USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > West Chester > History of First Presbyterian Church of West Chester, Pa. > Part 2
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Thenceforth until 1831 we find no minute on the rec- ords of the Presbytery of any supplies for West Chester. For eighteen years the Presbytery of New Castle had la- bored with persevering faith to establish a church here. During all that period, 1790 to 1808, no other evangelical denomination was in the field.
The fullness of time was not yet come. In 1808 the population could have hardly exceeded four hundred. It was but four hundred and seventy-one in 1810, the most of these in number and influence were inclined to the Society of Friends.
But though Presbytery no longer formally appointed supplies, its members living nearest, continued to preach as occasion offered. When the roads were good there was divine service in the Court House, on the average of once a month.
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Rev. John Gemmie, Principal of the Academy in 1813-14, is known to have preached here. Rev. Nathaniel Todd, Principal from 1818 to 1822, preached frequently during the whole period of his residence here, but no effort seems to have been made to establish a congregation.
By the year 1830, the population of the borough had increased to 1244. The completion of the railroad from Philadelphia to Columbia, rendered it practicable to con- nect West Chester with the city by the branch road begun in 1831 and completed in 1832. The original road was laid with yellow pine string pieces and strap rails. The motive power was horses. Steam was introduced in 1845. In 1829 and 1830, a considerable addition was made to the town plot by William Everhart, it included most of the borough south of Market street and west of Church. A new impulse was then given to the growth of the town. Price's school, long and highly celebrated was erected in 1830. The Mansion House was built in 1832. The con- gregations established here at that time were the Roman Catholic, in 1793; the Friends, in 1812, who divided in 1827; and the Methodist Episcopal, in 1816. Many who were not connected with either of these societies were ready to co-operate in forming a Presbyterian Church. Of members of the Presbyterian Church it is not known that there was one among the permanent residents of the bor- ough. Gen. John W. Cunningham, Prothonotary in 1830 to 1836, was ruling elder in the church at New London, and Robert Ralston, Register of Wills, 1830 to 1833, Re- corder of Deeds, 1834 to 1836, was an elder at Brandywine Manor. But several very prominent citizens were by de- scent or preference attached to the doctrines, worship and polity of the Presbyterian Church. Among these were Hon. Thomas S. Bell, afterward one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; William H. Dillingham, Esq .; Hon. William Everhart; Charles Miner, editor of the Vil- lage Record; Asher Miner, Joseph Davidson, Henry Fleming, Esq., John T. Denny, Esq., Ziba Pyle, Esq., William Williamson, Esq., and Henry Van Amringe, Esq.
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At this time William Augustus Stevens, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Baltimore, was led in the providence of God to undertake the task of founding a church here. His first service was held in the old Court House, March 27, 1831.
At the meeting of the Presbytery of New Castle, held in Wilmington, April 6, 1831, application was made for help to establish here the permanent institutions of the Gospel according to the usages of the Presbyterian Church. Gen- eral Cunningham was a member of the Presbytery, and it was probably he who urged the application.
The Presbytery directed their Committee on Missions "to recommend to the Board of Missions of the General Assembly, West Chester as a mission station, and Rev. William A. Stevens to occupy that place." At the same meeting of Presbytery Mr. Stevens was received as a licen- tiate.
Mr. Stevens entered upon his work at once. We find a notice in the papers that he would preach in the Court House, April 10, 1831, and thenceforward the same notice is found weekly. In the early part of 1832, his labors were interrupted for a time by sickness, but resumed on May 27, 1832.
From the very first Mr. Stevens was resolved to estab- lish a church here. He did not propose to exercise his gifts for a time and look for something better. He would lay the foundation of many generations. He saw that a church edifice was a necessity to the permanence of his work. He began at once to agitate the question of building.
The circumstances were propitious. A number of those who had recently settled here were of Presbyterian ante- cedents. Many of the most thoughtful of the citizens were anxious for the establishment of a church with an educated and permanent ministry. The spirit of enterprise was aroused, and some who were not interested in the church as a spiritual power were wise to recognize its value in pro- moting the social and material interests of the borough.
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T
THE CHURCH AND MANSE (From an Old Sketch)
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They were willing to help in building the ark even if they did not propose to enter it.
By June 5, 1832, matters were so far advanced that "the contributors for the building of a Presbyterian Church" were called to meet the next evening, "for the purpose of adopting measures preparatory to building." Of that meeting we have no record. But work had already been begun.
