USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Radnor > The history of old St. David's church, Radnor, in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, with a complete alphabetical list of wardens and vestrymen, and of the interments in the graveyard, 1700-1906 > Part 6
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As to myself I was at no loss in determining what part I should bear in this importune juncture. Ever since I entered into the Ministry I had made it a constant rule to read over at proper intervals my ordination vows. * I read
them more attentively than ever.
I can discern no exception to answer special emergencies. * Such being my sentiments on this subject I determined, for the sake of keeping up the Church in its full visibility agreeably to my obligations, to continue reading the public service entire as usual notwithstanding Independence had been declared by the Congress, and for one or two Sundays prosecuted my pur- pose without interruption. But on the twenty-first day of July immediately after the first lesson our senior Church- warden (out of pure kindness to and friendship for me) coming up to the reading Desk earnestly advised me to omit the prayers for the King and Royal Family, as the temper of the prevailing party was such that they would no longer bear " the reading if those prayers should be continued.
I told him that the present was not a fit season nor the place a proper one for discussing so interesting a subject, * * therefore on the Sunday following (July 28th) when the people were assembled for public worship, before I began the service I explained to them the obligations the Clergy of the Church of England are under to assert the King's Su-
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Old St. David's Church.
premacy in their public ministrations, and acquainted them that as I could not read the Liturgy agreeably to the pre- scribed form without offending against our Government and incurring the resentment of the people, I should on that day declare the church shut up for six weeks.
I proposed to say more on the subject, but the scene became too affecting for me to bear a further part in it. Many of the people present were overwhelmed with deep distress. * My own tongue faltered and my firmness forsook me, beckon- ing therefore for the Clerk to sing the Psalm, went up into the pulpit, and having exhorted the Members of the Church to hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering, and to depend upon the promises of a faithful God for their present comfort and future relief, I finished this irksome business and Apoquiniminck Church from that day has con- tinued shut up.
My sphere of action is now confined to the catechetical and what is strictly termed the parochial offices of my Mission.
So completely does tradition indicate the suspension of regular and systematic religious work during this period, that months are said to have often elapsed without any religious service being held at Radnor Church. Meanwhile squads of soldiers from either side made it at times their rendezvous.
During the encampment of the Americans in the neighborhood (probably at Camp Hill, on Tyron Lewis' farm), all the leaden sashes then supporting small diamond-shaped panes of clear glass in the church win- dows are said to have been cut out and molded into bullets, and even a silver communion set presented by Queen Anne to the church is said to have disappeared at this time. If this tradition can be relied on (which
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Revolutionary Burials.
is not likely), it is the only evidence of such a Queenly gift to Radnor Church. It would seem more probable that if such were ever possessed by the church, it disappeared in the robbery of 1742, already noticed. It is proper to state in this connection that there seems to be no authentic history regarding the old pewter communion service now in possession of the church, except that it was in use as late as 1860, about which time it was superseded by a silver service, said to have been purchased with the proceeds of the sale of the earliest photographs of the church taken by Mr. Constant Guillou, then boarding in the neighbor- hood.
There is also an improbable tradition, obstinately maintained by old residents, that in a thick growth of cedar then occupying the site of the old parsonage, Major-General Gray marshaled some of his troops before making the murderous attack on Wayne's di- vision at Paoli on the night of September 20, 1777.
Another more probable tradition states that sixteen unknown victims of the battle of the Brandywine, who had died at neighboring farm houses, were buried in the little hollow west of the gallery steps.
None of the names of these soldiers have been pre- served, nor indeed is there any evidence corroborative of the tradition. Recent exploration of the place sys- tematically conducted by a committee appointed by the Vestry for the purpose, failed to discover any im- portant information on the subject-no military trap- pings or other similar relics being found.
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Old St. David's Church.
Concerning other soldiers of the Revolution buried in Radnor churchyard, it has been extremely difficult to obtain any authentic information. The following list, made up principally from data published by the Merion Chapter of Daughters of the American Revo- lution, after careful comparison with the church rec- ords, is probably an accurate though by no means a full list, and includes several militiamen who probably saw no actual engagement, viz .:
Peter Dehaven, James Hunter, John Hunter, Sr., -Howell (father of Vincent Howell), Griffith James, Thomas Reed, John Roberts, Philip Sheaff, John Thomas, Anthony Wayne, John Sturgis, John Taylor, Isaac Hughes.
