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 3
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May 2. " The church wardens are required to examine into and take a catalogue or inven- tory of the library, or other things belonging to the church, which now are in the custody of Doctor Evans ; and also to give notice to Mr. George McCall, tenant of the parsonage-house, that his rent, from this date, is to be paid into their hands, for the use of the church during the vacancy."
June 2. "A representation to the arch- bishops and bishops of the church of England was presented to the vestry by Doctor Evans, and the Rev. Mr. John Talbot," of Burlington, N. J., which was read, and it was thereupon "ordered, that the church wardens sign the said address in the name and by order of the vestry of Christ Church in Philadelphia." The address is as follows, viz. :
" To the most reverend fathers in God the arch-bishops and the right reverend the bishops of the Church of Eng- land : The representation and humble petition of many of
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the faithful in the communion of the Church of England in North America, most humbly showeth :
" That whereas the British colonies and settlements in America have now for many years been blessed with the pure and primitive doctrine and worship of our mother the Church of England, of which you are happily at this day great ornaments and prime rulers; and whereas for the want of Episcopacy being settled among us, and that there never has been any bishop sent to visit us, our churches remain unconsecrated, our children grown up and cannot be confirmed, their sureties under solemn engagements and cannot be absolved, and our clergy sometimes under doubts and cannot be resolved. But whereas more especially for the want of that sacred power which is inherent to your apostolic order, the vacancies which daily happen in our ministry cannot be supplied for a long time from England, whereby many congregations are not only become desolate and the light of the gospel therein extinguished, but great encouragement is thereby given to sectaries of all sorts, which abound and increase among us, and some of them pretending to what they call the power of ordination, the country is filled with fanatical teachers, debauching the good inclinations of many poor souls, who are left destitute of any instruction or ministry. May it therefore please your lordships in your great piety and regard for the gov- ernment of the church by bishops, to think of some means whereby these our sorrowful complaints and grievous mis- fortunes may be heard and redressed. And that Almighty God may of his infinite mercy inspire your thoughts and assist your pious endeavours to accomplish this evidently necessary and religious work, is the most earnest and daily prayer of, may it please your lordships,
Your lordships' most humble petitioners,
And most obedient sons and servants."
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In April following, the Rev. Mr. Talbot laid before the vestry another address to the arch- bishops and bishops of the church of England, " setting forth the necessity of a bishop to reside among us in this country, which was signed by all the members present ;" viz. : the governor, both wardens and eight vestrymen, together with the Rev. Mr. Talbot, who was also pre- sent.
June 23. At a meeting of the vestry held this day it was "Resolved, that if it should happen that the clergymen who are to serve the church during this vacancy be sick, or should not come, that Mr. Piper, the school- master, read the prayers in the church, and for his service he shall be rewarded by the vestry for the time being."
September 23. The Rev. Mr. Thomas Hughs, from Virginia, offers to supply the church, until the bishop of London can be heard from. His offer is gladly accepted, and a vote of thanks is passed to the clergymen who had so kindly rendered their services in keeping the pulpit supplied since Dr. Evans left. Mr. Hughs officiated about a year.
November 11. Mr. William Skinner is sent. out by the bishop of London to take charge of
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the school belonging to Christ Church, and is cordially received by the vestry.
1719.
May 15. " The church wardens are desired to agree with Mr. William Robinson for a plot of ground which they have already viewed for a burying place, and to collect the money with all convenient speed." The title, however, being considered doubtful, a lot is purchased of Mr. James Steel. This is the burial ground in Arch street, corner of Fifth, which was bought in August of this year, and must have been used very soon after as a place of interment, for we find inscriptions on some of the tomb- stones of as early a date as 1720.
September 4. " The Rev. Mr. John Vicary laid before the board a license from the Right Rev. Father in God, John, lord bishop of Lon- don, appointing him minister of this church. And the "vestry, being well pleased with his lordship's care therein, heartily concur in his lordship's appointment, and accordingly receive the said Mr. Vicary as their minister, with the respect due to his character ; always acknow- ledging his lordship's unquestionable authority over our church."
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Mr. Vicary continued in charge of the church for three years.
