floor- ing of copper to the lanthorn to protect it against fire, to which there has been added a roof, also of copper, by direction of the committee.
The bells, and the framing in which they are sus- pended, are in perfect order, and entirely secure.
The surveyors cannot pass over, without commen- dation, the painting and decoration of the steeple.
The paint, which they are informed is of the manu- facture of Messrs. Wetherills, is of a quality greatly superior to any they have hitherto met with, and has a rich and glossy appearance that does not fail to arrest the attention of every beholder ; and the paint- ing is done with great fidelity, and in so masterly a manner that it will doubtless secure to the painter who laid it on, Mr. William D. Jones, a permanent repu- tation.
Although not specially called on to view the im- provements in the body of the church, the subscribers
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APPENDIX.
could not omit the opportunity offered, to make a close inspection of the thorough restoration it has un- dergone, and gladly avail themselves of this occasion to bear testimony to the faithfulness of the work done, and to declare their conviction that this ancient and venerable edifice is now in a state of conformity with the original design of the architect, and likely to con- tinue for a long time, as it always has been, a cher- ished object of the affections and pride of Philadel- phians.
PHILIP JUSTUS, JOHN M. OGDEN, DANIEL SMITH.
Philadelphia, September 5, 1838.
Whereupon, it was on motion,
Resolved, That the report to the committee of re- pairs, signed by Messrs. Philip Justus, John M. Ogden and Daniel Smith, the gentlemen whose services in the survey and examination of the church were so kindly volunteered, is very satisfactory and particu- larly acceptable to the vestry ; and that they cordially unite with them in the commendation bestowed on the workmanship and materials employed in repairing, painting, and embellishing the edifice.
Resolved, That the thanks of the vestry be pre- sented to those gentlemen for the prompt and liberal manner in which they met the application of the com- mittee, and the fidelity with which they have executed the survey.
Extract from the minutes.
(Signed) WADE T. SMITH, Secretary. September 5, 1838.
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE following table exhibits the number of Bap- tisms and Confirmations, and the whole number of Communicants in each year, since the separation of the churches.
Baptisms.
Confirmations.
Communicants.
1833
40
21
:
126
1834
45
10
142
1835
43
-
13
156
1836
46
35
197
1837*
23
5
176
-
1838
69
58
220
1839
49
40
250
1840
73
-
46
-
318
1841
57
26
340
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
A Sunday school was organized in this parish in 1816; there being at that time no other parochial Sunday school in the city, excepting the one connected with the Presbyterian Church, corner of Arch and Third streets, which was established three months be- fore.
* This embraces the period subsequent to the decease of the Right Rev. Dr. White, and the Rev. Mr. James, when the church was with- out a rector for nearly a year. In the above table, each year is con- sidered as ending in May ; when the parochial reports are made to the Diocesan Convention.
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APPENDIX.
A large three story building, in the rear of the church, is exclusively appropriated to the use of the schools, of which there are three, under the supervi- sion of the rector, assisted by two superintendents and fifty teachers. The number of scholars is about three hundred. There are also two female bible classes, which meet in a room in the church, corresponding with the vestry room.
On the first Sunday afternoon of each month, all the children connected with the schools assemble in the body of the church; and, after Evening Prayers, are catechised by the rector, in presence of the congre- gation. '
SERVICES.
The church is open for divine service, on Wednes- day and Friday morning, throughout the year ; and on all holy days.
The Holy Communion is administered on the first Sunday of each month ; and on Christmas day, Easter Sunday, and Whit-Sunday.
The quarterly collections for church objects are made in January, April, June and October.
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CHARTER
OF THE UNITED CHURCHES OF
CHRIST CHURCH AND ST. PETER'S CHURCH,
IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, IN THE PROVINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
THOMAS PENN and RICHARD PENN, true and absolute Pro- prietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, and counties of New- castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, to all persons to whom these presents shall come, Greeting :
WHEREAS divers members of the Episcopal Church of England, residing in the city of Philadelphia, have, at a very considerable expense, erected and built two churches in the said city, the one called Christ Church, and the other St. Peter's Church :
And whereas it hath been represented to us by the Rev- erend Richard Peters, the present rector of the said Epis- copal churches in the said city, Charles Stedman and Townsend White, the present church wardens of the said churches, John Kearsley, Jacob Duché, John Ross, Alex- ander Stedman, Edward Duffield, Joseph Swift, Joseph Sims, Joseph Stamper, Thomas Gordon, Peter Turner, senior, William *Pywell, James Humphreys, Henry Harri- son, Joseph Redman, William Bingham, Redmond +Cun- ningham, William Plumstead, and Peter Sonmans, the pre- sent vestrymen of the said churches, that for want of a corporate body in either of the said churches, capable of
AP
* Pyewell, t Conyngham.
