History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 116

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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A neat chapel, to accommodate about two hundred and fifty persons, was built and opened in 1877.

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This has since been somewhat enlarged. Chairs are used instead of pews. The Rev. Mr. Hodge resigned the assistantship March 10, 1880. The present min- ister in charge of Christ Church Chapel, the Rev. William P. Lewis, D.D., entered on his duties Oct. 6, 1880. The present number of communicants is three hundred and seventy-two. The sittings are all free. There is usually a daily service, a weekly celebration of the holy communion, and on several of the greater festivals two celebrations. There is a surpliced choir of men and boys. The ritual is very churchly, but conservative. Altogether the chapel has accom- plished its intended purposes very successfully and satisfactorily. The property is estimated to be worth thirty thousand dollars; the total debt, which is being reduced, is about twelve thousand dollars.

St. Peter's Church, at the southwest corner of Third and Pine Streets, was the second church edifice erected by churchmen within the city limits. Christ Church was not large enough to accommodate the members of all the church families in Philadelphia. The first request to the vestry of Christ Church to build a church in the lower part of the city was made in 1753. At that period, and for a long time after, the best residences in the city were between Second Street and the Delaware. Many of the "merchant princes" lived on South Front Street, some in Swan- son and Water Streets. The first steps toward the building of the new church were taken in 1758. The vestry appointed a committee, of which Dr. John Kearsley was an active member, and the erection of the church was begun. A lot at Third and Pine Streets was granted for the purpose by the " honor- able proprietaries," and this was afterward enlarged by subsequent purchase of ground for the graveyard. The church was begun in September, 1758, finished in 1761, and opened for the first services on Sept. 4, 1761, the sermon being preached by the Rev. Dr. William Smith, provost of the college. It was named St. Peter's Church after its completion. It was ninety feet in length and sixty in width, with no spire, but surmounted by a small cupola. Christ Church gave it two small bells, which had been used before they procured a chime. As noticed in the history of Christ Church, it and St. Peter's were known as the United Churches, both being under one rector. Gen. Washington, while residing in Philadelphia, was an attendant at St. Peter's Church, as well as Christ Church, as appears by the following interest- ing letter, written by Bishop White to Col. Mercer, in reply to certain inquiries :

" PHILADELPHIA, Ang. 15, 1835.

" DEAR SIR,-In regard to the subject of your inquiry, truth requires me to say that Gen. Washington never received the communion in the churches of which I am the parochial minister. Mrs. Washington waa an habitual communicant before the general left his seat in Congress to take command of the army. Afterwards, during the war, whenever he waa in this city, and aince, having rented a house near my other church (St. Peter's), he attended there. He was an antipode to those who are in the habit of changing the placea of their attendance. . . .

" Respectfully, your humble servant,

" WILLIAM WHITE."

The Rev. William H. De Lancey, who had been an assistant minister in the united parishes from 1822 to 1828, and also since 1833, upon the death of Bishop White, July 17, 1836, became rector of St. Peter's Church. Prior to that date, however, in 1832, Christ Church and St. Peter's Church had become distinct and separate corporations, Bishop White being rector of each. Dr. De Lancey was consecrated Bishop of Western New York in 1839. The Rev. William H. Odenheimer, who had been assistant to Dr. De Lancey for a short time, succeeded him as rector. He was one of the most laborious of parish priests. He introduced daily prayers at St. Peter's Church, it being the first church in Philadelphia where the daily morning and evening prayer was said. In 1859, Dr. Odenheimer was consecrated Bishop of New Jersey, and the Rev. George Leeds, D.D., was rector from April 14, 1860, until 1867. He was suc- ceeded by the present rector, the Rev. Thomas F. Davies, D.D., whose rectorship began in May, 1868. The spire of St. Peter's Church was erected in 1842, a fine chime of bells having been presented to the parish.

At the present time St. Peter's Church is a strong and vigorous parish. Like Christ Church, it has paid great attention to the local parochial and mis- sionary work. It has a fine Sunday-school and parish building, erected a few years ago on Lombard Street. St. Peter's house, at Front and Pine Streets, is a centre of active charitable associations. This ground, occupied by the old family mansion, was given to St. Peter's Church by G. Dawson Coleman, Esq., about ten years ago, and the old house was replaced by the present building. The Memorial Church of the Holy Comforter, at Nineteenth and Titan Streets, was founded as a chapel of St. Peter's Church in 1868, and this splendid set of buildings was erected by a devoted member of this parish. An endowment trust for the future and permanent support of St. Peter's Church was begun in 1872, and now amounts, we believe, to over thirty thousand dollars. Christ Church Hospital is under the joint trusteeship of Christ Church and St. Peter's Church. The rectory of St. Peter's Church is No. 717 Pine Street.

