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 7
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June 21. Dr. Jenney laid before the vestry the following letter from the reverend Samuel Nicols, secretary to the bishop of London, in answer to letters from the late vestry, in which they had recommended Mr. Jacob Duché, Jr., and Mr. William McClenaghan, for license to become assistants to the rector.
" To the rev. Dr. Jenney, minister of Christ Church in the city of Philadelphia ; to the rev. Mr. Sturgeon and the rev. Mr. Duché, ministers, assistants there ; and to the parishioners of said church, assembled in vestrv.
Gentlemen,
I am expressly commanded by the lord bishop of London, with his hearty commendation to you, to let you know that he has received your several letters and addresses to him relating to the settlement of ministers in the church of Philadelphia, and after having well considered the cir- cumstances of your case, his lordship is firmly of opinion
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that two assistant ministers are sufficient for your church. Mr. Sturgeon has been many years among you, and has well supplied the duties of the church during the indisposi- tion of your worthy minister, Mr. Jenney ; and now of late since the duty is increased, his lordship has, at your own request, ordained a very promising young gentleman, Mr. Duché ; and at your request likewise has licensed him to be another assistant in the same church. In jus- tice therefore to those two gentlemen, who have devoted themselves to your service, and in regard to your own re- commendations of them, which have been strong in their favour, his lordship thinks proper that they shall be the officiating ministers in Philadelphia, and no other.
In respect to Mr. McClenaghan, his lordship has many reasons why he cannot license him in the parts of Penn- sylvania. He was ordained and licensed to a mission in the society's service, from which he has withdrawn him- self in a manner that does him no credit : since that, he has engaged himself to a parish in Virginia, and has re- ceived such marks of their favour that he ought to think himself under obligations to serve them. It is incumbent on him therefore to return thither, in order to obtain a proper settlement from the governor and commissary of that province, in the parish where he may be appointed to serve ; and not to give any disturbance in the congrega- tion where ministers are already settled and established.
Therefore, gentlemen, the bishop desires, and expects it from you that you give Mr. McClenaghan no encourage- ment to remain in Pennsylvania ; but on the contrary that you assist him in removing back again to the place where his duty calls him, and where he ought to be. His lordship orders me to assure you of his hearty good will and affec- tion for you, with his sincere prayers for the welfare and prosperity of your church and country.
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
I am, gentlemen, with the greatest respect and esteem, your most obedient and faithful humble servant,
SAMUEL NICOLS.
London, March 25th, 1760.
" The vestry agree that Mr. McClenaghan shall be furnished with a copy of said letter, and that Joseph Redman and Henry Harrison wait on said McClenaghan with a copy of the above. The vestry also agreed that the above letter be read in church next Sunday morning."
1761.
Mrs. Mary Andrews left, by will, to the minister and church wardens of Christ Church £100., towards purchasing an organ; also £10. yearly, to be distributed at Christmas, by William Peters, his heirs and assigns, amongst such poor families of the city of Phil- adelphia as are not on the poor roll ; in the distribution of which, he and his heirs shall consult the minister and church wardens of Christ Church, for finding out proper objects among whom to distribute the same as afore- said. Mrs. Andrews also devised the further sum of £100., after deducting a charge for a mon-
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ument, for and towards a new pulpit and pul- pit cloth for Christ Church, upon condition that she be interred within the body of said church, and her executors be permitted to put up in some convenient place in said church, a mar- ble monument, with the usual inscription of her interment there.
" The sexton, William Davis, applied to the vestry to increase his salary ; and they agree to give him twenty pounds per year, on condi- tion that he wash the church twice a year, and sand it at Easter and September; and also sweep the church once every two weeks, ring the bell, and perform every other duty as sex- ton."
May 20. Wednesday. From some loose min- utes found among the late bishop White's pa- pers, of an annual convention of the clergy held in Philadelphia, it appears that the fol- lowing twelve clergymen were present, viz .: Rev. Dr. Smith, Rev. Mr. Campbell, Rev. Mr. Craig, Rev. Mr. Reading, Rev. Mr. Sturgeon, Rev. Mr. Neill, Rev. Mr. Barton, Rev. Mr. In- glis, Rev. Mr. Thompson, Rev. Mr. Duché, Rev. Mr. Chandler of New Jersey, and Rev. Mr. Keene of Maryland. This was a large number of clergymen to assemble at that early
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day, when there was but one Episcopal congre- gation in Philadelphia.
