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 6
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March 19. "It being represented to the vestry by the Rev. Doctor Robert Jenney, that some gentlemen from the south end of the city had waited on him to acquaint him they were going to build a new church, desiring his opin- ion and encouragement ; the vestry taking the same into consideration, appointed Henry Har- rison, Jacob Duché, and Evan Morgan a com- mittee in conjunction with him, to draw up their sentiments thereon, and lay the same be- fore the vestry at their meeting on Wednesday next." This was the first movement in refer- ence to the building of St. Peter's Church. At
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the next meeting of the vestry, March 21, it was recommended " that Dr. Jenney himself should answer the gentlemen, according to his promise, pursuant to which a draft of a letter from the doctor was produced, and upon peru- sal of the same, it was agreed that the said letter be sent by him." Nothing further was done in this matter for five years.
April 12. " The Rev. Dr. Bearcroft, secre- tary to the society for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts, having by letter acquainted the Rev. Doctor Robert Jenney, that the Rev. Mr. Charles Chambres had left a hundred pounds sterling, for books to be given and dis- posed of as the said society should direct, and that they accordingly had given them to the use of Christ Church in Philadelphia, under the care and direction of the minister and vestry of the said church; and the books having ar- rived," a vote of thanks is passed to the society for the same.
The number of books given by the society was 347 ; viz., 121 folios, 19 quartos, and 207 octavos.
At a subsequent meeting of the vestry, in May, the following letter of thanks was ordered to be sent to the society, by Captain Mesnard, the person who brought out the books :-
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Philadelphia, May 31st, 1753.
Very Reverend Sir,
We, the minister, church wardens, and vestrymen, hav- ing seen your letter acquainting that a late reverend gen- tleman hath been so piously disposed as to bequeath his books to the honourable society for propagating the Gos- pel, &c., to be made a parochial library in some place in America, and that the honourable society hath preferred our church, and sent them accordingly, do acknowledge the receipt of them by Captain Mesnard; and in the name and behalf of our congregation, return the sincere thankfulness of most grateful hearts for the unmerited favour ; and are fully purposed to apply them in such a manner as we hope will answer the pious design of the bequeather and donors.
According to your direction, in your letter of January 13th, we are about fitting proper conveniences for them, along with those given to our church by the late pious Queen Anne, and some other well disposed persons. And we shall make such rules concerning them, as to secure them from being damaged or lost; and render them as generally useful as possibly we can.
That Almighty God will please to bless the pious and charitable labours of that honourable body, in promoting true religion in these remote parts of his majesty's domi- nions, is the hearty prayer of,
Very reverend sir,
Your most obedient humble servants,
Done in vestry per order. S ROBERT JENNEY.
HENRY HARRISON. JAMES HUMPHREYS.
To the very reverend Doctor Philip Bearcroft, secretary to the honourable society for propagating the Gospel, &c., at the Charter house, London.
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July 28. In consequence of "the inconve- niences attending burials going so late after the time of invitation, Ordered, that for the fu- ture every burial move an hour after the time of invitation ; and notice of this order be giv- en in the church every morning and afternoon, for four succeeding Sundays."
October 29. " The vestry being met, took into consideration what sum of money would be necessary to send to England for purchasing a ring of bells, and agreed that the sum of se- ven hundred and thirty-one pounds five shil- lings currency, should be laid out in purchasing a bill of exchange of four hundred and fifty pounds sterling, to be employed in purchasing a ring of eight bells, the tenor to way about eighteen hundred weight, and the rest in pro- portion. And the treasurer is ordered to pay the said sum into the hands of Henry Harri- son, who is desired to purchase the said bill. Townsend White, Peter Turner, and Henry Harrison are appointed a committee to remit the aforesaid bill, and write to Messrs. David Barclay and Sons, and Mr. Lawrence Williams, merchants in London, to request their assist- ance in purchasing the aforesaid ring of bells, and send them to us on the easiest terms they can."
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1754.
September 26. The money remitted to England not being sufficient to purchase the bells, a further appropriation of sixty pounds ten shillings sterling was made; and again in November a still further sum of £60. 7s. 8d., sterling ; all of which was remitted to David Barclay and Sons. Their letter, announcing the shipment of the bells, is as follows :
London, 16 August, 1754.