The present church wardens are the Hon. John Welsh and George Harrison Fisher. The expenditures in 1883 for parochial and missionary purposes were $20,107.16. Number of communicants, seven hundred and seventy-one. Clergy, Rev. Thomas F. Davies, D.D., rector; Rev. Alexander J. Miller, assistant.

The Memorial Church of the Holy Comforter .- The Memorial Mission of St. Peter's Church was in- augurated on Advent Sunday, 1868, the earlier ser- vices being in charge of the Rev. Franklin L. Bush, assistant in St. Peter's Church. Tentative services were held for some time in a hall near Second and Pine Streets; afterward a frame church was erected on South Nineteenth Street, near Federal, and after this had proved successful, the present buildings at

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the corner of Nineteenth and Titan Streets were erected, as a memorial to her mother and sister, by Miss Margaretta S. Lewis, on ground which had long been owned by the family, and in a neighborhood newly built up and densely populated, mostly by the industrious working classes. There is a large and beautiful stone church, and a parish- and Sunday- school building, recently enlarged by the generous benefactress of this church, which is a model of beauty and convenience. The church-work carried on here is extensive, varied, and successful. The Rev. R. F. Chase, Joseph A. Nock, George M. Christian, and Algernon Morton were in charge of this work succes- sively for short periods. The Rev. Alexander H. Vinton, the present rector, has been in charge for the past five or six years. The vestry is, we believe, the vestry of St. Peter's Church.

St. Paul's Church, on the east side of Third Street, below Walnut, was the third Protestant Episcopal Church erected in Philadelphia. It has an interest- ing history. Many of the most influential clergy in the church have been included among its rectors, and many of the most earnest and prominent of the laity in this city have been members of this ancient parish. From its commencement St. Paul's Church has been "thoroughly evangelical." It was a centre of doc- trinal preaching, and its influence extended far beyond the confines of the parish. It was almost the most influential parish in the country, and the effects of its teachings and influence are still felt in the party with which it was identified. The church edifice has been maintained, but by the removal of many members to other parts of the city and other causes it has ceased to be so strong and influential as it was formerly. Two of its most successful rectors, Rev. Dr. Tyng and Rev. Dr. Richard Newton, were called from it, and accepted the rectorship of the Church of the Epiphany. The Sunday-school work of this parish was carried on most successfully in Dr. Newton's rectorship, and he introduced a system of "Sunday-school Anniversaries," with emblems, music, and offerings, which was not only largely successful in his own parish, but was introduced elsewhere.

In 1758-59, Rev. Dr. Jenney, rector of Christ Church, required an additional assistant minister, and the Rev. William McClenachan, who had been sent ont as a missionary by the London Society, was elected. The Bishop of London refused to license him, upon the ground that he had been appointed to take charge of a church in Virginia, and requested Christ Church to give him no encouragement. Some of the members attached themselves to Mr. McClen- achan, and, very curiously, eighteen Presbyterian ministers, assembled in Synod in Philadelphia, sent a letter to Archbishop Seeker in his behalf. His fol- lowers and friends decided to build a church, and St. Paul's Church was built in its present location, being completed and opened for the first services on Sun- day, Dec. 20, 1761. The building was the largest in

the province, and in a few days one thousand sittings had been taken in it. The Rev. Mr. McClenachan resigned in 1765, and soon afterward died on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The Rev. Hugh Neill officiated temporarily. The vestry, about this time, anxious to secure a clergyman from England, wrote and assured the Bishop of London of their " adher- ence to the faith, principles, and practices of the Church of England." In 1768 the Rev. William Stringer arrived with a letter of introduction from the Rev. George Whitefield. He had been ordained in London by a man who professed to be a bishop of the Greek Church. While here he became convinced that the Greek bishop was an impostor, and he re- turned, with highly commendatory letters from St. Paul's vestry, and was duly ordained by Terrick, Bishop of London, after which he was elected rector of St. Paul's Church, and continued in charge until the Revolutionary war. The Rev. Samuel Magaw, D.D., became rector in 1781, and took an active part in organizing the Protestant Episcopal Church. The Rev. Dr. Joseph Pilmore, Rev. Benjamin Allen, Rev. Stephen H. Tyng, D.D., Rev. Samuel A. McCoskry (afterward Bishop of Michigan, and who was conse- crated in St. Paul's Church on July 7, 1836), Rev. James May, D.D., Rev. Dr. Richard Newton, Rev. Dr. Kingston Goddard, Rev. R. Heber Newton (son of Dr. Richard Newton), and Rev. Messrs. Roche and Boyer have been among the rectors of this parislı. During the rectorship of the Rev. R. Heber Newton he proposed to the vestry a plan for erecting a row of buildings for business purposes on Third Street, and erecting a new church and parish building in the rear, which would have secured an annual revenue equal to an endowment for the support of the old church. The vestry, being unwilling, among other reasons, to disturb the family vaults by the side of the present building, did not accept the plan.

