USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Bristol > A history of Bristol borough in the county of Bucks, state of Pennsylvania, anciently known as "Buckingham"; being the third oldest town and second chartered borough in Pennsylvania, from its earliest times to the present year 1911 > Part 13
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Immaculate Heart, who impart religious and secular in- struction to over 200 children.
Father Vandegrift took charge of the parish in the iall of 1889. His pastorate may well be considered the brightest and most successful period in the history of the church. He found the parish almost hopelessly involved in debt and a congregation comparatively poor. The prospect was anything but cheering.
Being endowed with splendid abilities which he entire- ly devoted to his work, he soon had everything in order and the prospect became brighter and brighter as time went. He beautified the interior of the church, had it newly frescoed, put in a very costly altar rail, and a set of imported Stations of the Cross. He also purchased a lot in a very convenient location for a cemetery at a cost of $3,000, in all of which he was ably seconded by his assistant, the Rev. Father Meagher.
In June, 1895, much to the regret of his parishioners, he went to Philadelphia to take charge of St. Edward's, taking with him the respect and esteem of the entire com- munity, and had the satisfaction of surrendering free of all encumbrances, the parish with all its improvements to his successor, the Rev. Hugh Garvey, who upon the latter's death was succeeded by the late lamented Rev. M. A. Bunce, during whose regime the parochial school, at. considerable expense was enlarged and many improve- ments made.
The present pastor, the Rev. M. A. Bradley, succeeded Father Bunce. Father Bradley has been with us but a short time but has already won the hearts of his people. (Bucks County Gazette.)
Note .- Although Father Bradley has been in Bristol less than two years, yet he has displayed unusual energy. Through his efforts new pews have been installed in the church, the electric light system has been renewed, and the main and side altars, as well as the "Stations of the Cross," and all other statues have been repainted. A new concrete pavement has been laid in front and in the yard of the Parochial School, and a new iron fence erected across the front of the two side yards. Father Bradley's geniality and affability have made him popular outside of his church circle.
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Presbyterian Church .- In 1843 the Presbyterians in Bristol were exceedingly few, and in the surrounding country there was only here and there an individual by birth or education attached to the Presbyterian com- munion. Under these circumstances the beginning of the church was made. The Rev. James M. Harlow was then residing at Newportville, and was pastor of the historic congregation of Bensalem, and stated supply at Centre- ville, now Emilie. To this gentleman this church owes its inception and to his self-denying labors it is that the enterprise did not perish at its birth. Mr. Harlow began to preach in Bristol in the Lyceum building, where the postoffice now stands, on the evening of July 2, 1843. After four services, on as many Sabbaths, a Sabbath School was organized, with fourteen scholars and four teachers. It grew apace, and at the end of four years was second in number and efficiency to no school in Bristol. The Sabbath School and preaching were continued in the Lyceum building until the basement of the church was finished. The lot on which the church stands was bought at sheriff's sale on December 21, 1843, for $1,250, for all of which, excepting $50, a mortgage was given to the late John Paul, Sr. The frame building on the rear of the lot was occupied by Mr. Harlow and his family in the spring of 1844. Now began the serious time. In recalling this time Mr. Harlow wrote: "Things looked dark except to the eye of faith, and continued so for most of the four years following. I was almost penniless myself, and with little personal influence, while all around me regarded the whole scheme as utopian, not possible of success, not one on which to risk either reputation or money." Neverthe- less, he persevered, and God encouraged him by raising up for him friends who were able and willing to aid him in accomplishing his heart's desire. The subscriptions he obtained represented many places and many names, among which Burlington and the late Rev. Dr. Court- landt Van Rensselaer are very prominent. Without the sympathy and liberal gifts of this princely man it does not seem that the building could have been erected. He gave his money, again and again; he loaned his money, and when the debt fell due he forgave the debt. He came