Respected Friends,
Inclosed is invoice and bill lading for 8 casks and 3 cases, marked P. No. 1 a 11, containing eight bells, &c., shipped on board the Myrtilla, Capt. Budden, amounting to £560. 7s. 8d, and annexed to the invoice you will find particular directions for hanging them. As the founders whom we employed are the persons who have made almost all the bells in and about this city, we doubt not but these will meet with your approbation.
We are respectfully, your assured friends, DAVID BARCLAY & SONS.
Henry Harrison, Peter Turner, and Townsend White.
November 26. A committee is appointed to " treat with the man who came from London with Captain Starling, to know on what terms he will hang the bells, and make report thereof to the next vestry."
December 28. "Ordered that the old spin- dle and vane, belonging to Christ Church in
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Philadelphia, when taken down, be delivered to Mr. John Ross, for the use of Emanuel Church in New Castle."
The Rev. Mr. Sturgeon, who had been as- sistant to Dr. Jenney, and catechist to the negroes for seven years, appears from the follow- ing letter from the secretary of the society, to have given great satisfaction by his ministerial labours.
Charter House, October 19th, 1754.
Reverend Sir,
Your several letters are come duly to hand ; and, before the recommendation of you by the rector and church wardens arrived, the society had taken notice of your great pains and diligence in the work of the ministry, and ordered you a gratuity of ten pounds, which you may draw for when you please, over and above your salary, on Edward Pearson, Esq., their treasurer, in Barton street Westminster ; and if upon the representation in your favour, the society shall think proper to do any thing far- ther, you shall have due notice of it ; but I am apt to believe the society will desire to know first what the ves- try itself does for you, to see whether they, who express themselves so very sensible of your deserts, have on their part made the proper return to you. With this come some Bibles, Common Prayer Books, &c., for the negroes, and to be distributed at your best discretion. That God may bless you, and that you may, in due time, receive the re- ward of your pious labours, is the hearty prayer of your
Very humble, and affectione servant and brother, PHILIP BEARCROFT.
To the Rev, Mr. Sturgeon, catechist to the negroes in Philadelphia.
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1755.
August 23. " Mr. Jacob Duché, treasurer of the money raised for building the steeple, &c., having paid away all the cash which came into his hands by subscriptions and lotteries for that purpose, amounting to £3162. 9s. 11d., and closed his accounts, now desired they may be examined ; and as he was appointed by the ves- try one of the superintendents for carrying on the work, prays that he may now be discharged in like manner." The vestry find the accounts correct, and "return their hearty thanks to Mr. Duché, for his great faithfulness, care and pains in the above mentioned service." Mr. Duché's account, as treasurer for Christ Church steeple fund, is as follows, viz. :-
" By subscription before the lotteries,
£ 921 000
By subscription with the net proceeds of the lotteries; 2021 1 11
By collections and otherwise for hanging the bells, 220 8 00
£3162 9 11
To sundry disbursements from May 10th, 1751, to September 23d, 1752, being be- fore the lotteries, £ 905 15 6
To ditto since the lotteries, 1979 6 8
To ditto from the collections for hanging the bells and otherwise, 277 7 9
£3162 9 11
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1756.
February 3. A plan and estimate for build- - ing a wall " on the north side and west end of the church yard, and also for palisades in the front," having been submitted to the vestry by George Okill, " acting church warden," a com- mittee was appointed to make collections for the above purposes. , At their next meeting, March 24th, " the church warden reported that the collection for the church wall, &c. amounted to one hundred and sixty-five pounds, nine shil- lings and sixpence."
April 26. " Ordered, that as George Okill projected and began the wall now carrying around the church yard, he be appointed to supervise and carry on the same until it is com- plete, with the palisades in front, agreeable to the plan."
May 3. It was "agreed that in considera- tion of the sum of one hundred pounds, which Hugh Roberts and Attwood Shute agreed to pay, an alley or foot way of six feet wide shall be left open, and out of the southernmost part of the church yard or ground, and shall extend from second street into church alley ; that the said alley shall forever hereafter remain open and free as a common and public alley, or foot way, for all persons ; that the wall on the north 10
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side of said alley shall be built at the expense of the congregation, and that the said Hugh Roberts and Attwood Shute pay and be at the expense of regulating, paving, and fixing posts and rails at each end of said alley."