It is probable that the traditions of this time regard- ing injury to church property by the military during the Revolution are exaggerated, as no statement of any losses by the church appear in the claims from Radnor or Newtown Townships; and it would seem more likely that both Mr. Currie's adherence to the King, and the congregational adherence to the Amer- ican Congress, protected the old church from very serious losses from either army.
It is of interest in this connection to note that three of Mr. Currie's sons held positions in the American Army :
Ross Currie, as first lieutenant in Captain John Reese's Company of Second Battalion, under Colonel Arthur St. Clair.
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Mr. Currie's Sons, Rebels.
Dr. William Currie, as surgeon in Colonel Samuel J. Atlee's Musketry Battalion.
Richard Currie, who is said to have joined the first Militia of Pennsylvania, but was compelled to return home on account of sickness and died there September 16, 1776.
Besides the meagre information thus obtained from tradition and the letters already quoted, the minutes of the Society and a few additional letters from Mr. Currie present much more clearly the condition of the parish during the Revolutionary period, and warrant their consideration in considerable detail.
The minutes of March 16, 1781, refer to a letter from Mr. Currie, dated September 29, 1780, wherein he is reported to have written that he "Had not heard from them since Lady Day, 1776." "Having found it expedient to decline officiating in public ever since 1776, has no account to give Society, but that he con- tinues in the performance of every other part of his function." "He is not in position to be more particular and adds that as he lives entirely on credit of money he borrows on credit of Society, he relies that bill will be paid his executors if not presented in his life time."
The minutes of July 18, 1783, refer to another let- ter dated April 30, 1783, reporting that,
War has reduced him to very low circumstances. He has lost not only the most of his substance but likewise his wife and a son and his wife, with whom he lived in his old age. They all died of Camp fever and left him in the midst of the Camp with one of the American Generals and his suite
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Old St. David's Church.
quartered in his house. He is left with three orphan grand- children, oldest seven, when parents died. He blesses God that he has been enabled thro. grace in the midst of these difficulties to hold fast his integrity and he will die as he has lived a true son of the Church of England even tho he should have the misfortune to survive it.
The Society's mission being as Mr. Currie supposes super- seded by the terms of the Peace, he looks upon this to be the last of his correspondence with his noble benefactors in Eng- land, and therefore lays hold on this last opportunity to return them his thanks, &c.
This letter supplements in an interesting way the record in Futhey's history of Chester County, of the "damages and losses sustained by the inhabitants" dur- ing its occupation by military forces, wherein appears the following item :
Tredyffrin Township-William Curry-£106-13-4.
The minutes of June 18, 1784, refer to another let- ter from Mr. Currie dated Radnor, Mch. 20, 1784, acknowledging the receipt of a letter from the secre- tary "which, as he had laid aside all hopes of ever hearing from the Society any more, struck him with the most agreeable surprise, and he wants words he says to express the deep sense he entertains of their great kindness to him."
"By their generous liberality the Society have ex- tricated him out of his difficulties and restored him to his wonted tranquility of mind." * *
"In July, 1776, when Independency was declared, Mr. Currie declined officiating in public, but his
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A Lutheran at Radnor.
churches were supplied by a candidate for orders among German Lutherans who read prayers and a sermon while Mr. Currie baptized, visited the sick, preached at funerals and buried the dead." "By these means he has kept the congregation together and will continue his endeavours so to do as long as he is able in hopes that Providence will point out some plan for furnishing North America with a regularly ordained clergy."
The same minutes report a letter from Mr. Beach, the Society's Missionary at New Brunswick, N. J., dated May 17, 1784, wherein he says, "Mr. Currie, of Radnor, through the infirmities of old age, is no longer able to perform any duty, but he still maintains a good character and is still much respected."
The minutes of December 17, 1784, also refer to a letter from Mr. Currie, dated "Radnor in Pennsyl- vania, October I, 1784," acknowledging receipt of secretary's letter of 27th of August, 1783, by which he is encouraged to draw on Society for a half year's salary :
Thinking his mission actually dissolved, he is far from claiming this as a debt, but thankfully received it as a bounty. The severity of the last winter had such an effect on his aged constitution that he has been mostly confined to his house ever since, where though a nonjuror he officiates without molestation.