The present rector of St. Paul's Church, the Rev. William S. Adamson, entered on his duties on Oct. 1, 1879. The church wardens are Thomas Latimer and William A. Farr; communicants in 1883, two hun- dred and seventeen ; receipts and expenditures for the year, $3374.96; value of church property, 885,000.

St. Thomas' Church .- The church for colored per- sons long known as St. Thomas' African Church, on Fifth Street, below Walnut, west side, was the fourth Protestant Episcopal Church built in Phila- delphia (within the city limits), -the only one erected between 1761 and 1800. Most of the colored people in Philadelphia were attendants at the St. George's Methodist Church, but in 1787, a number of them thinking they were badly treated by being ordered to sit only in the gallery, left that church in a body. They organized a society, partly beneficial and partly religious, called the Free African Society. Being uneducated, they sought and received kindly counsel from some of the Society of Friends, and from Bishop White, who united together in advising them. A

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congregation was formed, and the church on Fifth Street opened for the first services on July 17, 1794, the prayers being read by the Rev. Dr. James Aber- crombie, assistant in the United Churches, and the sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. Samuel Magaw, rector of St. Paul's Church. Absalom Jones, a col- ored man, of good character and principles, formerly a slave, was ordained by Bishop White to deacon's orders in 1795, and to the priesthood in 1804. The congregation organized in 1794, their Constitution providing "that none among us but men of color -- Africans or the descendants of the African race- can elect or be elected to auy office among us, save minister or assistant minister; and that no minister shall have a vote at our elections." On the other hand the Church of St. Thomas was admitted into connection with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the diocese of Pennsylvania, but, it was "provided, it is not to be understood to entitle the African Church to send a clergyman or deputies to the Con- vention, nor to interfere with the general government of the Episcopal Church."

On several occasions efforts were made to admit this church into union with the Convention, but they failed. Finally, in 1863-64, St. Thomas' Church was admitted on the same terms and to the same rights as all other parishes, it having complied with a con- dition prefixed to the resolution admitting it, that its Constitution should be amended so as to make no distinction of color.

Rev. Absalom Jones died in 1818, after a ministry , nia, was rector from 1766 to 1777. He took an active of twenty-two years. The church has been at times since then under the rectorship of white clergymen, at others, under colored clergymen. The Rev. James Wiltbank, 1825; Rev. Peter Van Pelt, D.D., 1830; Rev. Jacob M. Douglass, 1834; and Rev. Mr. Bowen, have been among the white pastors; the Rev. Wil- liam Douglass, 1839 ; Rev. Mr. Alston, and the pres- ent rector, Rev. J. Pallam Williams, among the col- ored ministers. The church has a parsonage and a cemetery.

St. James' Church, Kingsessing .- This church, on the Darby road, about three miles below Chest- nut Street, was one of the old Swedish churches. It was erected in 1760, during the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Charles Magnus von Wrangel, and was united to Gloria Dei Church, both being under one pastorate. In 1842-43 it became a separate corporation, and in 1844 it was admitted into union with the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, the Rev. Samuel C. Brinkle being rector at the time. The present rector, the Rev. Charles A. Maison, D.D., has been connected with the parish since 1857. The venerable church is preserved in excellent order, and the parish is quite useful and prosperous. The grounds, in- cluding a cemetery, are extensive, comprising about two blocks. It has a rectory, a Sunday-school build- ing, and a memorial parish building, erected about fifteen years ago.

In 1883 the number of communicants reported was one hundred and eighty-one, and the expenditures for parochial and extra parochial objects were §3438.85.