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often to preach, sometimes crossing the river on the ice, and was always ready to do what he could to cheer and encourage the heart of his brave friend and brother, Mr. Harlow. Many other substantial contributions were re- ceived from out of town friends and the subscription list shows how much he commended himself by his self- sacrificing spirit in the community, for there is hardly a name of man or woman who had a dollar to spare, which does not appear upon the list. Friends, Episcopalians and Methodists, all alike, seemed to want a share in the work this good man was doing. But mere gathering of money was but a part of the service which Mr. Harlow rendered. What besides he did is best given in his own words: "In the spring of 1846 I dug out the foundations and filled the trenches with boulders obtained from ves- sels which came from the East for coal. The boulders came in ballast to Bristol, and as they were not allowed to throw them overboard, I engaged to take them from the wharf, and did so, filling in the ditches as I hauled them up with my own horse. Next was fifty tons of quarried stone from Yardleyville by canal, to complete the stone wall to the water table, then followed 10,800 bricks from Bordentown, N. J., which were laid in the wall at $2 per thousand ; next the heavy lumber from Burlington, rafted over to Bristol by favorable flood tides, and so on for the rest of the materials until all was on the ground and put into the building in the required order until the structure was completed." He adds quaintly : "It would be decid- edly personal to tell you who did all this with the aid of one little horse; out of that horse I got practical sym- pathy." The property having been purchased by Mr. Harlow in his own name, was held by him until January, 1846, when it was conveyed by him to trustees. Who these trustees were is not now known. (The Board of Trustees were not a corporate body until February, 1851.) On May 15, 1847, the trustees, whoever they were, conveyed back to Mr. Harlow the dwelling and all the lot excepting that on which the church building stands, and six feet each side of it. Mr. Harlow continued to supply the pulpit statedly (he was never pastor of the church), until the autumn of 1850, when he removed to
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East Aurora, Erie County, N. Y. About a year after his removal he conveyed to the trustees the dwelling in the rear of the church building, with the remainder of the lot, receiving therefor the consideration of $400. Thus the church became possessed of the property. Although not definitely known, the church was probably organized by Mr. Harlow himself, with the assistance of his Burling- ton friends, the Rev. Drs. Van Rensselaer and Chester. It was, however, recognized and received under the care of the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia (O. S.), in session in Germantown, on April 22, 1846. Fourteen per- sons composed the original membership, of whom the last survivor was Mrs. Charles W. Pierce, then Miss Mary Vanuxem.
From the time of the organization till the departure of Mr. Harlow, thirty-two persons were received into the communion of the church; by certificate from other churches, twenty-three, and nine by profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Very little was con- tributed for benevolent causes. The people were few, and far from rich in this world's goods, and all they could do was necessarily devoted very largely to the mainten- ance of their own church. In 1851, the year of Mr. Har- low's departure, the church and congregation consisted of twenty-eight members and twenty-three families. It is evident that Mr. Harlow was a very Paul, coveting no man's silver or gold or apparel, his own hands minister- ing to his necessities. He engaged in teaching, and from this source derived his support. The encomium passed on him by Dr. Charles Hodge was well deserved: "I know no man in all our church who has evinced greater energy, perseverance and self-denial in the prosecution of his work. He has labored almost for nothing, doing the work not only of a minister, but of a day laborer, de- voting without stint time, strength and money to the cause." Mr. Harlow left Bristol in 1851 and was after- wards stated supply at Aurora, Moscow, Bath, Tuscarora, Union Corners and Phelps, N. Y., and pastor at Shorts- ville, 1870-72, when he was honorably retired. He died in Shortsville, Ontario County, N. Y., December 13, 1894, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. The Presbytery of
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Geneva, in session in Geneva, April 16, 1895, took action as to his character and worth, in which it said: "As a preacher Mr. Harlow was talented, sympathetic, logical, persuasive. He was a tireless worker, a thorough student, a faithful, public spirited citizen. In the church and prayer meeting his presence was a delight." So passed into the better land the founder and father of this church. His name is precious. His works do follow him. He builded better than he knew.
After his retirement, the church was vacant till May, 1851, when the Rev. Franklin D. Harris was installed as its first pastor. Mr. Harris was graduated from the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania in 1837, and from the Theological Seminary at Andover, Mass., in 1840. After missionary service in Central Pennsylvania he came to Bristol. He remained ten years and seven months, with a large measure of success. His continuance in this pulpit for so long a time was a great blessing to his people and to the community as well. During his pastorate, ninety-two additions were made to the membership of the church, thirty-eight by certificate and fifty-four by examination. Nearly $9,000 were given, so that at the time of his re- tirement he left the congregation in its spiritual and temporal condition very greatly strengthened. On De- cember 10, 1861, his relations with the Bristol church were dissolved by Presbytery, he having accepted a call to the church at Port Byron, N. Y. He died in Philadel- phia on February 23, 1892, at the age of 82 years.