The churches are sometimes supplied by a wandering Luth- eran Clergyman, and they live in hopes of being better sup- plied shortly, as the clergy of the United States are about
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Old St. David's Church.
settling a frame of government of the Episcopal churches in North America. Mr. Currie was invited to join their con- vention, but not having taken the oaths to the State, he de- clined it. They propose to keep as near to the government and worship of the Church of England as their circumstances will admit, but are much at a loss to find out how to preserve the Episcopal Succession. It has been proposed to send one of their own number duly elected to England for consecration, but there are doubts whether such a person would be con- secrated or no. This question has been proposed to Mr. Currie, who declined giving his opinion till he had consulted his learned brethren of the Society. If any of them will be pleased to favour him with an answer he will accept it as a singular favour.
The minutes of October 21, 1785, also indicate a letter from Mr. Currie dated March 30, 1785, report- ing that :
Having found from their abstract of last year that his name is continued on list of missionaries who remain officiating in Independent States to whom Society pays salary, he draws for £30-returning thanks for favor unexpected. His position would have been deplorable had his benefactors deserted him at the time he expected they would. Bereaved of all by the iniquity of the times and entitled to no relief from the Public, in as much as he is not a citizen, it is easy to conceive now that The Almighty hath been pleased thus long to protract his life what his situation must have been had matters turned out as he thought they would. He blesses God they have not. As far as his infirmities permit, he continues to perform the duties of his function. His congregation desire him to return the Society thanks for all past favors and to assure them that notwithstanding the present unhappy situation of the members of the Church of England in America, they will never cease
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Resumption, and Withdrawal.
to pray for prosperity of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
In letter from Mr. Currie to the Society dated "Rad- nor, Sept. 30, 1785," appears the first definite informa- tion of the restoration of Episcopal services at Radnor. In this he writes :
Blessed be God notwithstanding my great age I have been able to attend my former Churches in complyance with ye Societys continuing my Salary duly ever since November last, where I have officiated to a crowded Audience & baptizd a great number of children, there being no Episcopal Mnr. within twenty miles of me but myself, for which services I make it a point to receive no lucrative Emolument, having made a firni resolution when I laid down my charge at ye Declaration of Independence never to take Wages of Subjects of a Govern- ment to which I cannot give my test of allegeance.
I have only to add that as I am really sorry that I am an incumbrance to my worthy Benefactors in my present super- annuated State so I am cheerfully ready to desist as soon as they shall desire it, as I want but little & that little I shall not want long.
His last letter to the Society is dated Radnor, Octo- ber 12, 1785. In this he acknowledges their letter of May 3, 1785 (evidently notifying him of the discon- tinuance of his allowance), and takes a formal and affectionate farewell.
After the termination of his ministry at Radnor, Mr. Currie continued to reside with his granddaughter, Margaret Walker, wife of Thomas Walker, of Chester Valley, until his death, October 26, 1803, at the age of ninety-three. He was buried at St. David's immedi-
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Old St. David's Church.
ately east of chancel window with the other members of his family who had died before him.
Mr. Currie during his long term at Radnor com- manded the respect and esteem of his congregation and his brethren in the ministry. He was evidently an ex- tremely conservative Scottish clergyman, of high cul- ture, and there can be no doubt that he maintained the dignity of his office. At the convention of the Clergy of the Province, held in Philadelphia in May, 1760, he was selected to preach at the next convention, and is referred to as "much esteemed in his Mission, which is a very extensive one, and neglects no opportunity that his Health will permit of doing his duty."
If it appear from his letters to the Propagation So- ciety that he was at times more mendicant than manly, and more forcible than frank, it must be remembered, -as in the case of Rev. Griffith Hughes already com- mented upon-to whom and under what circumstances these letters were addressed. But it is difficult to rec- oncile his professions of poverty with the fact that the assessment rolls of Tredyffrin Township show him to have been the owner of seventy-six acres of land and numerous cattle in 1774, and of 200 acres from 1779 to 1781 ; that he also had considerable land in Mont- gomery County, and that he left an estate valued at £3,116, 4s. 9d., and a will (dated December 28, 1794, and registered at West Chester in Will Book K 436), whereby he bequeathed many legacies, including £10 (sterling) to Radnor Church.