June 15. The amount of pew money col- lected in two years, from Easter 1754 to Eas- ter 1756, is reported to be £628. 14s.
August 25. "It was unanimously agreed that an address should be presented to the hon- ourable William Denny, our governor." An address was accordingly drawn up in the name of "the minister, assistant, church wardens, and vestrymen of Christ Church," congratulat- ing him " on his safe arrival to his government of Pennsylvania."
1757.
September 22. " A proposal for paving half the street opposite to the church being made, it was unanimously agreed that the same should be done, provided the inhabitants on the oppo- site side would agree to pave their proportion, and Henry Harrison is appointed to settle that point with his neighbours, and agree with the workmen for perfecting the same, and paving a small part of the street before the parsonage house ; to be paid out of the public money of the congregation."
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Agreeably to the above order, " 192 yards and 7 feet" of pavement were laid " fronting the church ground, and part of the parsonage lot," at an expense of £16. 16s. 3d.
1758.
April 3. It was "Resolved, that the ringers of the bells be paid the sum of nineteen pounds yearly, as usual, for ringing the bells for the service of the church on Sundays, &c. And for their ringing on the following holy days, viz : Christmas, Circumcision, or New Year's day, Easter, Whitsuntide, the 29th of May, and 5th of November, they are to receive from the church wardens fifteen shillings for each of said days. And further, it is resolved that the church bells shall ring only one night a week for improvement in that art."
June 20. A new church, to be erected in the southern part of the city, had been long talked of, and the subject had been brought before the vestry several times, but without success. It was now undertaken with much earnestness, as the following proceedings of the vestry will show.
"It is unanimously agreed that another church is much wanted ; and it is proposed that the taking and collecting the subscriptions, and
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conducting of the affairs relating to the build- ing and finishing the said intended church, shall be under the management of the minister, church wardens, and vestry of Christ Church, for the time being." The building was to be " erected at the south end of the city, on a lot of ground lately granted by the honourable pro- prietaries for that purpose." Joseph Sims was appointed treasurer, and Doctor John Kears- ley, William Plumsted, Jacob Duché, Alexan- der Stedman, James Child, Evan Morgan, and Redmond Conyngham, were appointed a com- mittee to receive subscriptions, and take the care and management of the building the same ; and the committee aforesaid are requested to prepare a plan of the said intended church, and an estimate of the expense thereof, in order to be laid before the next vestry for their appro- bation."
June 27. " The committee produced a plan, or ground plot of the intended church, ninety feet long by sixty feet broad, which was approv- ed of by the present vestry ; and the said com- mittee are desired to proceed in the work " without delay." Joseph Sims, treasurer, is added to the building committee, as are also Att- wood Shute, John Wilcocks, Samuel McCall, Jr., James Humphreys, and William Bingham.
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September 19. 'The vestry are informed that " the late captain William Clymer" had directed his executors to apply "£100 current money of Pennsylvania" to the purchase of a perpetual yearly rent or anuuity, or to be put out at interest on good security, and gave the interest to the minister and church wardens of Christ Church and their successors forever, in trust, to distribute the said rent, annuity, or interest, on the twentieth day of September yearly, to twelve such poor widows frequenting and belonging to the congregation of said church, as the said minister and church wardens shall judge good and proper objects.
November 10. Mr. Jacob Duché, one of the vestry, having a son in Cambridge Univer- sity, England, whom he intends to send for home in the Spring, requests that an applica- tion be made by the rector, wardens, and ves- trymen, to the bishop of London, to have " him admitted into holy orders, and licensed to offi- ciate in the churches in this city; he having been always designed for the ministry." This proposal met with the cordial approbation of Dr. Jenney, the rector, and was only objected to by others, on account of the youth of Mr. Duché, Jr .; " a majority thought it advisable that he be kept longer in the university of Cam-
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bridge, he not yet being quite twenty-one years of age."
1759.
February 27. "The committee for building the new church acquainted this vestry of the alteration of the form as to the windows in the said church, in placing the tallest above and the shortest below, which was approved of."