1720.
May 30. The belfry appearing to be so much decayed that there is "danger of the great bell falling, unless speedily repaired, the church wardens are desired to order the clerk not to ring or toll said bell till further orders."
August 11. The vestry pass a resolution that it is expedient that " a voluntary subscrip- tion" be made " for the enlargement of the church, the building of a tower, and the pur- chasing a set of bells." Nothing further seems to have been done in this matter until May 4, 1721, when the book for subscription towards a new church was brought in by Robert Asshe- ton, and was signed by some of the vestry present ;" and at a subsequent meeting, Robert Assheton and John Kearsley are requested to collect one-fourth part of the money already subscribed towards the building of a new church and steeple." The subject however was permitted to rest for six years longer ; until 1727, when the present building was com- menced.
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1721.
July 31. The vestry being informed that the governor was pleased to promise a charter of incorporation for the church, a petition for that purpose was prepared by the minister and church wardens, agreed to and signed by all present, and ordered to be presented to the governor. His excellency, in reply, consented to grant their request, as soon as a charter could be prepared, and at the same time " assured the vestry he would always be ready to do every thing in his power for promoting the interest of this church."
1722.
January 29. The Rev. Mr. Vicary being unable to officiate, in consequence of ill health, the vestry request " William Assheton to read prayers and sermons on Sundays;" and it is " ordered that the church wardens wait upon Mr. Weyman and endeavour to prevail with him to supply this church, and administer the sacrament the first Sunday in every month." It does not appear that Mr. Vicary ever offici- ated after this period. At what time his death occurred is uncertain, probably in 1723, as the event is alluded to in a letter to the bishop of London, dated December of that year.
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
1723.
The vacancy occasioned by the death of the Rev. Mr. Vicary was temporarily supplied by the Rev. John Urmston, who had been a mis- sionary in North Carolina, from the society in England. His conduct, however, was such as to bring great reproach upon the church, and he was dismissed, after having preached here but about a year. The following proceedings were had, in consequence of Mr. Urmston's removal.
At a meeting of the vestry, October 29th, 1723, " Mr. Fraser, church warden, laid before the vestry a minute of the convention of the clergy of this province, held at Chi - chester the 23d day of this instant, October, which was read, and is as followeth :
" A member of the convention having laid before the brethren the reflections cast upon those missionaries who recommended Mr. Urmston to supply the cure of Philadel- phia, and the said member having signified what reasons such reflections were grounded upon agreed that the Rev. Mr. Talbot and the Rev. Mr. Weyman do acquaint the vestry and wardens of the church of Philadelphia, that the clergy of this province are willing and ready to concur in the removal of the said Mr. Urmston from Philadelphia, provided that they do signify their uneasiness to the con- vention, and make their application to them, or any three of their number, under their hands to that purpose.
Signed, JOHN TALBOT, GEORGE Ross, JOHN HUMPHREYS, ROBERT WEYMAN, WILLIAM BECKETT.
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The above communication having been read, it was " Resolved that the thanks of this vestry be given to the gentlemen of the convention for their expressing them- selves so willing and ready to concur in the removal of Mr. Urmston from Philadelphia." It was further " or- dered that the church wardens wait upon as many of the above clergy as they conveniently can, and deliver them a copy of this minute, and let them know that if they please to supply this church till we can be otherwise provided, we shall gratefully acknowledge the favour."
Signed, WILLIAM FRASER,
Church Warden.
Anthony Palmer, Robert Assheton, Peter Evans, James Tuthill, Robert Ellis, George Plumley, John Read, Samuel Hasell, Thomas Polegreen, Merick Davis, Vestrymen.
From the above documents it appears that the clergy of the province were wont to meet in convention, at that time, and to legislate on the affairs of the church.
November 27. " Ordered that the pews be all numbered in oyle colours, according to the plan of the church pews."
December 19. An address to the bishop of London, Dr. Gibson, pursuant to an order of the vestry of the 13th of August last, was this day sent home by Capt. John Richmond ; which address is in the words following, viz. :
To the Right Rev. Father in God, Edmund, lord bishop
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
of London : The humble address and representation of the church wardens and vestry of Christ Church, Philadelphia. ·May it please your lordship,
We beg leave to congratulate your lordship upon your translation from the see of Lincoln to London, not doubting but that your lordship will have the same regard to the church of Philadelphia as the late bishops, your prede- cessors, have had.
