USA > South Carolina > Berkeley County > Goose Creek > St. James church, Goose Creek, S. C. : a sketch of the parish from 1706 to 1909 > Part 2
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I hope your Preferment in England will compensate for that in South Carolina, and am Sir &.
Philip Bearcroft, Secretary"
To Rev. Timothy Millechampe.
The Commissary at this period called a meeting of the Clergy, and it was agreed that services be held once a month alternately at Goose Creek by Rev. Messrs. Guy, Durand, and Cotes.
In 1749, the Society sent over the Rev. Robert Stone, A. M. who was elected Rector of St. James. He died in 1751, and was buried in St. Philip's Churchyard, Charles Town.
The Vestry wrote to the Bishop of London and requested him to transfer the Rev. Jonathan Copp from the Mission of Georgia, to Goose Creek. Mr. Copp was invited to take charge of the Parish until a reply could be received from the Bishop.
Ile arrived, and was ready to enter upon his duties in, February 1752, but in the meanwhile, the Society appointed the Rev. James Harrison, A. M. who arrived in December, and was elected Rector and took charge on the 18th of the same month. He was cordi- ally received. In December, 1751, the parishioners subscribed the sum of £340-15 Currency "to purchase a negro for the use of the Parsonage."
On January 13th, 1756, Mr. Harrison wrote to the Society that the subscription for the school house had been raised, land bought, and bricks made. He stated he had been sick since October, together with other members of his family, but was now recovering, and that the Vestry had been very kind to him, and had "complimented him with $120 Currency to defray the ex- penses incurred by his illness." He would soon be able to re- sume his labors, and would urge his Vestry in the work of the school. In 1757, he again wrote and informed the Society that many persons had brought their children from eighty and two hundred miles to be baptized by him. At this time the com- municants numbered thirty whites, and seventeen negroes. He further stated, that "Mr. Peter Taylor, a worthy and respectable gentleman had presented a negro slave for the use of the Rector as a small encouragement to him for his endeavoring to propa- gate the Gospel among the Slaves of the said Parish."
In 1758, the Honorable William Middleton, presented to the Church two marble tablets inscribed with the Decalogue, Apostles Creed, and Lord's Prayer, which were placed on each side of the east window. The Vestry in their letter of thanks thus conclude, "That God, whose Altar you have adorned and whose Laws you have set before us, may bless you in yourself, and every branch of our family, in the joint prayer of & &."
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In 1758, Mr. Harrison writes to the Society that his congregation had increased and that he had twenty-six white and twenty black .communicants, and he had in the past six months baptized eigh- teen white children, and five adult negroes.
In 1759, it was recorded in the Journal that Mr. Thomas Wright had built a Vestry Room at his own expense.
In 1760, Mr. Harrison wrote that he had thirty-two white, and twenty-eight black communicants, and again in 1761 he mentioned that the War with the Cherokee Indians had caused many of his Parishioners to remove to the Northern Provinces for safety.
On May 2nd, 1765, Mr. Harrison transmitted to the Society the Accounts of the Rev. Mr. Ludlam's legacy.
He informed them that the parishioners had signed a sub- scription to the amount of £200 Sterling which they agreed to raise provided the Society assented to the following proposals. "1. That the Parish shall choose annually three Parishioners of which the Rector shall always be one, to be the Visitors of the School, to inspect the conduct of the Master, and to examine what progress the Scholars have made in their learning.
II. That if any Schoolnaster sent by the Society shall neglect the Instruction of the Children, or by any immoral behavior or otherwise, shall become unfit for or incapable of performing his proper duty, then the said Visitors, or two of them, (provided the Minister of the Parish be one) shall inform the Churchwardens and Vestry for the time being of such neglect, incapacity, or unfitness. And if upon just inquiry, the majority of the Church- wardens, and Vestry, shall find the Master to be negligent, un- fit, or incapable, it shall be in the power of the said majority to suspend, displace, or remove the said Master, as shall seem to them most proper, acquainting the Society therewith by the first opportunity and giving their reasons for so doing.
III. That as by the death or removal of the Master, consider- able time will elapse, before the Society can be made acquainted therewith, and supply the vacancy, the Vestry shall have power to nominate a substitute to perform the Office of School Master during the suspension, allowing him any sum not exceeding the half of the Salary till the Society's pleasure be known, and in case the vacancy shall happen by death, to allow the Person who officiates any sum not exceeding two-thirds of the Salary."'