Mr. Harris was succeeded in the pastorate by the Rev. Alfred Taylor, who was installed July 31, 1862. His pas- torate lasted till March 9, 1865. His specialty was Sab- bath School work. He died in Bridgeport, Conn., March 31, 1889, in the fifty-eighth year of his age. The pastor- ate of Mr. Taylor was conspicuous as the time during which the congregation made generous provision for the comfort of their minister by the purchase of an excellent manse.
At a meeting of Presbytery at Newtown, October 3, 1865, a call for his pastoral services was presented to the Rev. Henry F. Lee. This call Mr. Lee accepted, and he was installed pastor on November 7, 1865. He was
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pastor less than two years, and the additions to the church roll were by certificate, thirty, and by examination thirty-six. His stay was short but full of blessing to the church.
The Rev. Jacob Weidman succeeded Mr. Lee, having been installed pastor in November, 1867. This relation continued until June 1, 1873, a period of five and one-half years. During his pastorate the church edi- fice was enlarged. The amount expended by the trus- tees was $3,215.79. In 1869, Mr. Peter E. Hope was re- ceived into the membership of the church and in June, 1870, was ordained and installed elder of the church, be- ing the first since 1868. Business interest caused his removal from the town. He was a most acceptable man in office, intelligent, useful and efficient in the discharge of his duties. The church sustained a heavy loss in his removal.
On October 30, 1873, the Rev. James H. Mason Knox, D. D., LL. D., was installed pastor. His ministry con- tinued a little more than ten years. They were happy years, in which the pastor and his people dwelt together in delightful unison. Just before the close of his ministry the interior of the church building was improved by painting and frescoing, and the gallery was lowered to admit of placing in proper position the organ, which had been purchased and which has since guided and helped the service of song in the congregation. In December, 1883, the relation which had so happily subsisted for more than ten years was dissolved by Presbytery, and the pastor was for nearly seven years thereafter president of Lafayette College, when after forty-five years of service, he retired from official duties.
The call of the church to the Rev. Edward P. Shields, then of Cape May, N. J., was placed in his hands by Pres- bytery in April, 1884, and accepted by him. He came to Bristol in the fullness of his strength, physical and intel- lectual, and here he remained until 1898. No man in the Presbytery was held in higher esteem by his brethren. During his pastorate, the membership of the church and Sabbath School were both greatly increased.
Dr. Shields was succeeded in 1898 by the Rev. Alexan-
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der Allison, D. D. Dr. Allison was an eloquent speaker with a pleasing and affable personality. He was par- ticularly aggressive in the temperance cause. During the second year of his pastorate, the handsome chapel in which the congregation now worships, was erected. He severed his relations with the church in 1903, and was succeeded by the Rev. Charles E. Burns, D. D., who is the present incumbent. Under the pastorate of Dr. Burns, the church is vigorous and has maintained a healthy growth. (From a history of the church written by Dr. J. H. Mason Knox).
Bethel A. M. E. Church .- Bethel A. M. E. Church was · organized in the early forties of the last century. As early as 1843 this congregation was worshipping in an old building which stood at the foot of Wood Street, along the canal basin. Meetings were later held in a dwelling occupied by Lucy Harris, on Wood Street, be- tween Mill Street and the canal basin. Prior to the institution of this church, the few colored people in Bristol worshipped with their white neighbors in the established churches, and even after the African branch of the Methodist Church was organized, several of the colored people refused to sever their relations with the white congregation, and remained regular in their at- tendance until their deaths. Among the earliest mem- bers of the African Church in Bristol were Henry Wil- liams and wife, Deborah; Henry Blake and wife, Amanda ; Patience Currier, Theodorea Freeman and wife, Eliza; Mary Schenk, James Jordon, Ellen Julius, Peter Julius, Rebecca Price, Uriah Jones, Elizabeth Cummings, Anna Smith, Martha Freeman, Ellen Montgomery.