Trinity Church, Oxford, about three miles north- west of Frankford, was built in 1711, and was for many years the only church north of Philadelphia in the whole State. Before the present building was erected, another building, spoken of by one writer as built of logs, on the present site, which had been used for school purposes and as a meeting-house, was occupied by the Keithians. In 1698 it was trans- formed into an Episcopal Church. It was named Trinity Church, Oxford, and was served for some years by the clergy of Christ Church or the minister of the Swedish Church. It is barely possible that the present edifice was an enlargement of the build- ing used prior to 1711. In 1700, Thomas Graves, a member of the congregation, deeded to Joshua Car- penter, the brewer, and John Moore, three acres of ground "for the use and service of those of the com- munion of our Holy Mother, the Church of England, and to no other use whatsoever." This was added to the burial-ground.

The Rev. Messrs. Clayton, Evans, Clubb, Weyman, and Thomas were among the earlier clergy who min- istered at Trinity Church, most of them also supply- ing other stations. At that period Oxford included, in an indefinite way, a large district, comprising Frankford, Tacony, etc. The Rev. Dr. William Smith, provost of the college, now University of Pennsylva- part with Bishop White in settling the organization of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and wrote the preface to the Book of Common Prayer. Lay depu- ties from Trinity Church attended the earliest Con- ventions of the church, and the parish was admitted into union with the Convention in 1786. The Rev. George Sheets was in charge from 1816 to 1854, and on Oct. 1, 1854, the Rev. Edward Y. Buchanan, D.D. (brother of President James Buchanan), became rec- tor, and remained in charge until his resignation, Oct. 1, 1882. During Dr. Buchanan's ministry a rec- tory was built, the churchyard inclosed with a stone wall, an addition made to the old church, without any material alteration of the old building, and a fine chapel built at Crescentville, two miles distant. There was also a remarkable increase in the chari- tahle offerings made by the parish, and for some mis- sionary and benevolent purposes the offerings of Trinity Church were the largest made by any church in the diocese.

The present rector, Rev. R. Bowden Shepherd, was assistant to Dr. Buchanan for about eighteen months, and became rector Oet. 1, 1882. A neat parish build- ing was erected adjacent to the church, and a tablet in the front wall designates it as a memorial of Dr. Buchanan's long and faithful pastorate. It was dedi- cated April 23, 1883.

Trinity Church, Oxford, with its venerable building

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and old churchyard, is more like an old English rural parish church than any other church in the diocese. An object of curiosity to visitors is the burial-ground, and one of the old grave-stones, dated 1708, bears the following inscription, an evidence, doubtless, of some religions controversy which agitated the local con- munity at that period :

" Here by these lines is testified, No Quaker was she when she dy'd ; So far was she from Quakerism That she desired to have baptism For her own babes and children dear,- To this these lines true witness bear. And, furthermore, she did obtain That faith that all shall rise again Ont of the graves at the last day, And in this faith she passed away."

Church wardens, William Overington and Harvey Rowland. Money expenditures and appropriations, 86091.66.

All Saints' Church, Lower Dublin Township, near Torresdale, and just within the city limits, was built in 1772 to accommodate members of Trinity Church, Oxford, and others living in that neighbor- hood. For many years it was associated with Trinity Church and St. Thomas' Church, White Marsh, and the three churches were served by the same elergy- man for a considerable time. The Rev. John Henry Hobart (afterward Bishop of New York) was in charge of the services in All Saints' Church for a while (in 1798) soon after his ordination. The parish was separated from Trinity Church, and the Rev. Frederick W. Beasley became rector in August, 1834, and so remained until his death, on Dec. 28, 1878.

During Dr. Beasley's prolonged rectorship a fine new church was erected, and consecrated May 29, 1864. A handsome new rectory was built and donated to the parish by Alexander Brown, Esq., and the parish had at the time of his death the old rectory and Christ Chapel at Eddington (Oak Grove), and a chapel and parish building at Andalusia. All of these, except All Saints' Church and rectory, are beyond the city limits, and lie in Bucks County. Christ Chapel is just about being erected into an in- dependent parish. The Rev. John T. Magrath was rector of All Saints' Church in 1880-81. The pres- ent rector, the Rev. Frederick J. Bassett, entered upon his duties Nov. 19, 1882. The church wardens are Charles R. King, M.D., and Alexander Brown.

St. James' Church1 (admitted 1810) .- As the city extended westward, to accommodate members of Christ Church and St. Peter's Church living at a distance, a new church was erected as one of the United Churches. A lot was purchased from Mary Muhlenberg, on the east side of Seventh Street, above Market Street, and the corner-stone of St. James' Church was laid on June 23, 1827, by Bishop White,

and it was consecrated by him May 1, 1810. Bishop White continued to be rector of this new church, as well as of Christ Church and St. Peter's Church, until his death. St. James' Church, however, became a separate parish in 1828. The present rector, the Rev. Henry J. Morton, D.D., became connected with St. James' Church as assistant to Bishop White in 1830, and upon the bishop's death (in 1836) became rector of the parish.