The Rev. Dr. Smith was unanimously elect- ed president of said convention.
" The president, together with Mr. Reading, were appointed to wait upon the governor, to request his approbation of our present meeting, and his protection during our sitting."
" The gentlemen appointed to wait upon the governor, reported, that he was pleased to say that he could have no possible objection to our meeting together, and that we might de- pend upon his countenance and protection at all times."
" Friday, May 22. The convention went in a body to Christ Church, where a sermon suita- ble to the occasion, was preached by the Rev. Mr. Craig, missionary at Chester, agreeable to the appointment of last convention."
" Saturday, May 23. This day the mem- bers of the convention attended the public commencement of the college of this city."
The Rev. Mr. Reading was appointed to preach the next annual sermon before the con- vention, and the Rev. Mr. Sturgeon as his sub- stitute.
August 13. " The committee for building the new church reported, that the said church is
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now ready to be opened ; upon which the ves- try resolved that Henry Harrison and Alexan- der Stedman, church wardens, and Jacob Duché, Evan Morgan, and Dr. Kearsley be appointed a committee to prepare a plan for regulating and opening said church ; and Dr. Jenney is requested to appoint some proper person to preach at the opening of the same."
" Resolved, that the new church be named St. Peter's."
August 19. The committee appointed to prepare a plan for regulating and opening St. Peter's Church recommend, among other things, as follows, viz. :
" That the said church in respect to the ad- ministration of the sacraments, the performance of all pastoral duties, and in every respect what- ever, shall be upon an equal footing with Christ Church, and be under the same government with it."
" That the congregations of the two churches shall be styled ' the united congregations of Christ Church and St. Peter's, in the city of Philadelphia,' and shall be supplied by the same ministers, in such order and manner, that neither of the said churches shall claim or enjoy the service of any particular minister, oftener than the other."
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
" That on the reverend Doctor Jenney's de- mise, so many of the officiating ministers as the vestry shall think fit to place on an equality, shall be styled ' ministers of the united congre- gations of Christ Church and St. Peter's, in the city of Philadelphia.'"
" That the pews in St. Peter's Church shall be let at the same rates with pews having the like situation in Christ Church; and every per- son who pays for a pew or sitting in either church, shall be entitled to a vote in the choice of a vestry for both; which vestry, after Eas- ter Monday next ensuing, shall be styled ' the vestry of the united congregations of Christ Church and St. Peter's, in the city of Philadel- delphia.' "
" That in regard to the generous gift made of the ground whereon the said St. Peter's Church stands, by the honourable the proprie- taries of this province, the first and best pew in the said church shall be set apart forever for the accommodation of the honourable proprie- tary's family, and their governors for the time being."
" The vestry having considered the above, unanimously approved of the same."
"The Rev. Doctor Jenney acquainted the vestry that he had applied to the reverend Mr.
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Richard Peters to preach at the opening of St. Peter's Church ; and that he and his assist- ants thought that compliment due first to Mr. Peters, not only in regard to his abilities, but also for the many services that he had done to our church, and in particular for having pro- cured many generous subscriptions for the building St. Peter's church; but he declining the offer on account of his present engagements in public business, it was judged that no other person was so well qualified for that duty as the Rev. Dr. Smith, provost of the college in this city, not only for his abilities, but likewise for the service that he has been to our church in this part of the world, at home. All which the vestry approved of."
September 4. " At a meeting of the vestry held at Christ Church, present, Henry Harri- son and Alexander Stedman, church wardens ; Redmond Conyngham, James Child, Jacob Duché, Evan Morgan, Townsend White, Charles Stedman, William Plumsted, James Humphreys, Joseph Redman, Peter Turner, John Kearsley, Joseph Sims, William Pyewell, Peter Sonmans, Edward Duffield, William Bingham and John Ross, vestrymen. This being the day for opening St. Peter's Church, the clergy attended, and they, together with
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
the vestry, went in the following procession from Christ Church to St. Peter's Church, viz. :
1. Clerk and sexton. 2. Quest men. 3. Vestrymen, two by two. 4. The governor and the church wardens. 5. Clergy who are to officiate. 6. Governor's council and attend- ants. 7. Other clergy, two by two. Having arrived at St. Peter's Church, divine service began with prayers, and a sermon suitable to the occasion was preached by the Rev. Dr. Smith, provost of the college in this city. After divine service, the plan agreed upon by the vestry for the perpetual union and government of the two churches was read."
