History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 115

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992

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" In this connection I take pleasure in saying that a number of the American bishops then in England felt that they ought not to let the occasion pass with- out some marked recognition of the solemn and im- portant gathering, and especially of the fact that in the chapel of the palace where we met, the first three American bishops of the Anglican line of succession were consecrated to their holy office. It was also felt that it would be a graceful act on our part and a grateful recognition of the extreme kindness and courtesy of the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the midst of his severe domestic sorrow, to associate with that memorial the name of the dear son who had so recently been taken from him, and who had, while in America, so endeared himself to the hearts of so many of the bishops and clergy and laity whom he met at our last General Convention. Hence it was resolved, with the approbation of his grace of Canter- bury, to put up a memorial window in the Lambeth Chapel which should commemorate both events. That window has been completed and is now in its place, and has given great satisfaction to all who have seen it. I am sure that you will rejoice with me that such a memorial of the three bishops who brought to this country the Anglican Episcopate, has been placed in the very chapel where, nearly a hundred years ago, they were consecrated to their office."'

Bishop Stevens, during the twenty-three years of his episcopate, has seen his diocese reduced in its

1342

HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

territorial extent, first, by the erection of the diocese of Pittsburgh, in 1865, and subsequently by the erec- tion of the diocese of Central Pennsylvania, in 1871, so that since this latter date the diocese of Pennsyl- vania has comprised only the city of Philadelphia and the four adjacent counties, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery. Notwithstanding this, so steady and great has been the growth of the Protestant Epis- copal Church in the diocese of Pennsylvania that in many important respects the church is as large and

The principal facts in the early history of Christ Church have been carefully collated by the Rev. Dr. Dorr in his "History of Christ Church," and inci- strong in the limited diocese as it was when the whole | dentally noticed in the published writings of Bishop State formed but one diocese. The number of clergy, of communicants, and of Sunday-school teachers and scholars is about the same or greater than in the whole State in 1862.

At present (in 1883) in the city of Philadelphia alone, not including the church statistics of the four adjoining counties, there are 80 parishes, 80 churches, 15 chapels, 154 clergymen, 50 Sunday-school and parish build- ings, 36 parsonages, 2400 Sun- day-school teachers, 26,000 Sun- day-school scholars, 65 charita- ble, benevolent, and humane institutions under the auspices of the church, 24,500 commu- nicants, and about 250 mis- cellaneous parochial organiza- tions, such as guilds, industrial schools, workingmen's clubs, mothers' meetings, etc.

The annual offerings of the parishes in Philadelphia dur- ing the year ending May, 1883, amounted to $725,000, and the estimated value of the church property is about $8,000,000. The bishop occupies the episco- pal residence, No. 1633 Spruce Street, purchased in 1869, and has a salary of $6500 per an- num. This sum (apart from the income from the fund for the support of the episco- pate in Pennsylvania, the principal of which amounts to $60,000) and the amount needed to defray the ex- pense of holding the Annual Diocesan Convention, is raised by an annual assessment upon the parishes, proportionate to their strength. Apart from this as- sessment (and, of course, pew-rentals) all the receipts of the Protestant Episcopal Church are derived from voluntary offerings.

Christ Church .- The history of old Christ Church is virtually the history of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Philadelphia for a long period. The ven- erable building, on the west side of Second Street, north of Market Street, is a fine and well-preserved specimen of a style of church architecture which appeared in London after the great fire. It has been the scene of so many interesting events of historical

and ecclesiastical importance, and so many distin- guished men have served or worshiped in it, that, apart perhaps from Independence Hall, it may be deemed the most interesting historical building in Philadelphia, a noble monument to the piety that founded and the devotion which has so carefully guarded and preserved it.

White, Dr. Bird Wilson, Mr. Smith, and others. They are voluminous, covering as they do the space of nearly two centuries, and we give here as full and continuous a summary of this history as our space will allow.

In the royal charter granted to William Penn by Charles II. there had been iuserted, at the suggestion

FIRST CHRIST CHURCH. [From an old drawing in Philadelphia Library.]

of Compton, Bishop of London, a clause providing that "if any of the inhabitants of the said Province (Pennsylvania), to the number of twenty, shall at any time hereafter be desirous, and shall by any writing, or by any person deputed for them, signify such their desire to the Bishop of London that any preacher or preachers to be approved by the said bishop may be sent unto them for their instruction, that then such preacher or preachers shall and may be sent, and reside within the said Province without any denial or molestation whatsoever."