The Society agreed to these terms, and sent a new power of Attorney. The Rev. James Harrison, Robert Hume, Benjamin Coachman, and John Parker were appointed attorneys,
In 1765, the following bequest was made by Mr. Peter Taylor, "I give unto the Vestry and Churchwardens of the Parish of St. James, Goose Creek, one hundred Pounds Sterling money to be paid two years after my decease, (if not paid by me before my decease) and to be paid by them to their Successors in Office, who are to put the same to Interest on good Security, until a School
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shall be erected on the land purchased for a School near the Church of the said Parish, and then the ensuing interest money arising therefrom, to be from time to time applied and paid towards the support of poor children, not exceeding £4 Sterling per annum, for each child who shall be put by them to the said School, for education."
The Rev. . Mr. Woodmason's account, of the Church in South Carolina, made in 1766, contains this notice of Goose Creek.
"St James, Goose Creek. This is one of the best country Churches in the Province, and both it, and the Parsonage, stand close by the bridge, over which is the greatest flux and reflux of people in the Province, which makes it very troublesome and expensive to the Minister, as he is daily and hourly pestered with travellers, calling for lodging, or entertainment."
On November 7th, 1774, Mr. Harrison notified the Vestry that he intended to resign. He shortly afterwards removed to St. Bartholomew's Parish,
On January 4th, 1775, the Rev. Edward Ellington of St Helena's Parish was elected Rector, and assumed his duties April 16th, 1775.
On March 28th, 1778, the Vestry of St James, Goose Creek, were incorporated in order to enable them "effectually to put in exceution the trust reposed in the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, by the last Will and Testament of Rev. Richard Ludlam, deceased, according to the pious inten- tion of the Testator, and to settle the accounts of the Rev. James Harrison."
Mr. Harrison delivered over to the Vestry all the accounts, papers, bonds, etc., belonging to the Ludlam Fund, together with the balance amounting to £15,272 2s.
The Vestry, gave him a final discharge, and a vote of thanks for his trouble. This Fund. suffered much loss during the Rev- olution, by the carrying away of Slaves, ete., by the British.
An old deed dated March 28th, 1778, recites the conveyance of twelve acres of land, from the Hon. Henry Middleton, to the Wardens and Vestry of St. James for the consideration of, "ten shillings current money" "together with all and singular the trees, woods, underwoods, ways, paths, passages, waters, and water courses, profits, commodities, advantages, hereditaments, and appurtenances, whatsoever," This is signed by "Henry Middleton," on the one part, and "Benj. Coachman, Benj. Mazyek, Benj. Smith, John Parker, John Deas, Jamed Sweater, and Alexander Mazyek," on the other. A note attached states that possession was given on the same day, by the giving and receiving of " a twig and a turf."
The Rev. Edward Ellington resigned in 1793, and removed to Savannah, Ga. There was no Minister until 1796, when the Rev. Milward Pogson was elected; he remained in charge until Febru-
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INTERIOR ST. JAMES CHURCH.
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ary 26th, 1806, when he resigned. Mr. Pogson was the first Minis- ter to receive Episcopal Ordination in this Diocese. He was Or- dered Deacon by Bishop Smith, Dec. 20th, 1795, and Priest Dec. 19th, 1796. He married Miss Henrietta Wragg, of Charleston. He is buried in the East yard of St. Philip's Church, where a slab marks his place of sepulture.
REV. MILWARD POGSON.
Rector for many years of the Church at Goose Creek, St. James, and at Dorchester St. George, afterwards of St Johns combined with the Parish of St. James, while he occasionally officiated during the Summer season in the City, and where died of
Bilious fever July 3rd 1836. Surviving his wife only nine months.
HENRIETTA WRAGG POGSON.
One of the daughters of Honorable William Wragg To their united memory this marble is inseribed
Also in affectionate memory of
Rev. George Pogson
Rector of the Parish of St. Thomas
and the youthful and beloved
Sarah Pogson Blammeyer.
Fever the removing Angel Bore their guileless Spirits hence.
The vacancy was supplied by the election of the Rev. John Thompson, late Rector of St. Thomas and St. Dennis. He re- signed and went to England in 1808.
This was the last regular Minister. The congregation became smaller, by reason of the removal of many of the Parishioners, and only occasional services were held. Dr. Dalcho writing in 1820, says "From the unhealthiness of the lower country, the planters leave the Parish in the summer, and Divine service is only expected from November to June."