It is now about twenty-eight years since the foundation of an English church, by a very few of her communion, was first laid in this city; since which, by the blessing of God, the congregation has so increased, that two additions have been made thereto. And we are sorry to say, that had it not been for some very great indiscretions and mis- takes of our ministers, which we rather choose to bury in oblivion than to bring upon the stage, our church and reli- gion would have stood much fairer in the opinion of her adversaries. We were in hopes your lordship's predeces- sor, upon the death of our late minister, Mr. Vicary, would have filled this vacancy with an able, honest and good man ; without which we humbly presume the gospel can hardly propagate, or the church flourish in a place sur- rounded with such swarms of dissenters.
The minister of this church (saving the £50 per annum, the crown's bounty, superseded some years ago,) has always been maintained by a voluntary subscription of the con- gregation, amounting for several years past, to at least £150 per annum, which, together with the surplice fees, and a convenient house rent free, we modestly compute at £200. Besides we do not despair of regaining the bounty money, would your lordship become our advocate to the king for the same.
Our church, for above twelve months last past, rather than the doors should be shut and the congregation scatter,
5*
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has been supplied by one Mr. Urmston, heretofore mis- sionary to the honourable society to North Carolina; but now by them, for good reasons doubtless, dismissed, as he is by us, and gone for Maryland.
And now having given your lordship an account of the state of our church, we humbly submit it to your lordship's consideration, beseeching you to send us such a gentleman as may be a credit to our communion, an ornament to his profession, and a true propagator of the gospel. We are with the greatest respect,
May it please your lordship,
Your lordship's most obedient sons and servants.
As the above document was dated in Decem- ber, 1723, it clearly ascertains two facts, that the church then standing was the original building erected in 1695, and that it had been twice enlarged since its erection.
1724.
July 27. The vestry not having heard from the bishop of London addressed the following letter to the Rev. Dr. Richard Welton :
Reverend Sir,
We, the church wardens and vestrymen of Christ Church, Philadelphia, taking into our serious consideration the melancholy state of our church, which, since the death of the Rev. Mr. Vicary, has been left in a manner destitute and without a pastor, we have some time since addressed the right reverend, the bishop of London, for a supply to fill the vacancy ; but have not yet heard from his lordship.
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
It is therefore our humble request, that you would be pleased to take the care of this church upon you ; which extraordinary favour we shall always gratefully acknow- ledge, and beg leave to subscribe ourselves,
Rev. Sir, your most affectionate, humble servants,
Signed by both wardens and fifteen vestrymen. Philada. July 27th, 1724.
This invitation was accepted, and the . Doc- tor entered immediately upon his new charge ; but continued in it only until January, 1726, when he was called home to England.
1726.
January 13. The following proceedings were had in vestry in consequence of their cler- gyman leaving them at this time.
" The Rev. Dr. Welton who has officiated as minister in this church, in its vacancy, at our request, being now called home by the gov- ernment, requesting our testimonial or certifi- cate of his conduct and behaviour amongst us, and we being sensible of the good services he has done the church, think ourselves under an obligation to do him justice in that behalf. It is therefore ordered, that the church wardens get the same prepared, and lay it before the next vestry."
It appears from Dr. Hawks's Ecclesiastical
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Contributions, that the Rev. Dr. Welton, and the Rev. Mr. Talbot of Burlington, were sup- posed to have received Episcopal orders in England, and to have been consecrated by the English nonjuring bishops. "There is direct evidence," says Dr. Hawks, " from the letters of some of the missionaries, that they at least administered confirmation, and wore the robes of a bishop. A matter of this kind would of course alarm both the clergy and civil authority in all the colonies. Governors thought the subject of sufficient moment to be presented to the authorities at home, and it was there brought before the privy council. Very soon an order came to Sir William Keith, the gov- ernor of Pennsylvania, enclosing his majesty's writ of privy seal, addressed to Welton, and commanding him, upon his allegiance forthwith to return to Great Britain ; upon the service of this order, Welton sailed for Lisbon."*
Percival, in his late work on Apostolical Succession, tells us, that " Welton and Talbot were not recognized as bishops by the rest of the nonjurors, having been consecrated without their approval. They both went to the colonies in North America, the former to Philadelphia, and exercised the Episcopal functions. But
* Eccles. Contributions, vol. ii. p. 183.