The Rev. Thomas Clayton was sent to Philadel- phia by Dr. Bray, the Bishop of London's commis- sary in Maryland and Virginia. It is said that he did not find at his entrance above fifty of the com- munion of the Church of England to make a congre- gation, and yet within two years the congregation at

1343

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

Philadelphia was increased to about seven hundred members. What was then termed "a very fine church" was built upon the site of the present church in 1695. It would seat about five hundred persons, is thought to have been built of brick, and had gal- leries. In 1702 it had a church bell, and a brick belfry was built in 1708. The present church stands at the corner of Church Street, but it is a tradition that when the first church was built, and for some time after, all was open on the south side of the church, and that no buildings stood between the church and the north side of High (now Market) Street. The Rev. Mr. Clayton died in 1699, of yellow fever, at Sassafras, Md.

The second rector of Christ Church was the Rev. Keithians, and after he entered the church many of Evan Evans, sent out by the Bishop of London. The Rev. Mr. Evans died in 1718, in the pulpit of Christ Church, while officiating, having been stricken with apoplexy, and was buried in the church. During this period services seem to have been performed in Christ Church by numerous clergymen, assisting the rector or supplying services in his absence. Among them were the Rev. George Keith, the first mission- ary sent out by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, Rev. Mr. Rudman, pastor of the Swedish Church, Rev. John Thomas, who came over from England in 1704, Rev. Dr. Talbot, of St. Mary's Prior to 1719 burials had been made either in the church or in the churchyard. In 1719 a lot was pur- chased at the southeast corner of Arch and Fifth Streets from James Steele, and in 1720 the first inter- ments were made there.3 Church, Burlington (whom the Rev. Dr. George Mor- gan Hill, now rector of that parish, in an exhaustive volume, endeavors to prove had been consecrated as bishop by the non-juring bishops),1 Rev. Mr. Humph- rey, of Chester, Rev. Mr. Ross, of New Castle, Rev. Andrew Sandals, of Gloria Dei Church, Rev. Thomas Hughes, of Virginia, William Skinner, Rev. Mr. Weyman, and Rev. John Urmston. The Rev. John Vicary was sent out as rector in 1719, but died in 1722.

The king for some time gave the rector fifty pounds per annum. After that was withdrawn, the vestry gave the rector one hundred and fifty pounds per annum and a parsonage. He had also his "surplice fees," which formed a considerable part of his income.

In 1711, Christ Church was enlarged, and ninety pounds realized from the sale of new pews. Gov- ernor Sir William Keith became one of the vestry, ; and built a permanent "Governor's pew" in the church. The church plate, still preserved, was brought over from England by the Rev. Mr. Evans, in 1708, on his return from a visit to England. It was the gift of Queen Anne, and the flagon and chalice bear the inscription, " Anna Regina, in usum Ecclesic Anglicana apud Philadelphiam, A.D. 1708."

Of the Rev. Mr. Evans, Penn, who kept on good terms with people of all denominations, says, in writing of him, "The new minister seemed to be a goodish sort of man, sober and mild in disposition, and if he would behave conformably, and Asheton would keep him in order and at peace with the Quakers, he might count on as much favor in all reasonable things as he could from any Governor of his own way." 2

The Rev. George Keith, spoken of above, was originally a member of the Kirk of Scotland, then a member of the Society of Friends, and later a clergy- man of the Church of England. He had peculiar views and divided the Quakers, forming a sect called them followed him. Indeed, during the first quarter , of the eighteenth century in Philadelphia, and in the settlements in its vicinity, quite a considerable num- ber of the Friends joined the church. Keith says that Christ Church " had a good vestry, discreet, and in harmony with one another," and that the mission- aries were very successful in making converts among the Quakers, especially the Keithians. In 1712, Col. Quarry presented Christ Church with a flagon, two plates for the communion service, and a silver basin for the font.

The pulpit was temporarily supplied by the Rev. Mr. Weyman, of Trinity Church, Oxford, Rev. Jonas Sidman, of Swedes' Gloria Dei Church, and the Rev. Mr. Holbrook. In September, 1726, the Rev. Archi- bald Cummings entered upon the rectorship. The church edifice was enlarged, a steeple built, and an organ procured from London. This was virtually the erection of the present edifice. Dr. John Kears- ley, a member of the parish, was practically the archi- tect of the building, and supervised its erection. The corner-stone was laid April 27, 1727, Lieutenant- Governor Patrick Gordon performing the ceremony, Mayor Charles Reed, Recorder Andrew Hamilton, Rev. Mr. Cummings, and other gentlemen assisting. In digging for the foundations some old graves were disturbed, and the widow of the former sexton was paid one shilling and sixpence per diem to gather up the hones.