In 1828, the Vestry decided to establish two schools, one to be in the lower part of the Parish, and the other at Wassamasaw Chapel. Two Masters were elected at a salary of $300 per annum each. In 1847, the Vestry elected certain gentlemen as trustees of the schools, to visit and supervise the same, but they not
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fulfilling the same, the Rev. C. Wallace, was requested to investi- gate their condition. He recommended certain changes in the method of instruction, and the purchase of new books to be owned by, and kept at the schools.
On October 1st, 1834, thirty acres of swamp land, were leased to Mr. C. Miller, for a term of years. He cleared, ditched, and banked the same, paying an annual rental of $100. In October, 1836, all right and title to this land, was transferred to Gen. E. H. Edwards, and at his death, the lease was surrendered, and the accrued rental amounting to $800, paid from his estate, to Mr. Thomas Gadsden, Chairman of the Vestry of St James, Goose Creek.
In 1844, the Church had fallen into a deplorable state of ruin, and the Vestry resolved to have the same restored, and accord- ingly voted to appropriate the amount necessary for this purpose out of the money received from Gen Edwards' estate.
On November 23rd, 1844, a contract was signed with Mr. John Lucas: he agreed to restore the Church as nearly as possible to its former condition, for the sum of $500 St. Michael's Church, Charleston offered to defray the expense. A letter written thirty-two years afterwards by Mr. Lucas, to the late Professor Francis L. Holmes, says that at the time he undertook the work, the walls were cracked, and had to be bound together with iron bands, the roof had spread, and it was necessary to run iron rods through the building to draw the walls back into position. The Church was replastered inside, and the rough casting on the outside repaired. The roof (then of shingles) was placed in order. The Royal Arms over the pulpit had been defaced, and the lion's tail carried off by some one. The band rail of the pulpit stairs he found in the possession of a carpenter in the nieghborhood, and had the same replaced. The flooring was relaid, and the pews had to be cut down, the lower parts having rotted away.
Large trees and underbrush had grown up so close to the building, this he had cut away, and the wood amounted to thirty cords. The pelican and her young which adorned the West door had been broken and Mr. Lucas gives an amusing account of his efforts to model a substitute from a large Muscovy duck, but unsuccessfully, as he states that he destroyed the cast afterward.
The armorial bearings, and ornamental work he had retouched by an artist employed at the theatre in Charleston; the only person he could procure who understood that kind of work. He says that he adhered as closely as possible to the original designs and colors.
The work was completed in April 1845, As stated previously the Church had never been consecrated, owing to the fact that there was no Bishop in South Carolina at the time of its final completion in 1719. In that year the Vestry had passed certain
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Resolutions, also mentioned here, setting it aside for religious purposes solely.
By request of the Vestry, immediately upon the completion of these repairs, Bishop Gadsden consecrated the building on April 17th, 1845, being assisted by the Rev. A. Fowler, and the Rectors of St. Johns Berkeley, St. Johns Hampstead, St. Pauls Stono, St. James James Island, and "the Rector of the School of the Diocese." The following is a copy of the Act of Consecration: "Be it known therefore to all concerned that from the date of this 'Sentence of Consecration' this house by the name of 'St. James Church' is set apart from any and every secular use, for Prayer in the name of Our Divine Redeemer to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, three persons but one God. The administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremon- ies of the Church, and Instruction in the doctrines and precepts of the Gospel of Christ, by the reading of the Holy Seriptures, by the Catechism, and other teachings of the Church, and by the Sermons or Lectures of the Ministers of the same."
"Signed in St. James Parish, Goose Creek, this day the 17th of April, in the year of our Lord 1845, there being at present no Rector, and these gentlemen being the lay officers of the same, namely: Church Wardens, Mr. Thomas Dixon, and Mr. W. W. Ancrum; Vestrymen, Mr. Thomas Gadsden, Mr. M. I. Keith, Mr. G. W. Egleston, Mr. Samuel Burger, Mr. John Parker, Dr. H. R. Frost, and Dr. Eli Geddings.
(Signed) CHRISTOPHER E. GADSDEN Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina.
In 1841, the Ludlam Fund maintained two schools, one at Ciroomsville, and another at Wassamasaw Chapel, paying sala- ries at cach place of $300 per annum. In 1859, $200 was paid to St. James Academy, Goose Creek, on condition that the poor children of the Parish be educated; twelve scholars attended on these terms.
The schools were maintained until the breaking out of the late war.
The following report of the Treasurer, Dr Henry R. Frost, in 1860, will show the resources of the Parish at that time for edu- eational purposes.
STATEMENT OF SCHOOL FUND.