The old church was sold and torn down, and the present splendid and costly buildings erected at the northwest corner of Walnut and Twenty-second Streets in 1870. The new site cost fifty-five thousand dollars, and the value of the buildings and ground is about two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which is free from any debt. The buildings consist of a church and chapel. The venerable rector, who is still active in his duties as pastor of this flourishing parish, has been connected with it for over half a century. The expenditures in 1883 for parish and other purposes were 831,839.08. Church wardens, Richard M. Cadwalader and Joseph M. Wilson.

St. John's Church, Northern Liberties (admitted 1816) .- On June 16, 1764, a lot of ground on the south side of Brown Street, above Second Street, one hun- dred feet wide by two hundred feet deep, was deeded by various parties to Rev. Jacob Duché, John Coats, and others, and to their survivors in trust, with intent that a church should be built thereon. In 1811 the surviving trustees granted this lot to the United Churches, and in 1816 St. John's Church was erected. It is a large, substantial brick edifice. The Rev. George Boyd was rector from 1815 until his death, in 1851. Dr. Boyd, the esteemed rector of this parish for the first thirty-six years of its existence, was one of the earliest advocates of the free church system, and in St. John's Church endeavored with varying success to develop the system of supporting the church by the offerings. After his death the church was much weakened, and for a while services were held by a candidate for orders. Under the rectorship of the Rev. Charles Logan (1865-1874) it revived. The present rector, the Rev. George A. Latimer, has been in charge since Oct. 12, 1877. The church is free from debt, and has a parsonage. In 1883 it re- ported one hundred and twenty communicants, and $1887.88 as total receipts and expenditures.

St. Luke's Church, Germantown (admitted 1818). -Prior to 1811 the church people living in German- town were attendants at either Trinity Church, Ox- ford, or All Saints' Church, Lower Dublin. A con- gregation was organized, under the name of St. Luke's Church, and the first service held on June 9, 1811, in the German Reformed Church. Thomas Armat presented a lot on Main Street, afterward en- larged by purchase, and the corner-stone of a church was laid on March 30, 1818, and the building conse- crated on Aug. 27, 1818. Among the earlier clergy i were the Revs. Jackson Kemper, Jelin C. Clay, and

1 The following parishes are noticed in the order of their admissien Into union with the Convention of the diocese.

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Charles M. Dupuy. The Rev. John Rodney became rector in August, 1825. In 1868 he became rector emeritus, which position he still holds. No other clergyman in the diocese has been so long connected with one parish. Rev. B. Wistar Morris (now Bishop of Oregon) was first an assistant and then rector of the parish, 1868. Rev. Albra Hadleigh was rector from April 11, 1869, until his death. He was suc- ceeded by the Rev. William H. Vibbert. The present rector, the Rev. Samuel Upjohn, began his ministry in November, 1883.

A fine parish building was erected in 1867, and a new church, erected on the site of the old one at a cost of seventy thousand dollars, was consecrated June 8, 1876. The parish is a strong and prosperous one, reporting, in 1883, five hundred and ten commu- nicants, and the value of the church property at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Annual expen- ditures for all purposes, $15,264.15.

Trinity Church, Southwark (admitted 1821) .- The corner-stone of Trinity Church, Southwark, on the south side of Catharine Street above Second, was laid by Bishop White, April 25, 1821, and the church, a plain, substantial brick edifice, was consecrated by him Jan. 17, 1822. The first rector was the Rev. Manning B. Roche. Among the clergy who have held the rectorship were Rev. William Cooper Mead, D.D., the Rev. Levi S. Ives (afterward Bishop of North Carolina, and who was consecrated in this church on Sept. 22, 1831), and the Rev. John Coleman, D.D., who held the rectorship about twenty years. Dr. Coleman's ministry was for some years unusually popular, and the classes for confirmation unprece- dentedly large, and during his rectorship the church was enlarged and the present front added. The later rectors have been the Rev. Thomas M. Martin, Rev. Daniel Washburn, Rev. Jesse Y. Burk (now secretary of the trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, and during whose rectorship the parsonage was pur- chased), Rev. F. Mansfield, and the present rector, the Rev. A. D. Heffern, who entered upon the charge on Easter-day, 1882. The parish is free from debt, has a rectory, a cemetery, several small special en- dowments for parochial uses, and one hundred and sixty-six communicants. The annual expenditures for 1883 were $4023.86.

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 116

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