Pursuant to a minute of a preceding vestry, Dr. Jenney and the wardens produced a draft of a letter to the society for propagating the Gospel, relative to a bequest of a Mr. Jauncy, made some twenty-seven years before; which letter " was approved, and ordered to be copied fair, signed by the minister and wardens, and sent by the next ship bound for London." The letter is as follows :
To the reverend Doctor Philip Bearcroft, secretary to the incorporated society for propagating of the Gospel in foreign parts.
Dear Sir,
In or about the year 1732, the sum of three hundred pounds sterling was bequeathed to the society for propagat- ing of the Gospel : to be by them disposed of in the best manner for the conversion of infidels, &c., by the last will of one Mr. Jauncy ; which money, with its interest, was afterwards appropriated for the use of the minister of our church for the time being, as appears by an abstract of the
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society's proceedings for the year 1733, in which is record- ed the following minute :
" A benefaction of £316. 17s. 6d. paid by the reverend Mr. Poole, out of the residue of the estate of Edward Jaun- cy, Esq., deceased ; which is particularly appropriated for the benefit of the minister of the church of England at Phil- adelphia, in Pennsylvania, for the time being; and the same is laid out in new south sea annuities till lands can be purchased in Pennsylvania."
Accordingly our ministers have, as we suppose, received the interest from time to time ever since ; but how it has happened that the good design of the society for fixing the pious gift in lands has been neglected to this day, will not be material for us to relate. We are now desirous that it should be done, and therefore with submission, we pray the society would be pleased to empower the minister and church wardens to draw on their treasurer for the above sum, with its advance, if there is any, and it shall be im- mediately laid out in a piece of land, and let to tenants on ground rent ; by which means its income will be greatly increased ; we will take care that proper deeds shall be made, investing the society with the land for the uses above mentioned ; which indenture shall be sent to England, or otherwise, as the society shall direct.
The society's compliance with this request will much oblige us, and more completely answer the design of the generous donor, and of the board which made the appro- priation. We pray for success in your pious undertaking, and are your honoured, &c.,
Signed,
ROBERT JENNEY. EVAN MORGAN. REDMOND CONYNGHAM. Minister and Wardens.
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In reply to the above letter, the society sent out a power of attorney, dated 13th June, 1759, authorizing Dr. Jenney, the rector, Dr. William Smith, provost of the college, Jacob Duché, John Ross and Evan Morgan, " for and in the name of said society, to purchase lands in the province of Pennsylvania," to the amount of " such sums of money as shall be raised by the sale of three hundred pounds new south sea annuities stock ; and the annual rent and pro- fit of such land so purchased shall be and remain , to the sole use and behoof, of the minister of Christ Church in the city of Philadelphia, for the time being, and his successors for- ever."
" The vestry being informed that Jacob Duché had determined to call his son home next summer, it was agreed that a letter of re- commendation to the bishop of London, Dr. Sherlock, should be sent by the ship now going." The letter is as follows :
To the reverend father in God, Thomas, lord bishop of London; the address of the minister, church wardens and vestrymen of Christ Church, Philadelphia. Febru- ary 7th, 1759.
May it please your lordship,
As the American plantations were long ago annexed to the diocese of London by his late majesty, and our minis-
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ters have ever since been licensed by your lordship's pre- decessors, in that see, and these churches are a part of your pastoral care ; we therefore address ourselves to your lordship, to give you an account of the present state of our church, as to our ministers.
The reverend Doctor Robert Jenney our minister, has been for two years afflicted with a paralytick and asthmatic disorder, which renders him incapable of performing any ministerial duty ; and it seems likely to continue, so that we have scarce any hopes of his ever being able to officiate again, as he is now seventy years old. The society's cate- chist and Dr. Jenney's assistant, the reverend Mr. William Sturgeon, supplies our church himself in all the parts of the ministerial office, the duties of which are now very great ; and should it please God to visit him with any sickness, our case would be deplorable ; our people would be scattered. This has become a large and populous city, and in great need of more churches ; for want of which we lose our people among the many societies of dis- senters, with which this city abounds ; and some who are not inclined to join them stay at home, for want of room at church ; for which reason the vestry lately came to a res- olution to build another large church, as soon as possible, by the voluntary contributions of our own people. The work is accordingly begun, and many have given bounti- fully thereto, and we are in hopes that with a little assis- tance from our mother country, it will in another year be ready for divine service. It is to be a neat and handsome building, 90 feet long and 60 broad, founded on a lot of ground given for that purpose by our honourable proprie- taries.