The location of the church had been a matter of earnest discussion. Many desired the very central position, north- west corner of Market and Church streets, where the Ever- hart Block now stands. As a compromise, Mr. Everhart offered as a gift, an acre of ground on the southwest of the borough back of where Portico Row now is. It was finally agreed as a more acceptable compromise, to select the lot on which the church now stands, and this was pur- chased for the congregation by Ziba Pyle, Robert Ralston and Henry Fleming.'
The location thus selected, now central and convenient, was then "out of town," two squares beyond the side-walks, with not a house south or west of it within the borough limits.
The corner stone of the church was laid on the 3d of July, 1832, "in the presence of a large concourse of citizens." A statement was made by William H. Dillingham, Esq., chairman of the Building Committee, explaining the plan, resources, views and objects of the congregation. We have a few extracts from his address: "This stone," he said, "is laid in no sectarian spirit, with no proselyting views. We believe that religion is essential to the very ex- istence of society, and that without it men would soon be- come a prey to their own bad passions, and civilization be driven from the earth. However any of us may come short
*This lot, 84 feet on Miner by 145 on Darlington. was purchased of Cheyney Hannum for four hundred and twenty dollars. It was bought by Cheyney Hannum, April 18, 1829, of William Everhart, being a part of the "Wollerton Farm." The deed to Ziba Pyle et al., trustee, is dated July 27, 1832, and is recorded in Deed Book F4, vol. 123, under date of July 28, 1832. It was enlarged by the purchase May 24, 1853, of the lot adjoining, 30 feet on Miner street, on which the chapel now stands.
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in the profession or practice of it, with humility be it spoken, there are none but feel and recognize its blessings. Whoever has seen a house of worship erected, a Christian church established, and piety to God successfully cultivated, has seen wholesome virtues and worldly prosperity spring up around it. There he has seen the man who loves his neighbor as himself, the woman who looks well to the ways of her own household, the child who honors its parents, the people who respect those in authority, the magistrate ruling in the fear of God, and there he has seen the approving smile of Heaven upon the works of men's hands. * *
"Other sects have done their part, it remains for us to do ours. The two meeting houses of the Society of Friends, the Methodist meeting house, and the Catholic chapel are the only houses of public worship. The Society of Baptists have a meeting house within two miles, while the nearest Presbyterian Church is ten miles from the borough. There are but eight places of worship of our particular sect, in this large and populous county. We desire to worship God after the manner of our fathers, to give public testimonial in honor of the faith in which we were educated, and to give some assurance that our children shall become useful members of society.
"The building is to be of stone rough cast, seventy-five" feet long by forty-five wide, and twenty-three feet high. It is calculated to seat five hundred people on the ground floor, and galleries can hereafter be erected to accommodate three hundred more if occasion should require. The foun- dation will be a few feet above the pavement, and a suffi- cient excavation has been made to admit of a basement story. The architecture is Grecian in good taste, and there is to be a cupola if our funds will admit of it, seventy-three feet in height from the ground. The estimated cost, as we propose now to finish it, is five thousand dollars. Of this sum three thousand is already subscribed, twenty-one hun- dred of it in this borough, two hundred in other parts of the county, seven hundred in the city of Philadelphia. We are encouraged to hope that we shall be able to raise the bal-
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ance before the building is completed. The work is to be commenced immediately and prosecuted vigorously, will be covered in this fall, and finished in less than a year."
The document to be deposited in the corner stone was read by Thomas S. Bell, Esq., and "the blessing of God in- voked by Rev. Mr. Stevens."
The following is a copy of the paper put in the corner stone:
"On Tuesday, July 3rd, 1832, this corner stone of the Presbyterian Church, was laid by Rev. William A. Stevens, officiating Presbyterian clergyman of this borough, at- tended by
"Building Committee-William H. Dillingham, Asher Miner, Joseph Davidson, Henry Fleming, Thomas S. Bell.
"Architect-Thomas Ustick Walter.
"Carpenters-David Haines and James Powell.
"Stone Mason-Eli Pyle.
"Corresponding Committee-Rev. William A. Stevens, Thomas S. Bell, John W. Cunningham, William H. Dilling- ham.
"Collecting Committee-William Everhart, John Cun- ningham, Robert Ralston, John T. Denney.
"Trustees-Ziba Pyle, Robert Ralston, Henry Fleming. "Population of West Chester, fifteen hundred."
A copy of the names of the subscribers was also en- closed. Until recently it was thought there was no other list in existence.
A short time after the celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the organization of this church, it was learned that Samuel Marshall, Esq., of West Chester, had discovered among some old papers in his office what is manifestly the official copy of the subscriptions made for the erection of the church building. It contains all the names of subscribers not only in West Chester, but in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Coatesville and vicinity, New London, The Rocks and Pencader, East Whiteland and vicinity, scattering subscriptions, Brandywine and vicinity and Newark and vicinity.