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APPENDIX.
taking or holding by law the donations, grants, and be- quests of divers charitable and well disposed persons, here- tofore made for the use and benefit of the said churches, or either of them, and for and towards the support and main- tenance of the rector and minister thereof, have been lost, and the pious intentions of the donors frustrated and defeat- ed ; and that all funds and provisions that may or can be established for the good purposes aforesaid will be precarious and ineffectual, until a suitable remedy is provided in that behalf : Wherefore they have prayed us to incorporate them, by the name of The Rector, Church Wardens, and Vestry Men of the United Churches of Christ Church and St. Peter's, in the city of Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania, and that they and their successors, by such name, may be erected and constituted a body politick and corporate, and have perpetual succession : Now KNOW YE, that we, favouring the prayer and application of the said rector, church-wardens and vestry-men, and willing as much as in us lies, to encourage virtue, piety, and charity, and for other good causes and considerations us thereto specially moving, have granted, ordained, declared, con- stituted and appointed, and do, for us, our heirs and suc- cessors, by these presents, grant, ordain, declare, consti- tute and appoint, that the said Reverend Richard Peters, rector, Charles Stedman and Townsend White, church- wardens, John Kearsley, Jacob Duché, John Ross, Alex- ander Stedman, Edward Duffield, Joseph Swift, Joseph Sims, Joseph Stamper, Thomas Gordon, Peter Turner, senior, William Pywell, James Humphreys, Henry Harri- son, Joseph Redman, William Bingham, Redmond Cun- ningham, William Plumstead, and Peter Sonmans, and their successors, duly elected and nominated in their place and stead, be, and they are hereby, created one corpora- tion and body politick, to have continuance forever, by the
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351
CHARTER.
name of The Rector, Church-Wardens and Vestry-Men of the United Episcopal Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's Church, in the city of Philadelphia, in the Pro- vince of Pennsylvania.
And we do hereby, for us, our heirs and successors, grant, ordain, and declare, that the said rector, church- wardens and vestry-men, and their successors, by the name aforesaid, shall forever hereafter be persons able and capable in law to purchase, have, receive, take, hold, and enjoy, in fee-simple, or any other lesser estate or estates, any lands, tenements, rents, annuities, liberties, franchises and other hereditaments, within the said province of Penn- sylvania, or the three lower counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, by the gift, grant, bargain, sale, alienation, enfeoffment, release, confirmation or devise of any person or persons, bodies politick or corporate, capa- ble to make the same : And further, that the said corpora- tion, and their successors, may take and receive any sum or sums of money, and any kind, manner or portion of goods and chattels, that shall be given or bequeathed to them by any person or persons, bodies politick and corpo- rate, capable to make a bequest or gift thereof ; such money to be laid out by them in a purchase or purchases of lands, tenements, messuages, houses, rents, or heredita- ments, to them and their successors forever.
And we will and require, that the rents and revenues of the said rector, church-wardens and vestry-men, and their successors, be from time to time applied by the said rector, church-wardens and vestry-men, and their successors, for the maintenance and support of the rector, ministers and officers of the said United Churches, and in the necessary repairs of the said United Churches, and their church- yards and parsonage houses, and other houses which do now, or hereafter shall, belong to the said united churches or either of them, and to no other use or purpose whatsoever.
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APPENDIX. .
And we further will and require, that the said rector, church-wardens and vestry-men, and their successors, shall not by deed, fine or recovery, or by any other ways or means, grant, alien, or otherwise dispose of any manors, messuages, lands, tenements or hereditaments, in them and their successors to be vested, nor change nor encumber the same to any person or persons whomsoever.
And we do further, for us, our heirs and successors, au- thorize and empower the said rector, churchwardens, ves- trymen, and their successors, or a majority of them, met from time to time, to make rules, by-laws and ordinances, and to do every thing needful for the good government and support of the said churches : PROVIDED ALWAYS, that the said rules, by-laws, and ordinances be not repugnant to the laws and statutes in force in the Kingdom of Great Britain, nor to the laws and statutes in force in the said Province of Pennsylvania, and be entered in the vestry book.
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