424 State Bank Shares. $10,600,00
7 South Carolina R. R. Shares. 315,00
City 6 per Cent Stock. 2,100,00
State 6 per Cent Stock. 1,400,00
Premium 116,00
$ 14,531,00
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BONDS
Nov. 1st 1883 Bond B. E. Bee. 3000,00
Bond B. E. Bee. 161,00
Bond B. E. Bee. 215,00
$3,379,00
In 1851, certain lands in Milam Land District Texas, amount- ing to 4605 acres, were given by General Bernard Bee as payment for a Bond debt of $3,379, borrowed by him from the Ludlam Fund. From lapse of time and the disorders succeeding the Civil War, these lands had been taken possession of by settlers, and partly confiscated for taxes. In 1873, an affort was made to re- cover same, but for some cause nothing definite was accomplished.
In 1882, the Vestry, at this time constituted as follows, Ward- ens, Dr. F. L Parker, Jas. S. Mitchell, Vestrymen, Jas. S. Gantt, R. Rivers Lawton, Samuel G. Stoney, and J. T. Pendarvis, opened a correspondence with a legal firm in Galveston, who agreed to attempt the recovery of these lands on condition of receiving one half of the amount realized from the sale of the whole, or part recovered.
The Vestry assented to these terms, and after much difficulty a large portion of the lands were reclaimed, and after paying the expenses incurred by the necessary legal business, the Church received the sum of about $5000, as its portion. This amount, now invested is still known as the "Ludlam Fund" and the in- terest is used exclusively for educational purposes.
Thus even to the present time, is carried out the original pur- pose for which the money was bequeathed by Rev. Richard Ind- lam, in 1728. This old Parish, has always stood for education, and still holds to its traditions.
The late Professor Franeis L. Holmes took a great interest in the affairs of the Parish and very' much credit in due to him for keeping the Church in repair, and looking after its interests.
His plantation known as "Ingleside" was in the neighbor- hood and his great pleasure was to bring over his guests to visit the Church. In 1875, Constance Fenimore Woolson, the writer, visited old St. James, and wrote an account of the Parish which appeared in Harpers Monthly Magazine for January of that year.
Professor Holmes was a devoted and useful member of the Vestry for a long period, and did much towards restoring and preserving the Church at a time when it was falling into decay.
On August 31st, 1886, the Church was very much damaged by the earthquake, which devastated the lower counties of this State. The west gable fell out entirely, also a part of the cast gable, and the walls were badly cracked. The quaint old me-
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morial tablets on the inside, and the Royal Arms of Great Britian over the Chancel were broken and defaced.
The Vestry at once raised the necessary funds, and the work of restoration was begun. Great care was taken to restore every- thing as it was before, and as many of the broken pieces of the stucco ornaments as possible were replaced. The Church is now (1909,) in thorough repair. The window shutters and doors have been sheathed with iron, and no woodwork is exposed outside, and the roof being of slate, the building is fireproof, and secured against danger from the destructive forest fires that yearly sweep through the country.
This slate roof was a gift I have been told, from two English gentlemen residing in Charleston, who thus manifested their interest in the old Church by replacing the shingle roof with one of more enduring material. One of these gentlemen was the late Cowlan Gravely.
At present the Vestry is composed as follows.
Wardens
Francis LeJau Parker, M. D. S. Porcher Stoney.
Vestrymen
Samuel Gaillard Stoney Joseph Ioor Waring
Edwin Parsons.
Francis William Holmes
On Sunday, April 12th, 1896, a very interesting Service was held at the Church, the occasion was the formal unveiling and dedica- tion of a handsome memorial and historical tablet placed upon the North wall by the Vestry.
The Service was conducted by the Rev. Robert Wilson, D. D., Rector of St. Luke's Church, Charleston, who preached an able and instructive sermon treating of the history of St James' Parish. The Church was well filled, many of those present represented the old families of the early times.
The order of the dedication was as follows: At the conclusion of the sermon, the clergyman proceeded down the middle aisle, and up the side, followed by the Vestrymen, and invited guests, repeating alternately the 84th Psalmn. Arriving at the tablet he said two appropriate collects, and adding "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen" the veil was removed from the tablet. This was done by two ladies, direct decendants of Rev. Francis LeJau, the first Rector of the Parish.
The Clergyman then said, "We hereby dedicate this tablet to the glory of God, and the sacred memory of His servants, who have served before His altar, in this place, Amen"'
The procession then returned to the Chancel gate, repeating the 134th Psalm. This service was authorized by the Bishop of
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the Diocese. The tablet is of white marble, with gold lettering, and bears the following inscription:
St James Parish, Goose Creek. Established by Aet of Assembly November 30th 1706.