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This list gives all the names, the amount subscribed by each one, the amount collected, and by whom collected; the amount uncollected, the amount uncollected and available, the amount uncollected and supposed to be unavailable, and the amount payable in materials. All these are in separate columns, and every item is most carefully carried out and the whole is summarized for a complete report.
Mr. Marshall has turned this valuable document over to the church to be carefully preserved for future genera- tions .*
The work of building, however, went on more slowly than was expected. It was not covered in until the summer of 1833, and not before January, 1834, was it in a condition to be occupied for public worship. The cost exceeded the estimate and funds came in slowly. The building, however, was erected in the most substantial manner. But meantime 'much earnest and efficient work had been done toward the rearing of the spiritual temple. Preaching services were held regularly in the Court House, and meetings for prayer from house to house.
*The subscribers in West Chester are as follows: William Ever- hart, W. H. Dillingham, T. S. Bell, A. and C. Miner, Ziba Pyle, Isaac Darlington, Isaac Thomas, David Townsend, H. H. VanAmringe, Dr. W. Darlington, Owen Stover, John Barber, Wm. Williamson, W. Apple, Wm. Winterbottom, John Tweddle, Thos. Williamson, George Brinton, John B. Brinton, Jesse Kerns, Jos. I. Lewis, Jos. Hemphill, Jr., Geo. Meredith, Outten D. Jester, Wilmer Worthington, Robert Ralston, L. W. Williams, James Tillum, Joseph Jones, John T. Haines, Nimrod Strickland, E. A. Maginess, Jesse MeCall, Townsend Haines, John Marshall, Wm. Davis, Peter Osborne, John Burns, Robert Irwin, David Carr, Jacob Keemble, Robert Matlack, John Hall, Marshall James, James Mendenhall, Jos. Townsend (shoemaker), Parmenio L. Phillips, Jacob Entriken, U. V. Pennypacker, Edward Shields, William Mereer, Seneca Warner, Thos. Ogden, Ed. E. Collins, Elizabeth Good, B. Turner, John Ingraham, H. T. Jefferis, R. B. Dodson, Eber Worth- ington, Isaac Worthington, Cheyney Hannum, Jas. A. Hemphill, I. R. M. Bieking, Granville S. Jefferis, Thomas Garrett, William Miller, E. Gouleher, A. MeKay, Wm. Reid, Jos. Davidson, John White, Richard Evans, John R. Pierce, Jacob Binder, John H. Sweney, John Miller, John McGinley, Chas. Sink, Thomas Swency, P. Frazer Smith, Cheyney Jefferis, William Adle, Jos. 1. Townsend, Francis Hickman, Robert Mercer, David B. Reed, Thos. Powell, James Davis, John T. Denny, Joseph Hickman, Sam'l C. Greene, Enos Smedley, John C. G. Rauch, John H. Brinton, Olof Stromberg, Samson Babb, Henry Fleming, Daniel Buekwalter, Daniel Fuller, Oliver Alison, Harriet Work, E. S. Price, Ab'm Williams, Wm. Wickersham, Geo. Fisher, E. Bradley, John James, Wm. Lent, Y. Miles, Jesse Turner, Robert Fielding. S. Augee, John Rutter, Mrs. Haslet, Samuel Way, Jolin D. Pettit, Eli Pyle, Warner Bennett, Wm. Bennett, David Haines, James Powell, Eusebius Townsend, Joseph H. Brinton. Added to the list after the total amount of the above had been given, was a subscripton of fifty dollars. "Subscription of a Friend put into the hands of A. Miner. Dr. J. E."
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Mr. Stevens was ordained as an evangelist by the Pres- bytery of New Castle, December 5, 1832, but it was not deemed expedient to organize the church until the house should be ready for use. Indeed at the date of Mr. Stevens' ordination it is not probable that material for organization could be found. A Sabbath School Society was formed July 22, 1832. Mr. Stevens was chairman of the meeting. The preamble tersely states its aim. "With a single eye to the glory of God, and a desire to promote the welfare of our fellow beings, we whose names are hereunto affixed do form ourselves into a society for the religious and moral instruc- tion of children and adults."
