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 5
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
1743.
April 16. At a meeting of the vestry this day, it was " Ordered, that, for the better ac- commodating the congregation with seats in the church, the west end gallery be forthwith run out, and built entirely over the west aisle." At the same meeting " John Kearsley delivered in a petition to this vestry, greatly complaining that he had served this congregation ever since the year 1727, as trustee and overseer in car- rying on and rebuilding this church, and that in the compass of full five years in that time he had given daily attendance, without any re- laxation from that service, in which he had greatly neglected his private affairs, and under- gone much fatigue, and had always been in advance large sums of money, some part of which, he conceives, has not been discharged to this day ; for all which he has not received any consideration, or the least acknowledg- ment ; but instead thereof has been frequently loaded with calumny, and ill treated by mem- bers of this congregation, and therefore prays this vestry will be pleased to appoint some per- sons of known abilities, to audit and settle his accounts, that he may for the future be acquit- ted or condemned of the calumnies thrown up- on him." Whereupon, a committee was ap-
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pointed for the purpose of auditing and settling Dr. Kearsley's accounts.
July 14. The Rev. Mr. Eneas Ross, who had been for some time an assistant to Dr. Jenney, found it necessary to resign his situa- tion in Christ Church, for reasons given in the following letter from him :
To the church wardens and vestrymen of Christ Church, Philadelphia :
Gentlemen,
Lest any thing should be misunderstood that I am now about to acquaint you with, I choose to deliver the same in writing. Upon my arrival from England in June, 1741, to my great concern I found this church vacant, by the death of our late worthy pastor, the reverend Mr. Com- missary Cummings ; upon which I was solicited, among other missionaries, to officiate here in my turn, which, though a very unequal task to so young a man, under the protection of Almighty God, I consented to; and in the fall after, by a message from the then vestry, I was re- quested to take the care of this church altogether upon me, until my lord bishop of London's pleasure, upon the address by this vestry to his lordship sent, should be known. Under the same influence and protection, I undertook that great charge, and continued the same 'till the arrival of our pre- sent worthy commissary, Doctor Jenney, to whom I have had the pleasure, some months past, of being an assistant ; and should in that station cheerfully have continued, so long as the doctor and you should please ; but having the care of Oxford and White Marsh churches, in which I have officiated for some time past, by order of the Society,
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
and my health being much impaired, I am under the neces- sity, with the commissary's and your leave, to retire to Oxford. I heartily give you, gentlemen, and all the con- gregation, thanks for their regards and civilities from time to time shown me. I shall not cease to make my supplica- tions to Almighty God, for your and their temporal and eternal happiness, promised through the alone merits of our Redeemer and only Saviour Christ.
I am, gentlemen, Your affectionate brother, And most obliged humble servant, - ENEAS ROSS.
Philadelphia, 14th July, 1743.
" Upon reading of which, the vestry acknow- ledged the great service the reverend Mr. Eneas Ross had done this congregation, dur- ing the vacancy, upon the death of the rever- end Mr. Archibald Cummings, by his diligent performance of the divine offices, attended with a sober and religious behaviour ; for which they assured him they should at all times think themselves under an obligation to render him all the good services in their power; and heartily pray for his health, and a perfect recovery of his strength and ability to discharge the weighty cures under his mission."
1744. August 27. " The church wardens report that 8
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the church is now happily finished, and that workmen were agreed with, and materials pur- chased to proceed on rebuilding and regulating the seats ; and that they had proposed for the better accommodating the congregation with seats, to make the width thereof two feet eight inches, according to the size of seats of the kind in some other places ; but it being observ- ed that the seats in St. Martin's church in Lon- don were two feet nine inches wide, resolved, that the width of the long seats in the body of the church be two feet and nine inches, and no more."