After a number of years the congregation had in- creased to such an extent that a commodious place in which to worship became a necessity. The little frame church on Pond Street, above Walnut, now Ardrey's machine shop, was accordingly purchased and occupied. Brighter days followed and although the little flock has since bore its share of burdens and passed through many trying conflicts, yet the days spent in the old church on Pond Street will always be treasured in the memory as
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among the happiest in the church's history. Later the old church building was sold and the present edifice on Wood Street purchased.
Several of the members of this church have occupied prominent positions in the church connection. Miss Rachel Smith became the wife of Bishop T. M. D. Ward. Miss Martha De Witt became the wife of Bishop H. M. Turner. The Rev. Jas. H. Morgan went into the min- istry from the Bristol Church, and for twenty years was secretary of the New Jersey African Methodist Confer- ence He also wrote and published a history of the conference.
Silk Worm Industry .- In 1844 there was in existence in Bristol, an industry for the propogation of the silk worm and production of the silk worm cocoon. The building occupied was situated along the river .in the rear of the Wildman residence, at the intersection of Radcliffe and Washington Streets, and three stories in height. Mulberry leaves were fed to the silk worms and in order to supply this food, a grove of mulberry trees was planted, which extended from a point where the Colonial Theatre now stands, west, as far as Pond Street, and north almost to Jefferson Aevnue. William Booz, of Cedar Street, to whom the author is indebted for this article, was employed in this industry when a boy. His duties were to gather the mulberry leaves from the trees in the grove and feed them to the silk worms. The in- dustry was the result of a craze which swept over the country at that time, when everybody expected to get rich raising silk worms. In a few years, when the craze subsided, the business was suspended, but the old build- ing stood for several years, when it was removed.
History of the First Baptist Church .- In 1838, the Bap- tist Association of Philadelphia, which owned a lot on Otter Street, where Mohican Hall now stands, author- ized a committee to transfer the same to a church which might be formed in Bristol, which held the doctrines of their confession of faith. In 1840, the president of the board, the Rev. Jones, was authorized to transfer the lot to the Baptist brethren and followers of the cause at
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Bristol, for their sole use, benefit and disposal. Six years passed, during which it appears that all efforts to estab- lish a church were unavailing. In 1846 the records show that a Brother Dooge had an interview with a Brother Corson, of near Bristol, who had informed him there
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
were several members of the Baptist faith in Bristol and expressed a wish to build a meeting house, and requested the association to grant them a title to the lot, then known as the Baptist lot. Two years afterward, on the 29th day of September, 1848, the council of ministers in regular session at Philadelphia, officially recognized and regularly constituted the First Baptist Church of Bristol. In 1849, the Rev. Jones reported that the church at Bris- tol was not incorporated, and it was resolved that as soon as the church obtained a charter from the court, that the president of the board be empowered to convey the title to its trustees. Wm. Bache, in his history of Bristol, published in 1853, claims that the fifteen original mem- bers of the Bristol Church, were members in good stand- ing from sister churches.
On the 3rd of May, 1850, a charter of incorporation was granted to the First Baptist Church of Bristol Bor- ough. The same year, the Rev. Christian J. Page, who
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had been called by the Bristol Church as its first pastor, on the second of February preceding, arose in the annual meeting of the Philadelphia Baptist Association, and announced the fact, that a charter had been obtained. It was accordingly resolved that the president and secre- tary convey the lot to the Bristol Church. At this time, the borough had a population of 2,570, of which 1,287 were males and 1,283 females. There were about 450 dwellings in the town, besides a number of shops of . various kinds. At the next yearly meeting in 1851, the officers of the board reported that the lot on Otter Street had been transferred to the Baptist Church at Bristol and that the $50, which had been received from the Trenton Railroad Company for damages for crossing the lot, had been turned over to the Bristol trustees. The member- ship of the Bristol Church soon increased to nearly 100 in number, and for some time they held stated meetings for divine worship in the lecture room of the Washing- ton Hall.