The members subscribing were: Joseph A. Davidson, Henry S. Evans, John T. Denny, Charles Sink, Christian K. Ralston, Sarah Ann Duval, Ann Maginness, John Neill, Henry Webber, John Watson, Isaac J. Riter, Lucretia Fleming, Ellen E. Miner, Anna Mary Townsend, Charlotte Miner, Hannah Jones, Mary Ann Thompson, Anna Thomp- son, A. J. Lewis, Cornelius O'Callaghan, Robert Ralston, Rachel A. Noble, Mary Truman, Carolina Haslett, Ann M. Haslett, Mary Ann Haslett, Jeanette Haslett, Maria L. Haslett, Elizabeth Smith, Eliza Entriken, George W. Gal- lagher, Franklin S. Mills, Peter Gite, John H. Brinton, William P. Townsend, John McGinley, Joseph Hemphill, Jr., Mary Sink, Catherine McGinley, P. Frazer Smith, Asher Miner, Elizabeth Worthington, Henry C. Fulmer, Rachel Townsend, Wilmer Worthington, M. D., William White- head, Addison May, James Hutchinson, Rebecca Thomp- son, William Wheeler, Henry Fleming, Esther Williamson, Miriam Pyle, William Everhart, John Marshall, Malinda Marshall, Edward M. Bartlett, Mary Ann Harris, Thomas S. Bell, Kezia Bell, Catherine L. Darlington and Stephen Harris, M. D. Its first officers chosen, July 27, 1832, were : President, Joseph A. Davidson; Vice President, H. S. Evans; Corresponding Secretary, John F. Denny ; Secre- tary, Charles Sink; Treasurer, Lucretia Fleming; Librarian, Christian K. Ralston. July 26, 1833: Superintendent, Charles Sink; President, Henry Fleming, Esq .; Vice Presi-
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dent, Joseph Hemphill, Jr .; Secretary, John H. Brinton ; Corresponding Secretary, William P. Townsend; Treasurer, Henry Webber. The officers in 1834 were: Superintend- ent, P. Frazer Smith ; President, Dr. Wilmer Worthington ; Vice President, Charles Sink; Librarian, William Webber. July 7, 1835, Dr. Wilmer Worthington became Superin- tendent, Mr. Smith having resigned. A report made in the fall of this year tells us that "the number of regular attend- ants is from forty to fifty. On the register, ninety-seven. Of the scholars, two classes, one male and one female, are colored. Number of teachers, four males and eight females, all except three of the females professors of religion and members of the Presbyterian Church." The falling off from 1834 is due chiefly to its having become distinctively a de- nominational school, and its removal to the church.
At the beginning of this Sabbath School effort, the Society connected itself with the American Sunday School Union. It held its school at first in the lecture room of the academy, and afterward successively in the hall afterward known as the Village Record Building, on Church street, between Market and Gay, and then in the Court House. It was not denominational, but most of its members were of those who afterward became members or worshipers in the Presbyterian Church when organized. This Society and its schools were the first formal fruit of Mr. Stevens' labors here. In 1833 the school was removed to the Pres- byterian Church, "in consequence of the sale of the hall, and a resolution of the County Commissioners forbidding the use of the Court House for any religious purpose unless upon the payment of one dollar for each day, which the funds of the association would not warrant." During the winter of 1833 and 1834, an extensive revival took place under the ministrations of Mr. Stevens. The report of the Society, April 29, 1834, shows, that of twenty-two teachers in the school, seventeen had united with the church. Of pupils, they report one hundred and two females and sixty- two males, "none of whom, however, had professed their faith in Christ."
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Public worship was held in the church for the first time on the first Sabbath in January, 1834. Its completion had been delayed for want of funds, and now its unpainted pews, and unfinished gallery, and temporary steps, gave evidence of the straits of the congregation. The cupola, which was to crown it, remains to this day a vision of the future.
But the spiritual house about to be founded was full of promise. On Saturday, January IIth, 1834, the Com- mittee of Presbytery, appointed to organize the church, met for that purpose. It consisted of Rev. Robert Graham, Rev. Dr. James Magraw, Rev. William Finney, Rev. Wil- liam A. Stevens, with Gen. John W. Cunningham and Robert Ralston as ruling elders.
The original minutes, in the handwriting of Mr. Stevens, tell us that "certificates of dismission and recom- mendation from other churches were received from the following individuals, viz .: Stephen Harris, M. D., Thomas Hutchison, Charles Sink, Robert Ralston, Edward Bart- lett, John Marsh, Mary Ann Harris, Elizabeth Smith, Jane Burns, Eliza Marsh, Mary Ann Sink, Mary Ralston, Ann Bartlett, Mary Smith, Martha Smith, Anna Haslett, Mary Ann Haslett, John White and Hannah White; nineteen in all.