1 The same statement is made in regard to the Rev. Dr. Richard Wel- ton, who also officiated at the same period in Philadelphia. They are both said to have put on bishop's robes, and performed confirmation ser- vices. AS BOOD ne Dewe of their performances reached England, they were recalled and their acts disavowed. Welton went to Portugal, and died in 1726. Dr. Talbot submitted, teek all the required onthe, and made bis peace with the church.

: The Mr. Asheton spoken of was a kiosman of Pean, a prominent citizen and official, and one of the earliest members of Christ Church.

3 The tomb of Benjamin Franklin and his wife are in the northwest corner of this burial-ground, and about fifteen years ago the vestry ro- placed the part of the brick wall opposite this toorb by an open iron rail- ing, so that it can be seen and the inscription on the slab easily read by passers-by on Arch Street. Few or no interments have been made here since nbont 1850, and the ground has lung ceased to yield any income to the parish. Its preservation in good order is an expense, to meet which the vestry a few years ago asked for donations to be mulded to a small existing fund, the Income from which is used for this purpose.

1344

HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

In 1743, Dr. Kearsley asked for a committee to audit his accounts as trustee and overseer since 1727. He had "toiled hard, neglected his own business, and received no recompense but calumny and ill-treat- ment." The committee reported in a very compli- mentary way, and the vestry voted the doctor their thanks, and also voted " forty pounds for a piece of plate, as a lasting memorial of his services to this church and congregation." In August, 1744, the church wardens reported the church as finished, all but the tower and steeple. In 1740 the pulpit had been moved to the east end of the middle aisle, and there was introduced a chandelier of twenty-five branches, which cost fifty-six pounds. The Rev. Mr. Cummings died in April, 1741. In 1735, Rev. Rich+ ard Peters became his assistant, and was able and popular. He withdrew soon, however, on account of some difference, and after holding several offices of public trust, Dr. Peters became rector.

The Rev. Robert Jenney became rector in 1742, and Rev. Eneas Ross was for a brief period his as- sistant. In 1746

the Society for the Propagation

CHRIST CHURCH CHIMES.

of the Gospel offered Christ Church thirty pounds a year for the salary of a catechist for the instruction of the negroes in the parish. The congregation increased this sum, and Mr. William Sturgeon, a graduate of Yale College, was appointed as assistant and catecheti- cal lecturer, and is said to have done his difficult work well. By 1754 the tower and steeple were completed, and a chime of eight bells placed in po- sition. The bells were brought over from England by Captain Budden, who charged no freight on them, and thereafter, whenever his ship arrived in port the bells rang a merry peal. On the approach of the British army in the Revolutionary war, these bells were taken down and hidden by the commissary of military stores, at Bethlehem, Pa .; but after the

British troops evacuated the city they were brought back and replaced.

In 1753 the residents in the lower part of the city were desirous to have a church erected in their own neighborhood, and applied to the vestry, but no action was taken until 1758, when steps were taken toward the erection of St. Peter's Church. The Rev. Dr. Robert Jenney was rector of Christ Church from 1742 until his death, on Jan. 5, 1762. He was "a man of strict honesty, one that hated dissimulation, exemplary in his life and morals, and a most zealous member of the church." He lies interred in the middle aisle of Christ Church.

After the death of Dr. Jenney, the Rev. Dr. Rich- ard Peters became, in 1762, rector of Christ Church, and also rector of St. Peter's Church. Christ Church was originally organized under " Articles of Associa- tion," and St. Peter's Church, when united with it, was received under the same. In 1765, Dr. Peters, on his return from a visit to England, brought out a " charter" which bad been granted by the proprieta- ries. The first vestry under this charter, which was received June 28, 1765, was the following :

Rector, Rev. Richard Peters, D.D. ; Wardens, Charles Stedman, Town- send White; Vestrymen, Dr. John Kearsley, Jacob Duche, Alexander Stedman, Edward Duffield, William Pyewell, John Ross, Henry Harri- son, Joseph Redman, Peter Turner, Sr., Redmond Conyngham, Peter Sonmans; Questmen, Joseph Swift, Joseph Sims, Jo- seph Stamper, Thomas Gordon, James Humphreys, William Bingham, William Plumsted.

After the erection of St. Peter's Church, the two were known by the name of the United Churches, and St. James' Church, after its erection, was included under the same charter and title. The Rev. Dr. Richard Peters died July 10, 1776, having resigned the rectorship on account of ill- health, in the previous year. The Rev. Jacob Duché, who had been assistant in Christ Church since 1759, was unani- mously chosen rector. In 1772, the work being too great for Dr. Peters and Mr. Duché, the Rev. Thomas Combs and the Rev. William White (afterward Bishop White) were chosen additional assistants. The Rev. Mr. Duché having returned to England, the vestry declared the rector- ship vacant, and in 1779 elected the Rev. William White their rector.

