USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Chester > Historical sketch of Chester, on Delaware > Part 19
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
signed the rectorship. In October of the same year, Rev. George Clifford Moore, the present rector, was called, and almest immedi- ately after his installation, he began the advocacy of the abolition of pew rents substituting therefor voluntary contributions-or en- velope system. In 1876, Charles Kenworthy bequeathed $350 to the parish, which sum was applied towards liquidating a mortgage debt, and the following year, Elizabeth Kerlin, by will, gave $150, which was used in a like manner, until in 1880, the entire debt was extinguished. The parish, at present, is in a flourishing condition.
ST. MICHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL.
The imposing Catholic Church of St. Michael's is the second sanctuary erected on the site, the first having been razed in 1874 to make room for the present edifice. The church organization ex- tends backward in the history of our city forty years. In 1842 a number of Catholics, employedl in this neighborhood-the nearest church being loc ited nine miles distant-determined to establish one of that denomination in the borough. Application was made to Rt. Rev. Francis Patrick Kendrick, Bishop of Philadelphia, for permission to organize a congregation and erect a church in Ches- ter. In response to the request the Bishop assigned Rev. Philip Sheridan to the parish. and earnestly did he labor to accomplish the end in view. July 12, 1842, a lot was purchased on Edgmont road and September 23, of the same year, the corner stone was laid by Bishop Kendrick. June 25, of the year following the church was dedicated to Almighty God under the patronage of St. Michael, - the Archangel, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Moriarty preaching the dedicatory sermon. For many years the building was the most noticable in Chester, and so conspicuous was it that the gilded cross, surmount- ing the lofty spire, could be seen glittering many miles away, as the town was approached in any direction. For nearly seven years no regular pastor was assigned to the parish. Occasional visits were made by Fathers Sheridan, Lane, Souren, Walsh, Amat, and Dr. O'Hara, until July 12, 1850, when Rev. Arthur P. Haviland, who
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Churches at Chester.
had been ordained a priest in Philadelphia, June 29, of the same year, was appointed to the charge of St. Michael's parish. So faith- fully did he labor, that in a short time the building became too small to accommodate the worshipers, and for many years the parish struggled under that difficulty
In 1854; the parsonage adjoining the sanctuary was built and the same year Father Haviland was assigned an assistant, Rev Patrick McEnroe. On September 20, 1858, a bell, the present one, weigh- ing 1,000 pounds, was raised to its designated place in the tower, and for almost a quarter of a century its well-known tones have daily be n heard in our thriving town. On the occasion of raising the bell to its allotted place a large concourse of people was pres- ent, and the services were conducted by the Right Rev. Bishop Wood. In 1867, Father Haviland went to Europe, and during his absence the parish was in charge of his assistant, Rev. Edward McKee, Father McEnroe having been removed to Mauch Chunk On the return of Father Haviland, Father McKee was assigned to Catasauqua, and Rev. Father Shankey became his assistant for a brief period, to be followed in succession by Rev. Fathers William F. Cook, Thomas McGlynn, Hugh McGlynn, James Timmins and Patrick J. Mackin.
Early in 1873, notwithstanding the parish had been divided and the Church of the Immaculate Heart erected in the South Ward, it became evident that the old edifice was insufficient to accommo- date the congregation, and it was resolved to erect a new sanctuary. Before the plans to this end could be fully matured, the financial disturbances in the fall of that year so paralyzed business that it was deemed inexpedient to begin the demolition of the old and the erection of the new edifice until the industrial dejection had, in a measure, abated. In the summer of the following year, permission was granted by the Right Rev. Bishop Wood to demolish the old structure, and rear in its stead a larger and more attractive build- ing. To that end, on July 29, 1874, the pews were taken out of the Church, and the parochial school house, which had been erected in 1866, was prepared for use as a temporary chapel. August 11, following, the excavations for the foundation of the new edifice were made, and on the 31st of the same month the old building was leveled to the earth. The corner stone of the new Church was
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
laid Sunday, November 1, 1874, by the Right Rev. Bishop Wood. The new structure is 178 feet in length and the facade 42 feet. Its height from the pavement to the eves is 68 feet, while from the centre of the facile rises a tower of 92 feet in height.