At a meeting of the vestry held in St. Peter's Church, September 7th, the vestry pass a vote of " thanks to the Rev. Dr. Smith for his excel- lent sermon, preached at the opening of St. Peter's Church, the 4th instant, and request the favour of him, to furnish a copy of the said sermon to be printed. This sermon is in the second volume of Dr. Smith's works, page 356 ; and in the preface to the same there is given a particular account of the services at the conse- cration.
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1762.
The Rev. Robert Jenney, L.L.D., died in
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January of this year, at the advanced age of seventy five years. He had been fifty-two years in the ministry, and more than nineteen years rector of Christ Church ; having been elected to that office in October, 1742. The Rev. Dr. William Smith, provost of the Col- lege of Philadelphia, preached a sermon from Luke xvi. 2, at his funeral in Christ Church, January 10th, 1762 .* In that discourse it is said of him, that he was "a man venerable in years, and a striking pattern of christian resig- nation under a long and severe illness. Those who knew him best in that situation, know that his chief concern was not for himself, but for the distressed and perplexed state of his con- gregation. He was a man of strict honesty, one that hated dissimulation and a lie, exem- plary in his life and morals, and a most zealous member of our Episcopal church." His re- mains were interred in one of the aisles of the church.
January 16. It was " resolved, that the Rev. Mr. Sturgeon and the Rev. Mr. Duché, be re- quested to officiate as ministers of the united churches, during the pleasure of the vestry." It was further " resolved, that an offer of the parsonage house be made to the Rev. Mr. Duché
* See Smith's Works, vol. i. p. 22. ibid. p. 33.
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to live in, he paying forty-five pounds per an- num, rent."
June 8. The vestry being informed that the Rev. Mr. Duché intends going to England to receive priest's orders, unanimously approve of the same, and request the Rev. Mr. Richard Peters to officiate for Mr. Duché during his ab- sence. They also address letters to the bishop of London, Dr. Terrick, requesting him to license the Rev. Mr. Duche and the Rev. Mr Sturgeon, to be ministers of the united congregations.
The address in favour of the Rev. Mr. Duché is as follows :
" To the right reverend father in God, Richard, by di- vine permission lord bishop of London.
May it please your lordship : We, the church wardens and vestrymen of the united congregations of Christ Church and St. Peter's, in the city of Philadelphia, beg leave to present our sincere congratulations to your lordship, on your translation to the see of London. From a prelate of your lordship's distinguished character, advanced to this exalted station, we trust many blessings will be derived to the church of England in America ; and we flatter our- selves that the congregations which we have the honour to represent, will be blessed with the same countenance and protection from your lordship, which they have heretofore experienced from your pious predecessors. Relying upon your lordship's well known goodness and candor, permit us to recommend to your favour and patronage, the Rev. Mr. Jacob Duché, who has for these two years past exer-
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cised his function among us as a deacon and an assistant minister of our churches, and has, during the whole time, conducted himself in such a manner, as to give much satis- faction to all denominations of men among us ; and we trust that he will be of great service to the church of England in this part of the world, and to religion in general. This gentleman is a native of this place ; his family and con- nexions are here. For these considerations, we unanimously join in requesting your lordship to ordain and license the said Mr. Duché, as one of the ministers of the united con- gregations of Christ Church and St. Peter's, in the city of Philadelphia. And we do hereby promise to receive, con- firm, and establish him as such, upon his arrival here, and make a proper and honourable provision for his support. Sincerely praying that the smiles of heaven may attend and prosper all your pious labours, and that you may long be continued an ornament 'and blessing to the christian church in general, and to our own excellent branch of it in particular,
We are, &c. &c.
June 8th, 1762.