Dr. John Kearsley, who had taken an active part in the erection of St. Peter's Church, as well as of Christ Church, died Jan. 16, 1772, aged eighty- eight years. By his will, dated April 29, 1769, he left a large part of his estate in trust to the corpora- tion of the United Churches of Christ Church and St. Peter's, to found an institution which he named Christ Church Hospital, for the support of ten or more distressed women of the communion of the Church of England. This legacy, which was some-

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

1345

what enlarged afterward by other generous legacies, has been most faithfully guarded and judiciously ad- ministered, and Christ Church Hospital now stands among the noblest and most useful of the charities of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

On March 26, 1781, the Rev. Robert Blackwell was elected assistant to the Rev. Mr. White in the United Churches. Mr. Blackwell was descended from a Long Island family, from which Blackwell's Island in New York harbor derives its name. He had been a chap- lain during the Revolution, attached to the First Penn- sylvania Brigade. He had a large private fortune, was married to a sister of the Hon. William Bingham, and while in Philadel- phia resided in a fine old mansion on the south side of Pine Street above Second, which [in 1884] is still standing. He re- signed in 1811.

Zion Lutheran Church, at Fourth and Cherry Streets, having been burned, the use of Christ Church on Sunday after- noons or evenings by that congregation was offered and accepted. During the absence of Rev. William White, iu Eng- land, for the purpose of being consecrated bishop, the Rev. John Andrews officiated in Christ Church, and the Rev. Mr. Black- well in St. Peter's Church. In 1794, the Rev. James Abercrombie was elected as- sistant in the United Churches. Dr. Ab- ercrombie gave much of his time to the destitute rural churches, but remained as- sistant until 1832, and died June 26, 1841, aged eighty-three years.

In 1811, the Rev. Jackson Kemper (afterward Bishop of the Northwest) was elected assistant in the United Churches, and remained until 1831. Rev. James Milnor was assistant, 1814-16. Rev. Wil- liam Augustus Muhlenberg was assistant, 1816-20. He was the author of the hymn "I would not live alway," and founder of St. Luke's Hospital, New York, and of St. John's Guild. The Rev. William H. De Lancey (afterward Bishop of Western New York) was assistant from 1822 in the United Churches, and later was rector of St. Peter's Church until his consecration, in 1839.

In 1828 St. James' Church, which had been one of the United Churches, became a separate parish, Bishop White still remaining its rector. In 1832 Christ Church and St. Peter's Church became sepa- rate parishes and distinct corporations, Bishop White, however, being rector of each. At Christ Church his assistant was the Rev. John W. James, at St. Peter's Church the Rev. Dr. De Lancey, and at St. James' Church Rev. Francis L. Hawks.

Bishop White died July 17, 1836. His assistant, the Rev. John W. James, died a few weeks later, and

the Rev. Benjamin Dorr, of the dingese of New York, became rector of Christ Church, and was instituted on Ascension day, May 4, 1837. In 1836 extensive alterations were made in the interior of the church, and a new organ purchased. Dr. Dorr continued in the rectorship until his death, in 1869. After the death of Bishop Stone, in 1838, Dr. Dorr was elected Bishop of Maryland, but declined. He was scholarly, quiet, and of great devotion. He was honored and beloved not only in his own parish, but throughout the church. During the last year or two

CHRIST CHURCH IN 1829.

of his prolonged ministry his health was much im- paired, and most of the duties were performed by his assistant. The present rector, the Rev. Edward A. Foggo, D.D., who had been assistant to Dr. Dorr for the previous six or eight years, was elected to the rectorship, and was instituted by Bishop Stevens, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 1869.

In 1871 a new parish building, with ample accom- modations for the Sunday-schools, was erected adja- cent to the church, and opened on the first Sunday in December. In style it corresponds with the old church.

1346

HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

In 1883 extensive improvements were made to Christ Church. The church was restored to the con- dition, in its general interior arrangements, which existed before the changes made in 1836. The wooden floor which covered the marble memorial stones in the aisle was taken away. Though the ar- rangement of the interior has restored this venerable church to the condition it was in during Bishop White's ministry, it has been modernized, and made comfortable and attractive. Just after the comple- tion of this restoration and these improvements, the

phia in October. The sessions of that body were held in the church of the Holy Trinity, but the opening religious services were held in Christ Church. Nearly fifty bishops were present in their robes, and an his- torical sermon was delivered by Bishop Clark, of Rhode Island.