The structure is built of Leiperville granite with polished granite trimmings and columns from Maine. Externally and internally the edifice is artistically and handsomely finished, while the altar and furniture is elaborate and beautiful, making as a whole the most imposing building in the county. Sunday, November 5, 1882, the Church was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies by Right Rev. Bishop Shanahan, of Harrisburg.
CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY.
In the spring of 1873, the parish of St. Michael's having become so densely populated and the congregation attending the old sanc- tuary had grown so large, it was deemed expedient to institute a new Catholic Church in South Ward, and a committee waited on Right Rev. Bishop Wood to that end. After several interviews with the committee the Bishop consented to the division and July 1873, he appointed Rev. John B. Kelley the pastor in charge of the parish, which was named the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Two days after his appointment Father Kelley was drowned while bathing at At- lantic City, and Rev. Thomas J. McGlynn was assigned to the pas- torate. The parishioners immediately erected a frame chapel and the congregation was organized therein. Prompt steps were taken toward the building of a permanent Church edifice, and the follow- ing fall, September 23, 1874, the corner stone of the brick Gothic Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, at the north-west cor- ner of Second and Norris streets, was laid by the Right Rev. Bishop Wood. The work went steadily ouward, and the Church was dedi- cated the first Sunday of October, 1776. The edifice is 64 feet on Second street, by 108 feet in depth on Norris street. The parson- age on the left of the sanctuary, and in the same order of archi- tecture, was erected in 1877. The parish is now building a three
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Churches at Chester.
story brick parochial school house which will conform in style ex- ternally to the Church edifice. Rev. Father McGlynn has been in charge of the parish ever since it was organized, and under his immediate supervision all the permanent improvements have been made.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Kerlin farm was purchased in 1850 by John M. Broomall and the late John P. Crozer in equal shares. and after a large part of the real estate had been sold so as to repay the original outlay, Mr. Crozer, in 1856, conveyel his interest in all the land remain- ing to Mr. Broomall, reserving, however, the absolute title in the half square of ground on Penn and Second streets. Mr. Crozer stated at the time of the conveyance that he designed that locality as a site for a Baptist Church. This intention was doubtless due to the fact that previous to the autumn of 1854, occasional reli- gious exercises by Baptist clergymen had been held in Chester, but it was not until the fall of the year mentioned that any regularly stated services were had, when Rev. William Wilder, of the Up- land Baptist Church, established worship in the Court House, and it was continued under Mr. Wilder's supervision for four years. In the spring of 1858, Mr. Crozer donated the ground at the north- west corner of Second and Penn streets, seventy feet on the first and one hundred and twenty-seven on the latter, for a Church. During the summer of the same year Benjamin Gartside, at his personal cost, built a chapel 23 by 40 feet, which building, now stand- ing in the rear of the Church, was completed during the month of August, and worship was held there every Sunday afternoon. Rev. Miller Jones, then stationed at Marcus Hook, and Rev. William Wilder, conducted the services. In the spring of 1863, an effort was made to erect a building and to have the congregation recog- nized as a Church, but the public excitement consequent on the bat- tle of Gettysburg postponed definite action until September 24, 1863, when the chapel, built by Mr. Gartside, was dedicated as the
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
First Baptist Church of Chester, and Rev. Levi G. Beck was, May 24, 1864, ordained its first pastor.