The address in favour of the Rev. Mr. Stur- geon is of the same date, and in much the same form. In it the vestry say that " the Rev. Mr. William Sturgeon hath, for about fifteen years past, steadily exercised his function among us, as a priest and assistant minister in our church ; and hath, during the whole time, conducted him- self with sobriety and unwearied diligence ; and to the utmost of his ability, hath regularly and constantly performed all parts of his ministerial
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office in this extensive cure, with care and alacrity ; and we trust will continue to be a useful and industrious minister, and give satis- faction to all denominations of men among us. He long since married a gentlewoman of this city, by whom he hath a large family of children, and his connexions are chiefly here, and here in our service he has spent the prime of his life."
At this meeting the vestry " resolve that the Rev. Mr. Duché and the Rev. Mr. Sturgeon do each of them receive a salary. of £200. cur- rency, per annum ;" deducting £45. from the salary of the former, for house rent; and £50. sterling from that of the latter, in consideration of his receiving that sum from the society for propogating the Gospel in foreign parts.
" Ordered, that the steeple of Christ Church be immediately repaired and painted."
December 6. The Rev. Mr. Duché, having re- turned from England, and laid before the vestry his letters of orders from his grace the arch- bishop of Canterbury, and his letter of license from the bishop of London, it was " unani- mously resolved that the Rev. Jacob Duché be received as one of the ministers of the united churches of Christ Church and St. Peter's in the city of Philadelphia."
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The Rev. Richard Peters is elected rector of the united churches, and the following letter is addressed to him by the vestry.
To the Rev. Richard Peters.
Reverend Sir,
We, the church wardens and vestrymen of the united congregations of Christ Church and St. Peters, in the city of Philadelphia, beg leave to return you our most sincere thanks for the services done us in the absence of Mr. Duché, by performing every part of your ministerial func- tion to the great satisfaction of our congregations, and of us in particular. We now address you on a matter of very great importance to the churches in this city. We have, from a just sense of your abilities, but above all for your zeal in the cause of religion, your knowledge of and warm attachment to the church of England, been induced unani- mously to appoint you rector of our churches ; and we trust from your candor and goodness, as well as from the many good offices formerly done us, that you will be pleased to grant us our request. May the smiles of heaven attend you in all your pious labours, is the prayer of, &c. &c.
December 6th, 1762.
This election met with the cordial approba- tion of the two assistant ministers, who united with the vestry in their application to the bish- op of London, for his license to Mr. Peters to officiate as rector of the united churches. Mr. Peters accepted, and entered immediately on the duties of his office. He continued rector until September, 1775, when he resigned, in
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
consequence of age and infirmities. In their letter to the bishop of London, praying for his approbation of their choice, the vestry say, " The amiable and good character which Mr. Peters has supported among us for above twenty years past, his age, his learning, his piety, his zeal, his charity, all attracted our particular regard; and the opportunity we had of judging of his abilities during the absence of Mr. Duché, when he kindly and gratuitously rendered us his services by performing every part of his ministerial function, to the great satisfaction of our congregations, convinced us of the propriety of our choice. We are very sensible that it is Mr. Peters's duty to wait upon your lordship, and he is very desirous of doing it ; but, as we are circumstanced, his absence would be very detrimental to our church- es ; therefore we most humbly request, since your lordship's license in the usual form cannot be obtained, that you would be graciously pleased to signify your approbation of our choice, in any manner your lordship shall think proper, by a letter under your own hand and seal to Mr. Peters himself. This practice we can assure your lordship has been heretofore observed, by your pious predecessors."
The governor is applied to for a charter for
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the united churches, and signifies his readiness to grant one; a draught is accordingly prepar- ed by the vestry, which, after a slight altera- tion, receives the governor's sanction.
1763.
. March 5. The committee appointed to super- intend the building of St. Peter's Church, report, "That the said church is now happily finished, (the pulpit and chancel excepted,) and that we have disbursed and paid the sum of four thou- sand seven hundred and sixty-five pounds, nineteen shillings and six pence half penny, to the sundry persons employed in erecting and building the said church, including the purchase money of a lot of ground, for the use of said church. We have likewise received, by sub- scription and donations from sundry pious and well disposed persons, for the uses above men- tioned, the sum of three thousand five hundred pounds, fourteen shillings and six pence ; leav- ing a balance due to your committee, of one thousand two hundred and sixty-five pounds and five shillings."
Signed, Jacob Duché, James Child, Jos. Sims, William Bingham, James Humphreys, William Plumsted, John Wilcocks. March 2d, 1763.