Beginning with the winter of 1869, a series of free services were held in the church on Sunday evenings, and gas was first introduced for the general lighting of the edifice.

In addition to the services held in Christ Church, the parish has maintained services at several other places, which will be noticed more at length in con- nection with the buildings named. The Ladies' Aid Association of Christ Church assisted greatly in the erection of Calvary (Monumental) Church, and for a long period paid the stipend of the clergyman there. Calvary Church becoming feeble, for a period of years was carried on as a chapel of Christ Church, services being held by the Rev. G. Woolsey Hodge, assistant to Dr. Foggo. Christ Church Chapel, on Pine Street above Nineteenth, was erected in 1877, and has been very successful. At Christ Church Hospital services are regularly maintained in the chapel by the chap- lain, that institution being under the care of Christ Church and St. Peter's Church. In 1880 the endow- ment fund for the support of Christ Church, which had been begun a few years before, reached the sum asked for, fifty thousand dollars. This is invested, and is likely to be increased. The parish has ever been generous in its offerings for extra parochial, missionary, and charitable objects.

We have here given an outline of the history of this venerable church and parish. Its full history would require volumes. The record of the names of distinguished and pious men and women who have labored for it and worshiped in its courts, would be a long list. It is most gratifying to be able to record the facts which show its great vitality and usefulness at the present period of its history. Not- withstanding the removal of so many families to the western and suburban portions of the city during the last twenty-five years, old Christ Church is still a strong parish. At scarce any former period in its honorable career, was the Sunday-school work, the charitable work, and the local parochial missionary work, more systematically and effectively carried on

than at present. The ritual and services are stately and dignified ; they accord with the historical spirit of the church.

The present rector is the Rev. Edward A. Foggo, D.D. ; assistant, Rev. E. C. Belcher. The Rev. Wil- liam P. Lewis, D.D., is minister-in-charge of Christ Church Chapel. Wardens, Thomas H. Montgomery and Isaac Welsh. In the Convention year ending May, 1883, Christ Church reported having three hun- dred and forty-eight communicants, and the annual expenditures and appropriations for parochial, chari- General Convention of 1883 assembled in Philadel- . table, and missionary purposes were $20,329.08.

The following bishops were consecrated in Christ Church : Rt. Rev. Robert Smith, D.D., Bishop of South Carolina, on Sunday, Sept. 13, 1795; Rt. Rev. Edward Bass, D.D., Bishop of Massachusetts, on Sunday, May 7, 1796 ; Rt. Rev. Theodore Dehon, D.D., Bishop of South Carolina, on Thursday, Oct. 15, 1812; Rt. Rev. Nathaniel Bowen, D.D., Bishop of South Caro- lina, on Thursday, Oct. 8, 1818; Rt. Rev. Henry U. Onderdonk, D.D., Assistant Bishop of Pennsyl- vania, on Thursday, Oct. 25, 1827 ; Rt. Rev. James Hervey Otey, D.D., Bishop of Tennessee, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1834; Rt. Rev. Carlton Chase, D.D., Bishop of New Hampshire, on Sunday, Oct. 20, 1844; Rt. Rev. Nicholas Hamner Cobbs, D.D., Bishop of Ala- bama, on Sunday, Oct. 20, 1844; Rt. Rev. Cicero Stevens Hawks, D.D., Bishop of Missouri, on Sunday, Oct. 20, 1844; Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D.D., LL.D., Bishop of Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 1845; Rt. Rev. Samuel Bowman, D.D., Assistant Bishop of Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 1858.

Christ Church Chapel .- About the year 1875, to provide services for members of Christ Church who were living at such a distance from the parish church as to make it inconvenient for them to be regular at- tendants, and who still were desirous to remain con- nected with the old church, and also to provide addi- tional church accommodations for others, the Rev. G. Woolsey Hodge, then an assistant minister in Christ Church, began the services of Christ Church Chapel, which for a couple of years were held, part of the time, in an upper room in a building on Chestnut Street, temporarily fitted up as a chapel, and after- ward, by courtesy, in the chapel of the French academy building, Twenty-first Street above Chest- nut. The services were popular and well attended from the beginning, and the board of managers, to whom the care of the chapel had been committed by the vestry of Christ Church, purchased, in the autumn of 1876, a lot on the north side of Pine Street, between Nineteenth and Twentieth Streets, having a frontage on l'ine Street of ninety-six feet. A row of dwelling-houses on a small street in the rear was included, and these are left standing for the present, the rental being devoted to the payment of an incumbrance remaining on the ground.

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 115

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 992

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992