The same year a sufficient sum was pledged to the building fund to justify the building of a sanctuary. The corner stone was laid July 2, 1864, and in the fall the edifice was so far advanced that the lecture room could be used for religious services. The work on the Church was continued, and in the fall of the following year all had been completed, but as it had been decided that the main apartment should not be used until the debt of the building com- mittee, amounting in all to $16,000, had been discharged, it re- quired several weeks to gather the fund. This was done, and De- cember 28, 1865, the Church was dedicated, Rev. J. Wheaton Smith, D. D., officiating on that occasion. After two years' pastor- ate, Rev. Mr. Beck was elected Secretary of the Baptist General Association of Pennsylvania, which office he accepted, and resigned his charge of the Church in April, 1866. For several months the congregation was without a regular minister, until November, 1866, when Rev. Andrew Fuller Shanafelt was called and assumed the duties of the pastorate in December of the same year. During his ministry, James Irving presented the lot on Second street, imme- diately adjoining the Church, for a parsonage, and Benjamin Gart- side erected the present building at his personal cost. In 1874, Mr. Shanafelt's health was so much impaired that he was granted a vacation to travel in Europe and the Holy Land. He returned in the fall apparently much improved, but his application to duty brought on a return of his physical weakness, causing his death March, 1875. The following July, Rev. Z. T. Dowen became the pastor and for two years remained in charge, when he resigned Au- gust, 1877, and returned to England. In November of the same year, Rev. A. G. Thomas, the present pastor, was called and began his ministerial work in the following December.
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MADISON STREET M. E. CHURCH.
The name "Chester" appears in the minutes of the Philadel- phia Conference in the list of appointments of preachers as early as the year 1783, when Revs. Robert Cann and John Milburn were assigned to that circuit. They, in 1789, were succeeded by Revs. William Dougherty and James Campbell, and the latter, in turn, in 1790, were followed by Revs. Sylvester Hutchinson and John Cooper. Notwithstanding these appointments it is very doubtful whether, at those times, there were any Methodists in the ancient Borough of Chester, the name being given to a circuit extending in territory from the river Delaware nearly to the Susquehanna, and from Philadelphia county to the Maryland line.
The first absolute knowledge we have of a meeting of that de- nomination is in 1818, when John Kelley and his wife, Esther, moved to this place. Mr. Kelley had been a local preacher in St. George's Church, Philadelphia, and shortly after locating in Chester held services in his own house, where he organized a class. The circuit preacher soon afterwards established a regular appointment for preaching, and on Sundays religious services were held in the Court House for many years. In that structure the noted Bishop Asbury, it is said, preached on several occasions. The denomina- tion grew gradually, and several attempts were made to raise funds sufficient to build a house to meet in, but all efforts failed to that end, until in 1830, sufficient means bad been obtained to justify the congregation in erecting, not without considerable difficulty, a stone Church on Second street, at the corner of Bevan's Court, which building was greatly due to the energy and efforts of the late David Abbott, and was named in honor of the Bishop, " Asbury Chapel." The society was still largely dependent on the circuit minister, although more frequently the services were conducted en- tirely by the local preachers. The congregation attending the Church had grown so large in 1845 that Chester was made a station and Rev. Isaac R. Merrill was appointed pastor in that year.
During his pastorate, in 1846, the congregation erected the sec-
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
on'l stone meeting house, on Fifth street, below Market, which, in 1873 they sold to Tuscarora Tribe of Red Men, No. 29, who changed it into a hall. At the present time the old building has again been devoted to the purposes for which it was built, and is occupied by the congregation of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church. In 1847, Mr. Merrill was succeeded by Rev. Levi Storks,* who, in 1848, was followed by Rev. John Shields. In 1849, Rev. Newton Heston* was appointed, and continued until 1851. In 1850, the year when Chester began to develop rapidly, the Church had 302 members. Rev Samuel G. Hare* was appointed in 1851, and was followed the succeeding year by Rev John B. Maddux,* who con- tinued pastor until 1854, when Rev. Wm. Mullin was appointed in his stead, and in 1856 was followed by Rev. John W. Arthur .* Rev. Allen Johns* was appointed pastor in 1858 and the following year was succeeded by Rev. John Ruth .* During the latter's pas- torate, in 1860, the membership had grown to 322. Rev. William Urie' was assigned to the charge of the Church in 1861, and was succeeded in 1863, by Rev. James E. Meredith, who, after he ceased to be its pastor became a clergyman of the Episcopal Church and at the present time is located in Texas, as rector of a parish of that denomination. Mr. Meredith was followed in 1866 by Rev. Henry E. Gilroy, and in 1869, Rev. James Cunningham was appointed to succeed him. The old meeting house on Fifth street was now un- able to accommodate the number of worshippers, and it was deter- mined to erect a new edifice. To that end a lot on the north-east corner of Seventh and Madison streets was purchased, and the cor- ner stone of the new Church building laid on Wednesday, July 17, 1872, Rev. Henry Brown, rector of St. Paul's, and Rev. A. W. Sproull, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, assisting Rev.