Having sold their building lot on Otter Street, and secured a suitable piece of ground on the southeast corner of Walnut and Cedar Streets, for building a church, con- tracts were entered into with mechanics : and on the 18th of June, 1851, the work had so far progressed as to admit of the laying of the corner stone of a handsome church edifice, composed of brown sandstone, laid in square blocks, hammer-dressed and pointed. The proportions were: Main room, 43 by 70 feet ; above the vestibule was a projecting tower of 7 feet, having a 5-foot recess. Base- ment story had three rooms, a lecture room, 41 by 38 feet, which would seat about 300 persons; and two com- mittee rooms, one of which was used for school purposes, and the other for the meetings of the trustees. The main audience chamber originally seated about 450 persons ; had eighty-two pews on the main floor; with a gallery which seated an additional 100 persons. The whole prop- erty was estimated to be worth about $8,000.
The Rev. E. A. Rook, a former pastor, in a historical sketch read upon the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the church, held September 19, 1898, gives the names of the original members of the church, as follows :
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Amos Corson, Eleizetta Corson, Maria A. Corson, Me- lissa Kinsey, Susan Booz, Peter W. Appleton, Mary Appleton, Mary A. Sulger, Mary A. Pennington, Margaret A. Booz, Margaret Weisinger, Emily Forst, Caroline Murphy, Sarah Johnson, Mary Earl.
The Rev. Rook further says that these fifteen original members, met together on September 19, 1848, for the purpose of consulting as to the best means to be adopted, for organizing a Baptist Church in Bristol. It was agreed at this meeting, that Brother C. Davidson, who was then preaching for this little band of believers be requested to invite a few of the churches in Philadelphia to send dele- gates to sit in council to be convened September 29, 1848. An invitation was also extended through Brother Amos Corson, to the Holmesburg Church. On September 25th another meeting was held by the above named persons at which the Articles of Faith and Covenant of the Baptist Church, were unanimously adopted. On September 29, 1848, the ministers and laymen appointed by the Phila- delphia churches, as requested by Brother Davidson, met in council for the purpose of recognizing as a Baptist Church the fifteen persons already mentioned, who pos- sessed letters of good standing from sister churches of the same faith and order. After the proceedings of the preparatory meetings were read by Brother Davidson, and the Articles of Faith and Church Covenant had also been read, the council retired and after prayer and mature deliberation, resolved to recognize the petitioners as a Baptist Church of Christ. The Methodist congregation kindly loaned their church for the organization exercises.
On the evening of February 2, 1850, the members of the church held a meeting, the object of which was the elec- tion of a pastor. The following resolutions were unani- mously adopted :
Resolved, That our esteemed Brother, C. J. Page, now located at Milestown, Pa., be and is hereby called to the pastoral care and oversight of this church.
Resolved, That a committee of three, consisting of Brethren Corson, Thompson and Morgan, be appointed to convey to Brother Page a copy of the above resolution, and invite him to accept the call to become our pastor.
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The above call was accepted by Brother Page, who en- tered upon his duties April 1, 1850. Rev. Page re- mained with the church until 1856, when he resigned, after a faithful pastorate of over six years. The following pastors have served since that time :
Rev. William Swinder, 1856 to 1859; Rev. John Miller, 1859 to 1862; Rev. Malachi Taylor, 1862 to 1866; Rev. Thomas Goodwin, 1867; Rev. Henry Bray, 1868 to 1870; Rev. J. C. Hyde, 1871 to 1874; Rev. C. E. Harden, 1875 to 1876; Rev. W. H. Conrad, 1877 to 1880; Rev. Levi J. Beck, 1880 to 1886; Rev. I. D. King, 1886 to 1889; Rev. I. W. Goodhue, 1889 to 1891 ; Rev. W. H. Clipman, 1892 to 1894; Rev. E. A. Rook, 1894 to 1901 ; Rev. Thomas Mc- Kay, 1901 to 1905; Rev. Wm. T. Johnston, 1906 to the present.
During the pastorate of the Rev. J. C. Hyde, the heavy debt which had hung over the church since the erection of its building, was cancelled. During the past five years, the interior of the church has been greatly changed. The old gallery in the top story has been taken away, a sloping floor introduced, stained glass windows installed, while the lower story has been greatly improved. New comfortable pews have been placed in the church audi- torium and a pipe organ adds much to the attractiveness of the services. A series of meetings for men, held on Sunday afternoons, have proven very profitable and popu- lar. In a recent effort to raise funds for the cancellation of some of the church debt, about $800 were raised.
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