October 23. The committee appointed to audit and settle the accounts of Dr. John Kearsley, after stating the balance due him, say, " And we do further report, that in the course of examination of the said accounts and vouchers to us produced, it appears that the said Doctor John Kearsley has been at great pains and trouble, beside an almost constant attendance, both in the providing and agreeing with proper workmen, for the several sorts of employments, and the payment to them in al- most numberless small articles. And we are of opinion that the uniformity and beauty of the structure, so far as it appears now finished, is greatly owing to the assiduity, care, pains, and
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
labour of him the said Doctor John Kearsley, and that he stands fully entitled to the thanks and particular acknowledgments of the vestry, and also of the congregation, and that he should be entreated to continue his farther care and circumspection henceforth, for the completion thereof." The above report being read, it was " Resolved, " that the thanks of this vestry, as also of the congregation, are due to Doctor Kearsley, for his care and labour in carrying on the rebuilding of this church."
" For building the outside of the church, which was done at two several times, the sum expended and paid by Dr. Kearsley was £2197. 15s. 3d." This last entry is made in Dr. Kears- ley's own hand-writing, on the minutes of the vestry kept by him, and signed by himself.
November 6. It was reported "that the seats in the body of the church were now under the workmen's hands, and that they would be ready to be put up in a few days."
" A beautiful chandelier of 24 branches, brought by Capt. Seymour, from London," is purchased of him for £56. This is probably the same that now hangs suspended over the centre aisle.
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1745.
February 8. " The vestry being informed that thirty-six seats in the body of the church are already finished, and that the church war- dens find great difficulty in finishing the rest, because some members of the congregation were dissatisfied with the manner of altering the double seats into single ones, and this ves- try being also informed that by altering the said double seats into single ones, it would lose one seat in six, and that there were a great number of persons wholly destitute of seats in the church, Ordered, therefore, that the residue of the seats which are now double, be contin- ued and rebuilt in the place and manner they now are."
It would seem from the above, that all the pews were rebuilt at this time ; in consequence of which, "the ninth pew, counting from the west aisle, was gained," and " some persons," therefore, " pretended a right to remove one seat nigher the pulpit," and thereby occassion- ed "great dissorders in the congregation." To remedy this evil, the vestry resolve how the pews shall be occupied ; and among other provisions it is determined, " that the propri- etary's family shall sit in the seat gained by the late regulation."
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
1746.
April 24. "Ordered, that the church war- dens agree with the workmen to go on with the pews on both sides, and the west end of the church, and pay for the same out of the box money, as it shall be collected."
June 2. "The meeting of this vestry was to consider on and view the several drafts of a tower and spire, in order to agree upon one to be erected to this church, and after some time spent thereon, it was agreed and concluded upon, that in erecting the spire the ·draft which Mr. Harrison drew should be fol- lowed; and that Mr. Jenney, with the war- dens, and two of the vestry, viz. : Mr. Thomas Lawrence and Mr. Richard Peters, wait upon his honour the governor with the plan agreed upon by the vestry."
July 21. The society for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts address a letter to the vestry, dated " Charter House, April 8, 1746," offering to " allow a salary of £30. per annum for the settling a catechetical lecturer in the church in Philadelphia, for the instruc- tion of negroes and others," and request that, if a suitable person can be found for that sta- tion, he may be sent over to England to re- ceive " deacons' and priests' orders." 8*
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September 11. " The church wardens ac- quainted the vestry that the pews on the south aisle next the wall are now finished, and that a great many persons had applied for sittings in the church."
December 6. At a meeting of the vestry, Dr. Jenney laid before them a letter from the Rev. Henry Barclay, of New York, recom- mending a young man by the name of Stur- geon as an assistant in Christ Church, " and after some consideration had thereon," it was suggested by Dr. Jenney that he would be " a suitable person to recommend to the society. for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts, for a catechist and assistant ;" but, in conse- quence of his being an entire stranger to them, they deferred further action until they have a more particular character of his learning and abilities, and the sobriety of his life and con- versation, from persons that have had long acquaintance and knowledge of him. In Jan- uary following, a letter is addressed to the so- ciety for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts, thanking them for their generous offer of £30. per annum for the support of a cate- chist, " for the instruction of negroes and oth- ers," accepting the same, and recommending Mr. Sturgeon for that station, he having pre-
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
viously produced satisfactory testimonials of character, piety and learning. At the same time provision was made to defray Mr. Stur- geon's expenses to England, to receive orders. At the close of their letter to the Society, they say, "Mr. William Sturgeon, a young gentleman of Yale College in Connecticut, came to this city and offered himself to our rector and con- gregation, and being well recommended by some of the society's missionaries, and other gentlemen of reputation, we recommend him to the society for catechist, praying that he may .at the same time officiate as assistant to the rector for the time being. We pray fervently that the pious labours of the society may have every where their desired success, and that this their reasonable support in favour of our congre- gation in particular, may answer all their purpo- ses, and prove the means of making our holy reli- gion appear to more advantage in the eyes of sectaries, and of winning abundance of souls over to the pure worship of Almighty God, accord- ing to the forms and constitutions of our most excellent church."