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
the government at home interfering, at the request of the then bishop of London, Welton retired to Portugal, where he died, 1726. Tal- bot took the oaths and submitted."+
February 7. " Our church being now vacant, and no minister to perform the duties thereof, and we being informed that the Rev. Mr. Wey- man, Mr. Leadman, and Mr. Holebrook, are willing to lend us all the assistance they can, till we can be otherwise supplied ; it is ordered, that the church wardens acquaint them, that we kindly accept of their generous offer, and will gratefully acknowledge their trouble." " Ordered, that the parsonage house be cleaned and repaired, that Mr. Weyman may come into it."
The Rev. Mr. Weyman appears to have offi- ciated most of the time, until September, 1726, when the Rev. Mr. Cummings took the charge. The vestry vote " fifty pounds to the Rev. Mr. Weyman, for his care of the church during its vacancy."
September 9. At a vestry meeting held this day, "The Rev. Mr. Archibald Cummings laid before the board a license from the Right Rev. Edmund, lord bishop of London, appointing him
* Percival's Apology for Apos. Succession, p. 134.
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minister of this church, and was accordingly received."
Mr. Cummings continued the minister of Christ Church, until his death, in 1741, a period of nearly fifteen years ; during which time the affairs of the church seem to have gone on, for the most part, prosperously and harmoniously. A slight difficulty, which we shall hereafter notice, for a moment disturbed the otherwise peaceful calm.
1727.
The arrival of a new minister, with a pros- pect of his permanent settlement among them, seems to have inspired the congregation with unwonted zeal and energy; for in April, 1727, it being admitted, "that the present church was too small to accommodate the congrega- tion," it was therefore, " Resolved, that an ad- dition or enlargement of thirty-three feet be added to the west end, and that a foundation be forthwith laid for the same, together with a foundation for a steeple, or tower, adjoining to the west end of said enlargement."
" Upon which, Dr. Kearsley, out of a hearty desire to have the said work begun, under- takes to set men a digging, in order to lay the foundation, and will disburse money for the
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
same, until subscriptions be made and collected for the said use."
April 24. "Ordered, that Messrs. John Kearsley, James Tuthill, and Thomas Tresse, be appointed to apply to the parishioners, and other well disposed persons, for their subscrip- - tions towards the addition to the church, and erecting a steeple ; that Messrs. William Chancellor and Peter Baynton make applica- tion to strangers for said purpose; and that Messrs. Thomas Chase and Samuel Hasell apply to Barbadian gentlemen for the same."
April 27. The corner-stone of the present building was laid by the Honourable P. Gor- don, the governor, with the mayor, recorder, the Rev. Mr. Cummings, the minister, and several other gentlemen of the city; as ap- pears from a journal of that day.
May 2. " Dr. Kearsley reported to the vestry that he had ordered the digging and laying a foundation for the addition to the church, and also for the steeple, and that the workmen were now about the same."
" Resolved, That Messrs. John Kearsley, Thomas Tresse, Robert Ellis and Thomas Leech, be appointed overseers, or managers of the work now begun, and that they take care that the work be well done, and the work-
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men paid; and that a suitable foundation be laid for a handsome steeple, to be erected when money can be raised sufficient for the purpose."
This was the commencement of the western end of the present building, begun April 27th, 1727; now, 1841, one hundred and fourteen years since.
Watson in his Annals says, " For the im- pressive architectural style of Christ Church, as well as for the state-house also, we are in- debted to the taste and direction of Dr. John Kearsley, the elder, an eminent physician of Philadelphia. He was a very popular man, a member of assembly, &c." We shall have occasion to notice more fully his merits and virtues, when we come to speak of him as the founder and munificent patron of Christ Church Hospital; for which noble charity, generations yet unborn will rise up and call him blessed.