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The Currie Family.
Mr. Currie had six sons and one daughter-all by his first wife-as follows :
John-who became a lawyer, settled in Bethlehem, Pa., and married a wealthy lady named Crookshank.
James-the subject of the pathetic letter to Dr. Peters, who matriculated at the College of Philadelphia (now University of Pennsylvania), in 1757, and sub- sequently became a physician in Chester County.
William-an "Erudite and experienced physician and an extensive successful practitioner," of Chester County. Author of several important medical works, removed 1792 to Philadelphia, and married after his military career mentioned, and died in 1829.
Richard-to whose brief military career allusion has been made-who married Hannah Potts and died Sep- tember, 1776, leaving three children, and was buried in Radnor churchyard.
Alexander-a physician, who removed to West In- dies, married and died there.
Ross-who, after his service in the American army, where he was captured at Three Rivers, removed to New Brunswick, N. J., where he was drowned Sep- tember I, 1790. He left a wife and two children.
Elizabeth-who married Dr. Demon, of Reading, Pa.
The history of Radnor Church from the outbreak of the Revolution until the first American rector was selected and appointed in 1788 is very obscure. The records of the church give little information, although
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Old St. David's Church.
they indicate the holding of occasional church meet- ings, and settlement of accounts. The most important outlays specified during that period seem to be :
1776 .- Paid by Thomas Read to Jona- than Hughes for Making horse Block £o 3 6 December ye 23, 1784-New Gate and Fixing It at ye South East Side of Radnor church Graveyard. . 22 6
On May 21, 1781, Thomas Read and John Mather were chosen to serve as wardens, and eighteen others as Vestrymen "till the Congregation See Cause to Change them." And in 1785 a large subscription list appears in the old register "for the repairing and cov- ering the graveyard wall and other purposes of said church." It would also appear from Mr. Currie's letters already quoted, that from 1776 to 1784 some effort was made by him, with the assistance of a Lutheran novitiate, to supply the church; and that in November, 1784, he resumed, as far as his health would permit, his priestly functions, until his final withdrawal from active service in October, 1785.
Meanwhile Radnor Church was not unconnected with the important movements instituted at this time for the establishment of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States.
The Diocesan records of Pennsylvania indicate that at an adjourned meeting of the first conference of
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The American Succession.
clergymen and deputies "concerning the formation of a representative body of the Episcopal church in this state," held March 29 and 31, 1784, at the house of Rev. Dr. White, a circular letter was addressed "to the wardens and vestrymen of the different Epis- copal congregation in the state" asking them "as pre- paratory to a general consultation" that they should "delegate one or more of their body" to assist at a meeting to be held in Philadelphia, and it was specially "Resolved that the letters addressed to the churches formerly included in the mission of Radnor be in- cluded under cover to the Rev. William Currie, their former pastor, and that the clergy be desired to accom- pany them with a letter to the said reverend gentleman requesting his assistance at the proposed meeting." This record is interestingly supplemented by Mr. Cur- rie's letter of October 1, 1784, already quoted.
At this meeting, held in Christ Church, Philadel- phia, May 24, 1784, Richard Willing, Esq., appeared as the deputy "from St. David's, Radnor," and was appointed on an important committee, which reported on the expediency of creating a Standing Committee, of which he was subsequently also chosen a member. He also appears to have been present as a deputy from Pennsylvania at "A Convention of Clergymen and Lay deputies of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America," held in New York, October 6 and 7, 1784; and again as representing St. David's Radnor, at the second session of the second Con-
1
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Old St. David's Church.
vention of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, held at Christ Church, Philadelphia, on September 14, 1786, when St. David's Church was admitted to membership in the Convention ; and Rev. Dr. William White was elected the first American Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, whose subsequent consecration at Lambeth Palace, London, took place on February 4, 1787.