, James Cunningham in the ceremonial and religious services on that occasion. The new Church, which was built of green serpentine stone, with granite trimmings and corner blocks and finished very tastefully and at much expense, was dedicated May 3, 1874. Du- ring the greater part of the time the building of the edifice was going on Rev. Jolin B. Maddux* was the minister, having succeed- ed Mr. Cunningham in the fall of 1872. In 1875, Rev. Jos. Welsh was appointed pastor, and was succeeded in 1878 by Rev. William
#Deceased.
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Churches at Chester.
C. Robinson. In 1881, Rev. William J. Paxson, the present pis- tor, was appointed. The Church is in a most flourishing condition, its membership in 1880 being 626, and it has largely increased in that respect since that time.
TRINITY M. E. CHURCH.
In 1865, the membership and congregation of the Fifth Street Methodist Church had so increased that it was deemed proper by the Quarterly Conference to effect a Church organization in South Ward, and to that end thirty members held regular religious wor- ship in the Crozer Academy, on Second street, west of Franklin. In the summer of the same year, the congregation began the build- ing at the corner of Third and Parker streets, known as Trinity Church, Rev. Mr. Twiggs, now of Wilmington Conference, being then pastor in charge. The edifice had been roofed in, when, in October, 1865, a terrific north-east storm utterly demolished the building, heaping it into the cellar a mass of ruins. There the debris remained until 1866, when the congregation, under the di- rection of Rev. Wm McCombs, as pastor, erected a frame chapel on the ground to the west, now used by D. H. Burns, as _ marble yard, and the same year built what is now the Sunday School. The main structure during the same year was re-commenced and pushed forward until it was roofed in. The debt of the congrega- tion amounted to $20,000 In the fall of the year the chapel was completed and dedicated, on which occasion a sum of $5,000 was raised, and to that amount the debt was extinguished. In the spring of 1867, Rev. Isaac Mast was appointed, and continued in charge for two years, during which period $5,000 additional of the debt was paid off, the floors of the main Church laid, and the mem- bership largely increased. In 1869, Rev. George W. F. Graff be- came the pastor, and continued in that relationship three years. During his ministry the Church proper was completed and dedicat- ed by Bishop Simpson. It had cost $6,000 additional, but of that sum $5,000 was subscribed on dedication day. The congregation
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
during that period built what is now known as the South Chester M. E. Church, then styled the mission chapel. Independent of the sums mentioned, the congregation raised $10,000, and applied it towards liquidating the indebtedness of the Church. In the spring of 1872, Rev. Samuel Pancoast was assigned to the pastorate, and during his term of three years the entire debt was discharged. In 1875 Rev .. Samuel W. Kurts was appointed and was followed in 1878 by Rev. John F. Crouch, during whose pastorate many im- portant improvements were made to the Church. In 1880 Rev. Noble Frame was assigned to the Church, and in the spring of 1882, Rev. Thomas Kelly, the present pastor, was appointed.
UNION A. M. E. CHURCH.
Early in this century Robert Morris, a slave in the lower part of Delaware, was told by his master, with whom he was a favorite, that his property was about to be levied on by the Sheriff, to make his escape to Chester, and, if possible, get some one to buy him. The latter fled and Charles Lloyd, of the Blue Bell Tavern, Kingses- sing, purchased hin from his master for $300 conditioned that when he attained thirty years he was to be free. Morris. = ho was a re- ligious man, after he was free came to Chester, where he organized this Church. At first only four persons could be found to attend meetings, which were held in a house occupied by a man named Williams, on Third street, west of Concord avenue, but by degrees the movement spread until about 1831, when sufficient means were collected to purchase from Matthew L. Bevan, a lot on Welsh street, and to build a frame Church. The following year Rev. Sam- uel Smith was appointed local preacher and continued in charge un- til 1837. His pastorate, however, was financially unsuccessful in- asmuch as the expenses of the organization created a burdensome debt, so that Robert Morris once more came to Chester to its as- sistance and Rev. Benjamin Jefferson was assigned as its pastor, in which capacity he continued until 1874. The latter strove energet- ically to liquidate the incumbrance and succeeded in clearing the
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Churches at Chester.