1747.
May 11. The vestry pass a vote of thanks and order a piece of plate of the value of forty
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pounds, to be " given in the name of the vestry and congregation, to Doctor John Kearsley, for his care and trouble in rebuilding and or- namenting the church, and as a lasting memo- rial and grateful acknowledgment of his ser- vices done for this church and congregation; and that it be made of such form and figure as the doctor himself shall choose and direct, and that such an inscription be engraven thereon as shall be devised by the committee" appoint- ed by the vestry. Rev. Dr. Jenney, Mr. Peters, and Mr. Morgan were the committee.
May 27. The honourable George Thomas, governor of the province, being about to return to England, the rector, wardens and vestry- men waited upon him with an address, in which they say, we "return you our un- feigned thanks for your generous benefac- tions to our church, and for your charities to the poor of our congregation." In his reply, the governor, after thanking them for their kindness, says, " as I am a member of the Church of England from judgment as well as education, I cannot but wish the advancement of your society. Permit me, therefore, to re- commend to you a constant harmony amongst yourselves, and a christian charity for such as
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
differ from you, as the most likely means of engaging them to unite with you."
October 30. Mr. Sturgeon, having returned from England, is introduced to the vestry by Dr. Jenney, as assistant to the rector, and cat- echist to the negroes. Having submitted to the vestry his letters of orders, and the certifi- cates of his appointments, he also delivered the following letter " directed to the church war- dens and vestry, from Mr. Bearcroft, secretary to the society."
" Worthy gentlemen,
The society for propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts have consented to your request in appointing Mr. Sturgeon to be their assistant to the worthy rector of your church, in the offices of religion, upon your promise to make such an addition to the society's salary of £30. per annum to Mr. Sturgeon as catechist to the negroes, as shall be a comfort- able and decent maintenance for him ; not doubting your making good this promise in the most liberal sense, and hoping that Mr. Sturgeon, by his prudent conduct, dili- gence in his station, and good life, will deserve it of you ; and heartily recommending you to God's blessings, I am, gentlemen, your very humble servant,
PHILIP BEARCROFT, Secretary."
After reading the above, the vestry "Resolv- ed, that Mr. Sturgeon be inducted into this church, and he is now admitted to exercise the offices of religion therein, as assistant to Mr.
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Jenney, and as catechist to the negroes, ac- cording to the society's letter."
1749.
April 21. The following appears on the min- utes of the vestry, at a meeting held this day : " Whereas it has been observed by several of the vestry that many inconveniences arise to this church from want of being incorporated, it was therefore concluded that a proper applica- tion for a charter should be made to the hon- ourable James Hamilton, our governor ; and Mr. Richard Peters is desired to learn from his honour whether such an application would be pleasing to him, and in what manner it had best be done; and he is to make report of his doings at the next meeting of the vestry."
At a subsequent meeting, April 25th, " Mr. Peters reported that he had represented to the governor the inconveniences attending our church for want of a charter of incorporation ; and that the governor was pleased to say he would be glad of any opportunity of promoting the interests of the church, and if the vestry thought a charter of incorporation would be of service, and should present their petition to him for that purpose, together with a draft of what they think fit to be inserted in such charter,
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
they might promise themselves success, if the matter thereof be such as he could grant. Whereupon, Thomas Lawrence, Esq., Abra- ham Taylor, Esq., John Kearsley, Thomas Leech, and Richard Peters, together with the church wardens, are appointed a committee to prepare drafts of a petition and charter, and lay them before the vestry for approbation." A rough draft of the proposed charter was laid before the vestry by this committee, in Decem- ber of the present year, and after some debate thereon, was referred back to them, with in- structions to amend the same. In February following the committee report progress, and ask leave to be continued. The draft of the charter was again brought into vestry, April 24, 1750, but the consideration thereof was postponed until the next meeting.