1728.
July 1. At a meeting of Vestry held this day, it was resolved, that there be allowed to the widow of the late sexton, for his services in " picking up and burying the bones," disin- terred by digging the foundation of the new church, " 1s. 6d. per diem, for the time the
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
foundation was digging; and the time to be ascertained by Dr. Kearsley's book."
From the above it would appear, that the lot on which the church stands had long been used as a burial ground.
September 2. A committee having been appointed by the vestry "to treat with Mr. Lod. C. Sprogel, about an organ lately arrived here, report that they had done the same, and that he insisted on £200. for said organ ; and that they had procured men of the best skill this place could afford, to erect the said or- gan in a convenient house in town, to make trial thereof; which being done, it is said the organ proves good in its kind, and large enough for our church." It was thereupon,
Resolved, That the said organ be purchased for the use of Christ Church in Philadelphia, and that Peter Baynton and others be a com- mittee to procure subscriptions for that pur- pose, to "appoint a suitable place to erect it in, and that they order the moving it into the church forthwith, from the place where it now is."
1729.
April 25. At a meeting of the vestry, this day, it was " Ordered, that Mr. Cummings and
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Mr. Evans be appointed to renew our applica- tion to Barbadoes and St. Christopher's, for some contributions towards carrying on our church ; that Mr. Tresse and Mr. Chancellor, Mr. Hyatt and Mr. Bourne, be appointed to solicit strangers for contributions." An appli- cation for aid had been previously made to the Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts; but what success attended these ap- peals, or whether any of them were responded to, does not appear. It was a bold undertak- ing in those days, for a congregation with such limited resources, to erect so large and costly a building. The patience and perseverance with which they prosecuted it to its completion, are convincing proofs of their faith and zeal. That the cause interested some " strangers," at least, appears from the following minutes of the vestry.
1730.
April 9. "Mr. Dexter presented to the vestry eighteen pounds six shillings, which were delivered to Mr. Kearsley, being a volun- tary donation of the gentlemen of Ireland, met at his house on St. Patrick's day, towards car- rying on the new additional building of the church." Whereupon it was "Ordered, that
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
Mr. Dexter return the gentlemen the thanks of the vestry for the same."
In the minutes of the preceding meeting, the minister of Christ Church, the Rev. Archibald Cummings, is for the first time styled " Rec- tor ;" the title had never been applied to any of his predecessors.
Among the rules of order adopted by the vestry at this time, is the following : "That twenty persons be annually chosen by the con- gregation on Easter Monday, immediately after divine service in the morning, to serve as ves- trymen for the ensuing year; at which time also two church wardens shall be chosen, one by the minister, and the other by the people. The names of the persons so elected shall, on the Sunday following, be published openly in the church."
September 20. The new addition to the church of thirty-three feet, which forms the western end of the present building, being nearly completed, it was "Ordered, that the windows be glazed with all possible expedition, in order that the pulpit may be removed to the place appointed for the better accommodating the whole congregation." A committee ap- pointed to examine the accounts of Dr. John Kearsley, of "money received and disbursed
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for carrying on the additional building of Christ Church, from the 10th April, 1727, to the 19th April, 1730," report, " that they find it a very fair and just account; and that he very well deserved the thanks of the congrega- tion for his great pains and care in the man- agement thereof."
1731.
July 15. The western end of the church being finished, measures were taken to remove the old building, which was very much decay- ed, and put up the eastern end as speedily as circumstances would permit. To carry out the original plan of having a handsome church, steeple, and bells, very much larger sums of money were required than had yet been obtain- ed. The vestry had been four years in finish- ing one section, or about a third part, of the contemplated building, exclusive of the tower and steeple, and their funds were entirely ex- hausted ; still they were not disheartened, but determined to persevere. At a meeting this day, "Capt. Anthony Palmer, and Mr. Thom- as Tresse were appointed to procure and col- lect additional subscriptions for the carrying on the building of the church; and Mr. Thomas Bourne, one of the wardens, whose affairs
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
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