Church of debt. He was followed in 1875 by Rev. Lorenzo D. Blackston, and the following year Rev. Henry Mode was appointed pastor. Again in 1877, Rev. Benjamin Jefferson was assigned to the charge of the Church and continued until 1880. It was during his second pastorate that the edifice was rebuilt as it is to-day, al- though many years before a stone building had taken the place of the original frame structure. From 1880 to 1881, Rev. Lewis J. Jones was in charge. In the latter year Rev. Francis H. Norton, the present pastor was appointed.
Fifteen or twenty years ago a mission Church was organized in Media, under the supervision of Union Church and is now a flourish- ing body, while the membership of the parent Church has largely increased.
ASBURY A. M. E. CHURCH.
This religious body was organized by Rev. Stephen Smith, of Philadelphia, October 26, 1845. The same year the congregation purchased the Church property on Second street, east of Market, for $700, at which location they have continued to worship for nearly forty years. At first, as with all Methodist Churches in this city, the body was supplied at times by circuit preachers, butgene- rally the services were conducted by local clergymen. In 1849, Rev. Henry Davis was appointed the first regular pastor and was succeeded in 1850 by Rev. H. G. Young, who in turn was followed in 1853 by Rev. J. G. Bulah. In May, 1854, Rev. James Holland was assigned to the Church and was succeeded in 1856 by Rev. Adam Driver, who was followed in 1858 by Rev. J. G. Bulah. In 1860, Rev. J. G. Carrish was appointed, and in 1861, Rev. G. W. Johnson became pastor. The next year Rev. W. D. N. Schureman was assigned to the Church, and in 1863, Rev. Jeremiah Young was appointed pastor, and during his ministry the Church was rebuilt. He was followed in 1869 by Rev. G. Boyer, and in 1871 Rev. G. T. Waters became pastor. He was followed in 1874 by Rev. L. C. Chambers, and in 1877, Rev. T. Gould succeeded him. In 1879,
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
Rev. J. S. Thompson was assigned to the Church and in 1881, the present pastor, Rev. C. C. Felts, was appointed, and during his ministry the congregation purchased a parsonage on Madison street, above Sixth. The Church has also sent out its mission body in the William Murphy Church, on Engle street, below Second, in South Chester. That Church was named by Hon John M. Broomall, in commemoration of the active religious life work of Rev. William Murphy, of this city, and the organization is in a flourishing con- dition. Its pastors since it was instituted are as follows : Revs G. W. Warter, Jacob P Davis, Henderson Davis, John W. Davis and John W. Norris.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Presbyterian residents of Chester, previous to 1850, often attended divine services at Leiper's Church, in Ri lley, but more frequently the Episcopal or Methodist Churches, both of which de- nominations had "a local habitation and a name" in the ancient Borough. In the fall of the year stated, the late Rev. James W. Dale, every Sunday afternoon, conducted divine services in the Court House, according to the Presbyterian formula, and continued to preach therein for more than a year. In 1851, I. E. Cochran, Sr., gave the lot, part of the land taken by him in partition of his father's, (John Cochran, the elder,) estate, at the south-east corner of Fourth and Welsh streets, on which to build a Presbyterian Church, and he, together with the late Joseph H. Hinkson, contributed largely of their means towards the erection of the present edifice. Rev. Mr. Dale, who had also labored indomitably in its behalf, dedi- cated the Church, and in 1853 organized a congregation with seven- teen communicants. Mrs. Henrietta Mifflin Clyde, who died September 28, 1874, aged eighty-two years, was the last survivor. Robert Benedict was ordained as the first ruling elder. In the sanctuary since it was renovated, enlarged and adorned about eight years ago, the handsome stained glass memorial windows then placed in the church, in most cases bear the names of persons who
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