For causes which do not appear in the min- utes, no charter was obtained until 1765, when St. Peter's church being finished, both churches were included in the charter which was then granted.
April 25. A committee appointed to draft an answer to the letter of Dr. Bearcroft, secre- tary of the society for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts, submitted the following, which
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was read, approved, and ordered to be signed by the church wardens.
Philadelphia, April 25th, 1749.
Reverend Sir,
We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your obliging letter of the 28th of May, 1747, wherein you in- form the church wardens and vestry of this church, that the society had consented to Mr. Sturgeon's being an as- sistant to our minister, on their promise to make such an addition to the society's salary of thirty pounds a year, granted him as catechist to the negroes, as should be a comfortable and decent maintenance to him. We should not have delayed our answer so long, had it not been with the consent, and indeed in a great measure at the instance, of Mr. Sturgeon himself ; who, knowing that the congre- gation was not out of debt, on account of the large church they have been building, as well as that there were no funds out of which a salary could be raised for him, but that he must depend on the voluntary contributions of the mem- bers, desired he might have an opportunity of endeavour- ing to obtain the affections of the congregation by his beha- viour ; and that no collection might be made until the end of the year.
We have now the pleasure to inform you that Mr. Stur- geon has rendered himself agreeable to the congregation ; and, considering his youth, and the stinted education given in the American colleges, he discharges extremely well the offices of his function, and will, we do not doubt, continue to give entire satisfaction.
In return, Mr. Jenney gives him half his perquisites, and the congregation have, by voluntary contribution, pre- sented him the sum of sixty pounds ; and we think this at least will be annually raised for him, and perhaps a larger
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OF CHRIST CHURCH. 97
sum, as he comes to be more intimately acquainted with the people. We are thankful to the society for their al- lowance of a salary for a catechist for the negroes, who are very numerous here, being the servants much used by many people ; and we take this opportunity of making you the acknowledgments of the congregation, and our own, for the favours you have shown us, and are, &c.
Signed by order. EVAN MORGAN, TOWNSEND WHITE, Church wardens.
1750.
July 25. " Whereas Dr. Jenney, our minis- ter, consents to relinquish the pew rents, and to accept of the certain sum of two hundred and fifty pounds current money per annum, provided that the vestry will repair the parsonage house, it is therefore now agreed by this present ves- try, that they accordingly do take the pews under their care for a year; and that the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds, for one year, be paid by the vestry unto Doctor Robert Jen- ney, in two equal half yearly payments, of one hundred and twenty-five pounds each, out of the money to be collected for the rents of the pews. It is also ordered that the charge of repairing the parsonage house be paid off by the church wardens, out of the box money." The amount collected on pews for one half year, was £154. 13s. 4d.
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1751.
March 11. A proposition is brought for- ward, at this meeting of the vestry, " for build- ing a steeple and providing bells ; and it was reported by several members that there is a hearty inclination to the thing in the inhabi- tants of this city, not only of our own church, but in sundry persons of other religious socie- ties. It was therefore unanimously agreed that a subscription for that purpose shall be immediately begun and carried on, under the care and direction of the minister, Dr. Jenney, and the church wardens for the time being, who may call to their assistance any members of the vestry or congregation, all of them being hereby - earnestly desired to give their ready and cheer- ful help. And it is further agreed that the aforesaid persons get a subscription book ready and as soon as is convenient wait on the hon- ourable James Hamilton, our governor, to get him to subscribe such sum as he shall think proper for a beginning of this work."
The original subscription book, with about three hundred signatures, is now in possession of the vestry ; and is headed as follows, viz :
" Philadelphia, 18th March, 1750-51.