The following were received upon examination as to their acquaintance with the doctrines of the church and experimental religion, viz .: Henry Fleming, James T. Beaumont, P. F. Smith, George W. Gallagher, Henry Webber, William Everhart, John Todd, Asher Miner, Mary Fairlamb, Hannah Everhart, Elizabeth Everhart, Elizabeth Worthington, Anna Thompson, Mary Ann Thompson, Hannah Goodwin, Christiana Ralston, Lucretia Fleming, Caroline Fleming, Ellen E. Miner, Charity Babb, Martha Taylor, William Taylor, William Whitehead, Susan Webb, Mary Ann Ingram, Hester Goodwin, Catherine Young, Hannah Winterbottom, Letitia Fleming, Elizabeth Good, Rebecca Thompson, Peninah Long, Hannah Hutchison -- thirty-three. Making in all fifty-two.
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The members of the church recognizing their dis- tinctive character, as composing a part of the Presbyterian body of Christians, adopted the following article of agree- ment : "We do hereby receive and adopt the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church, as containing the sys- tem of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures, together with the discipline and form of government."
The church constituted by the reception of these mem- bers chose as elders, Dr. Stephen Harris, Thomas Hutchi- son, Charles Sink, Robert Ralston, Henry Fleming and P. F. Smith.
At the close of the afternoon service on Saturday, the IIth, the committee ordained Messrs. Fleming and Sink, the others, with the exception of Mr. Smith, having been previously ordained. Mr. Smith preferred that his ordina- tion be postponed for the present. With this exception the newly chosen elders were installed, Rev. Robert Gra- ham delivering the charge to the elders, and Dr. Magraw delivering the charge to the congregation. On Sabbath morning the ordinance of baptism was administered to fourteen of those who had joined on profession of their faith, and the newly-constituted church sat down together for the first time at the table of their Lord.
The occasion brought together many from other churches, so that about seventy are said to have shared in their first communion. Nothing is said in the record of any formal dedication of the house. Naturally enough the heart of the pastor was full of the more glorious consecra- tion of the living temple to the work and service of Jehovah.
Not often is success so speedily vouchsafed to a minis- ter of the gospel. Less than three years before, Mr. Stevens entered on his work as a licentiate, with but little experience, in a community whose permanent residents fur- nished but few members of the church he sought to estab- lish. The congregation he would gather had no home of its own. Now he stands at the table of the Lord in a house reared largely by his labors, to administer the ordinance to more than fifty communicants, three-fifths of whom owned
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him for their spiritual father. The victor on the battlefield can know no such joy as fills the heart of the pastor when God gives him souls for his hire. The warrior's greenest wreath shall wither on his brow; the pastor's crown shall grow brighter as the years of eternity roll. "They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever and ever."
The services in connection with the organization were protracted until the 15th of January. At the close, on invi- tation given, twenty-four are said to have gone forward to testify by this act their purpose to serve God.
On the first of March, Henry H. VanAmringe, James Hutchison, William Apple, Samuel Howard, James Jack- son, Miriam Pyle, Hester Williamson, Rhoda W. Smith, Rachel Ann Noble, Evelina A. Burns, Sidney Weaver, Elizabeth Haslett and Elizabeth Beaumont, were received by examination, and Mr. Kinsey and Agnes Reed by cer- tificate.
On the 31st of May, Sarah Weaver was received by examination, making the entire number received, twenty- one by certificate, and forty-seven by profession of their faith in Christ.
A charter was obtained January 15th, 1834, from the Supreme Court, incorporating the congregation under the title of "The First Presbyterian Church of the Borough of West Chester." Under this charter, at an election held January, 17, 1834, Henry Fleming, Thomas S. Bell and William H. Dillingham, were chosen trustees to serve for three years; Joseph Smith, Asher Miner and Thomas Hutchison, for two years; P. Frazer Smith, H. H. Van- Amringe and Wilmer Worthington, M. D., for one year. On the first of February a public letting of the pews took place. Twelve pews were let at twenty dollars each ; nine, at fifteen dollars; eleven, at twelve dollars; four and one- half, at ten dollars,and one and a half, at five dollars; making a revenue of five hundred and fifty-nine dollars and fifty cents; leaving thirty-six pews of the eighty-four, un- rented. Pew number forty-two was appropriated to the
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pastor of the church. At the rate proposed, all the pews, if rented, would yield one thousand one hundred and four- teen dollars.
A statement of the affairs of the congregation, Feb- ruary 4th, shows the indebtedness incurred in erecting the church, to be one thousand nine hundred and fifty-two dol- lars and twenty-nine cents, which was funded and secured by mortgage. Ziba Pyle was elected treasurer.
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