By this short narrative of the state of our affairs, your lordship will easily perceive that we shall be in want of more ministers to serve in these churches, between which
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HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
there is to be a happy union, by means of their being under one and the same government. Seeing therefore that Doctor Jenney is like to remain, as above mentioned, so unhappily circumstanced, we humbly pray your lordship's influence and pastoral care towards getting Mr. Jacob Duché, Junior, now of Clare Hall in Cambridge, admitted into holy orders, and that your lordship will also license · him to officiate as an assistant minister in the churches of Philadelphia. And when your lordship considers that this young gentleman was born and bred amongst us here. in this city, that he has from very early years of his life been strongly inclined to the ministry himself, and his father always concurring, who accordingly hath sent him home to England to complete his education for that pur- pose, and that we of the congregation are fully satisfied of his virtue, capacity, piety and acquired accomplishments, for that holy function, we have no doubt of succeeding with your lordship that Mr. Duché may be ordained and licensed, to come over among us to his native place, to be one of our assistant ministers. For which purpose he will have letters by this conveyance furnishing him with ac- counts of our proceedings herein, that he may in due time wait on your lordship, pursuant to our desires, and be or- dained accordingly. This we shall acknowledge as an instance of your lordship's pastoral care over us, and pray for your happiness and prosperity in the great work of being a spiritual father of so great a part of the church of England as the diocese of London.
Signed, R. JENNEY, Minister. EVAN MORGAN. REDMOND CONYNGHAM.
Wardens.
May 10. A petition was presented to the
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vestry, signed by seventy-four members of the congregation, praying that the Rev. William McClenaghan, who had been one of the soci- ety's missionaries in New England, be ap- pointed an assistant to the Rev. Mr. Sturgeon, in consequence of the increasing infirmities of the rector, whose indisposition seemed to ren- der such further assistance necessary. Dr. Jenney having been first consulted, the vestry came to the following determination ; "that the said Mr. McClenaghan shall have the liber- ty and use of the pulpit to preach in, as a lec- turer only, during the pleasure of the said Doc- tor Jenney, church wardens and vestry ; he producing sufficient testimonials of his good life and conversation; provided the persons subscribing or desiring the same as aforesaid, shall support and maintain the said Mr. Mc Clenaghan."
At a subsequent meeting, June 19th, Mr. McClenaghan is elected an assistant minister to Dr. Jenney, in conjunction with Mr. Stur- geon, and a letter is addressed to the bishop of London, praying him to license Mr. McClenaghan to officiate accordingly. The bishop of London declines giving his license to the newly elected assistant. The society in England, through their secretary, represent
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M
him as a most unworthy son of the church, " who would meet with no countenance on that side of the water." His conduct gave great uneasiness to Dr. Jenney, created much dis- turbance in the congregation, and, after offici- ating about a year he withdrew, to the great gratification of all the lovers of peace and good order.
September 27. Mr. Jacob Duché, Jr., hav- ing returned from England with letters of deacon's orders, and a license to preach, from the bishop of London, is received " as one of the assistant ministers to the churches in this city."
In a letter of thanks to the bishop of Lon- don for his kindness in ordaining and licensing Mr. Duché, dated October 3d, the vestry say, " that young gentleman is now by God's mercy safe arrived among us, in his native city, and fixed as one of our assistant ministers, and your lordship may be assured of his being pro- vided for more amply, as soon as our new church is ready."
1760.
April 14: " Resolved, that the two old bells now in Christ Church be removed to the new church, (St. Peter's,) for the use of said
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church, and Mr. Morgan is desired to see them removed."
From a letter of Dr. Jenney entered on the minutes, and dated June 17th, 1760, it appears that he " had been for fifty years a minister ;" so that he must have been more than thirty years in orders, before he took charge of Christ Church. His great age and infirmities pre- vented him from performing much ministerial duty at this time.
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