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
At a subsequent meeting of the vestry, held March 30th 1763, it 'was "Resolved, that the thanks of this board be made to the committee for building St. Peter's church, and particularly to the treasurer, Mr. Joseph Sims, for their care, industry, and management, in the whole of this affair, and the rector is desired to return them the thanks of this board accordingly."
" Resolved, that Richard Gardner be the present school master of the school belonging to Christ Church, and that the said school be under the direction of the rector, ministers and vestry, for the time being, of the united church- es of Christ Church and St. Peter's."
" The vestry agreed to the erecting of an organ in St. Peter's Church, provided that nei- ther the said organ, nor the organist, shall be any charge to the churches, until the debt for building St. Peter's Church is paid."
March 30. The Rev. Mr. Sturgeon having been accused to the society in England of ne- glect of duty, as their catechist to the negroes, prays the vestry to appoint a committee to exa- mine into this matter. The rector and four vestrymen are appointed, who, after a patient and thorough investigation of the whole subject, report as follows : " We, the committee, &c. have carefully taken the examination of seve- 12*
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ral persons, communicants and constant atten- dants on the sacred offices of the church, res- pecting the catechising of the negro children belonging to the members of these congrega- tions, which we now lay before you; whence it appears that the Rev. William Sturgeon hath not neglected the exercise of his duty, as catechist to the society for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts; but that he hath con- stantly once a week, and sometimes oftener, except when out of town, which was very sel- dom the case, duly catechised and instructed sundry negro children in the principles of the said church.
Witness our hands, this 27th day of April, 1763."
Signed, Richard Peters, rector, John Kears- ley, William Pyewell, James Humphreys, Townsend White.
April 11. The vestry resolved, at a meet- ing this day, that they would have a secretary, whose duty it should be "to collect the pew money of both churches, oblige the clerk to account for all fees every month, attend the vestry at their meetings, and keep the minutes; and that he shall be allowed five per centum on all moneys received by him for the use of the churches."
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OF CHRIST CHURCH.
Francis Hopkinson, Esq. was appointed the secretary, agreeably to the above resolution.
It was further resolved, that box collections be made in both churches, morning and after- noon, on every Sunday.
The amount of these collections, in Christ Church alone, as appears by a book kept by Edward Duffield, the church warden, was £189. 19s. 11d., from Easter Sunday 1763, to Easter Sunday 1764; and £139. 6s. 8d. from Easter Sunday 1764, to Easter Sunday 1765.
In this book, which was kindly lent me by E. D. Ingraham, Esq. there is the following entry, viz. : " Mrs. Franklin not being willing to be called upon, in the box collections, chose rather to pay yearly three dollars for the same use as the box money is applied to; com- mencing September 25th, 1763."
July 26. " The rector representing to the vestry, that the back inhabitants of this pro- vince are reduced to great distress and neces- sity, by the present Indian invasion, proposed that some method be considered for collecting charity for their relief, from the congregation of Christ Church and St. Peter's; and it was unanimously resolved, that a preamble to a subscription paper for that purpose be imme- diately drawn up, which was accordingly done."
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At their next meeting " the church wardens reported to the vestry, that they had carried about a subscription paper, and made a collec- tion from the congregations of Christ Church and St. Peter's, for the relief of the distressed frontier inhabitants, amounting to £662. 3s." The rector and church wardens were appointed a committee to correspond with certain per- sons in Cumberland county, in order to ascer- tain the extent of the distress, that the above contributions might be judiciously distributed. Some idea of the greatness of this calamity, in the western part of Pennsylvania, brought by Indian hostilities, may be formed from the fol- lowing letter addressed to the rector and war- dens of Christ Church and St. Peter's.
Carlisle, 24th August, 1763.
Gentlemen,
We take the earliest opportunity of answering your let- ter of the 12th inst., in which you inform us, that there is at your disposal a sum of money to be distributed amongst the poor unhappy people on our frontiers, who have been obliged to fly their habitations, and take shelter in this town, Shippensburgh, Littleton, Bedford, &c. We assure you, that we shall now, and at all other times, be ready to give you as full and true information of every thing mate- rial relating to the sufferers on our frontiers, as we shall be able ; and we shall also be ready to give our assistance in the distribution of such sums of money, as you shall think proper to send up, from time to time, for the relief of those
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