Mr. Willing's name also appears frequently amongst the Radnor records as a vestryman, beginning in 1785, and in this capacity he was named in the charter of the church in 1791-2. His distinguished social connec- tion was undoubtedly of importance to Radnor Church in this critical period of its history. He died in 1798, and was buried in Christ Church burial ground.
During the interim between Mr. Currie's final with- drawal and the establishment of the American Succes- sion, the church organization at Radnor seems to have been maintained by the Church Wardens and a few faithful assistants.
A minute in the old register under date of "Aug. 25, 1786," providing "that there be a Collection Gathered each Time of Divine Service for the Repairs of sd Church," and a memorandum of amounts received each month, indicates the holding of at least monthly services at that time. Though no mention is made of the person officiating, other records indicate that it was probably Mr. Slator Clay.
From an entry in the record book at St. James' Church, Perkiomen, it appears that on August 14,
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Reorganization in 1787.
1787, at Norristown, Thomas Reed and Philip Sheaf as delegates from St. David's, met deputies from St. Peter's Church in Chester Valley and from St. James' Church, Perkiomen, and "agreed to continue in the union for Episcopal Minister to perform Divine serv- ice in said three churches as heretofore," and ap- pointed Richard Willing, representing St. David's ; Dr. Robert Shannon, representing St. James'; and Robert Ralston, representing St. Peter's, in the Great Valley, "jointly to apply to the Right Reverend Bishop White, of the State of Penna., for an Episcopal Min- ister to officiate in the said churches."
The application made December 8, 1787, to Bishop White is signed by John Jones and Thomas Read "For and in behalf of ye congregation of St. David's" and by the representatives from the other two churches, and recommends "Mr. Slator Clay," who it is stated "hath resided amongst us and performed the office of a Reader in these churches for more than a year, dis- charging his duty in that capacity to our satisfaction."
This application was favorably considered by Bishop White, and Mr. Clay, having been consecrated priest February 17, 1788, entered upon his duties as the first American Rector at Radnor Church, in connection with St. Peter's, Chester Valley, and St. James', Perkiomen. A few years later he also occupied the place of assist- ant at Swedes Church, near Norristown, and preached also at St. Thomas' Church, at White Marsh.
A digression is again deemed warrantable, to record
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Old St. David's Church.
a brief description of the first rector of Radnor Church under the American succession.
Slator Clay, a son of Slator and Ann Clay (daugh- ter of Hon. Jehu Curtis, of Delaware), was born Oc- tober 1, 1754, in New Castle, Del. He is described as a man of medium height, of slender and delicate frame, and of a peculiarly impressive earnestness of manner. Although his early training was as a lawyer and a schoolmaster, and he was thirty-three years of age when he came to Radnor as a lay reader, he was evi- dently held in high esteem by his clerical brethren, and was repeatedly selected to read prayers and preach before the early Diocesan Conventions in Pennsyl- vania. He was married in 1786 to Mrs. Hannah Hughes, by whom he had four children.
When the peculiar position occupied by Mr. Clay as the first rector of St. David's Church under the Amer- ican succession is appreciated, the difficulties of his situation will hardly be overestimated. Though there are absolutely no data from which a detailed description of them can be submitted, yet the following eloquent presentation by Anderson of such difficulties as he de- scribes confronting Bishop White at the beginning of his great work, may fairly be adopted as at least sug- gesting those confronting Mr. Clay. "To knit together again into one the members of that sacred body which war and faction had divided; to heal its wounds, to restore its exhausted strength, and to see it fitly joined together and compacted, 'grow up unto Him in all
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Rev. Slator Clay, Rector.
things which is the head even Christ, unto the edify- ing itself in love,' this was the great work for the accomplishment of which he never ceased to watch and pray. The flocks which had been gath- ered together were everywhere scattered abroad, the folds laid waste; the Shepherds who sur- vived had been driven away." "The province in which he [Mr.Clay] ministered was above all others desolate."
During his entire connection with Radnor, Mr. Clay could not, it is said, preach there oftener than once a month. Fragmentary traditions of the time state that he always rode to church on horseback, preached without a gown, and omitted most of the ritual in order to have a longer time for his always extemporaneous sermon. His first connection with St. David's Church appears in what is probably his distinctive handwrit- ing in the old register under date of October 31, 1787, in a settlement of accounts of Thomas Read, Warden.
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