Whereas many well disposed inhabitants of this city have declared their desire that there might be a fit and
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
commodious steeple built upon the foundation already laid some years ago, by the care and pious benevolence of the church at that time, and that a set of bells may be provided to be placed therein, which work will be an ornament, as well as a credit to this city,
Therefore, in order to defray the charge of building said steeple and purchasing bells, we, whose names are under- written, do promise to pay unto the church wardens of Christ Church in Philadelphia, for the time being, or to such other persons as the vestry of said church shall ap- point to receive the same, such sums of money as shall be by us respectively subscribed. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our names the date above written."
The governor subscribed fifty pounds, the Rev. Robert Jenney, John Kearsley and John Ross, each twenty pounds; Richard Peters twenty-five pounds. Among other names of persons who subscribed liberally to this object, we find those of Evan Morgan, Townsend White, William Cly- mer, Jacob Duché, Thomas Leech, William Pyewell, Richard Sewell, Peter Bard, William Bingham, Henry Elwes, Thomas Lawrence, Jr., Joseph Redman, David Hall, John Baynton, William Parr, Henry Harrison, Ben- jamin Franklin, Watt Goodman, Charles Stedman, Wil- liam Plumsted, John Wilcocks, Edward Shippen, Charles Meredith, James Read, Joseph Sims, Philip Syng, William Murdock, Enoch Hobart, Andrew Bankson, Redmond Con- yngham, Elias Boudinot, William Franklin, Samuel Car- penter, Joseph Turner.
April 16. " Ordered, that John Kearsley, Thomas Leech, Jacob Duché, and Richard Sewell be the supervisors for carrying on the
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steeple, and that Jacob Duché be the treasurer for receiving the money raised for that use."
April 29. " Ordered, that the present man- agers for carrying on the building of the stee- ple do forthwith proceed to employ such proper workmen, and provide such necessary materi- als for the speedy accomplishing the said work, as they think proper."
1752.
October 27. "The vestry, considering the state of the steeple, and the necessity there is for a greater supply of money to finish the same, Resolved, that the sum of be raised by way of lottery, and that a scheme of a lottery be drawn up in order to raise the same."
October 30. "The vestry being met ac- cording to adjournment, to consider on a way of raising money, for finishing the steeple and purchasing a set of bells, by a lottery, a scheme for raising the sum of one thousand and twelve pounds ten shillings, by a deduction of fifteen pounds per cent. on eighteen thou- sand Spanish dollars, commonly called pieces of eight, to be raised by the sale of four thou- sand five hundred tickets, at four pieces of
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
eight each ticket, was presented by Henry Harrison, and agreed to."
" The following persons are appointed to be Managers, viz. :-- Thomas Lawrence, Sen., Abraham Taylor, Benjamin Franklin, Charles Stedman, John Kearsley, Sen., Henry Harri- son, James Humphreys, Joseph Redman, Evan Morgan, Thomas Leech, Henry Elwes, John Baynton and Jacob Duché ; who are to give bond, and be on oath, for the faithful perform- ance of their trust."
The tickets were to be sold by the managers at their respective dwellings, and the drawing was to commence on the first day of March following, or sooner if practicable.
In setting forth this scheme the vestry say, " As there seemed to be an inclination in the inhabitants of this city, to have the steeple built upon the foundation laid many years ago, the vestry were encouraged to attempt a sub- scription ; but as all the money they could raise, including what little is yet outstanding, falls much short of the sum necessary to com- plete the work, as will be shown by a state of the account of what is already done ; they are therefore under a necessity to take this method, or the building remain unfinished. We hope that a work of this kind, which is purely orna-
9*
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mental, will meet with encouragement from all well-wishers to the credit, beauty, and prosper- ity of Philadelphia."
1753.
February 22. The sum raised by the sale of the lottery tickets not being sufficient to finish the steeple, it was agreed in vestry, that " a sum equal to that already raised, to be applied for finishing the steeple, purchasing a ring of bells, and a good clock, should be raised by a supplement to the lottery." The same mana- gers were appointed as before, and much the same scheme was adopted. The last lottery was drawn in June, 1753.
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