Organized April 14th 1707.
First Church built about 1707.
Present Church built about 1713.
Church consecrated April 17th 1845.
Rectors.
Rev Francis LeJau D. D. 1707-1717.
Rev Richard Ludlam A. M. 1723-1728.
Rev Timothy Millechampe A. M. 1732-1748.
Rev Robert Stone A. M. 1749-1751.
Rev James Harrison A. M. 1752-1771.
Rev Edward Ellington A. M. 1775-1793.
Rev Milward Pogson 1796-1806.
Rev John Thompson 1806-1808.
On Sunday, April 17th, 1904, a service was held in this Church, commemorating the coming of the first Missionary sent over by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts; Rev. Samuel Thomas. The address on this occasion was de- livered by Col. John P. Thomas, a lineal descendant of the first Missionary. This address will be found embodied in this volume.
On Sunday, April 22nd, 1906, in the afternoon, a most impress- ive and beautiful service was conducted by the Bishop of South Carolina, Right Rev. Ellison Capers, D. D. commemorating the 200th year of the establishment by Act of Assembly November 30th, 1706 of the Parishes of St. James Goose Creek, St. Johns Berkley, Christ Church Parish, St. Thomas and St. Denis, St. An- drews, St. Pauls Stono, St. James Santee, and St. Bartholomews.
At this time, a handsome marble tablet, in memory of Rev. Richard Ludlam, A. M., the benefactor of this Parish, was un- veiled and solemnly dedicated by the Bishop, the act of unveiling was done by two children who were then being educated by the Fund left by Mr. Ludlam, for that purpose in 1733.
The music was rendered by the full vested Choir from the Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston.
After the service a most able and instructive address was de- livered by Hon. H. A. M. Smith, giving a sketch of the Parish of St. James in its old days.
Mr Ludlam was one of the most devoted and faithful Ministers of this Church, and as before stated manifested his love for the same by bequeathing all of his property for educating the children
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of the Parish. Realizing that no stone commemorated this good man, our greatest benefactor, nor not even knowing where he lies buried, the Vestry determined that it was fitting to place this tablet to his memory on the walls of the Church he loved and served so well.
"The memory of the Just is Blessed." Reverend Richard Ludlam A. M. Elected Rector of this Parish August 31st. 1723 Died in 1728.
Zealous and faithful in the discharge of his duties, he merited and won the esteem of his people.
As a mark of affection for his Parishioners, he bequeathed his entire Estate, amounting to £2300 in trust.
"For erecting and maintaining a School for the poor children of this Parish."
This gift known as the Ludlam Fund has for one hundred and seventy-eight years been used for educating deserving children. It stands a living monument to this good and generous man.
"To do good and to distribute, forget not." This Tablet Is erected by the Vestry On the two hundredth anniversary of the establishment of this Parish. April 28th 1906.
There was a Chapel of Ease belonging to the Parish, situated about seven miles below Strawberry Ferry. Dalcho says "It was u brick edifice in the form of a Cross, built on a glebe of one aere of land, presented for the purpose, by Mr. Dutarque. There is no record of the time it was built. Something like the figure 1721 appears on one of the brieks. It appears from a Road Law, that it was standing in 1725."
Some old grave stones, and a few scattered bricks are all that now remain.
The School House of the Parish, was built of brick, and under a thick growth of bushes and trees, the foundations can still be traced. It was situated about a mile from the Church, and is supposed to have been erected about 1802, was occupied for many years, but in consequence of loss of funds by the Vestry, they petitioned the Legislature for permission to sell the tract of land; this was granted and in 1828, the land and building were sold. It was standing in 1859, and then occupied as a dwelling.
St. James Church stands now, (1909) almost as it did when first built, in 1714. It is of brick, 50 feet long, by 40 wide, rough-
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cast, and with a slate roof. There are thirteen arched win- dows, and two side doors, besides the main entrance.
The keystone of each window is ornamented with a cherub's head and wings in stucco, and the main entrance with five hearts of the same material. Over the front door is a beautiful model of the pelican feeding her young. This was placed here in 1907, thus restoring the one destroyed many years ago. It was designed and executed by Mrs. Lee Honour, of Charleston, and is a beautiful piece of artistic workmanship, executed for the Church, by the gifted artist, as a work of love for this old Parish.
The robing room is very small, and is under the stair leading to the gallery, and near the entrance. There are twenty-four pews, of the old square box pattern, the aisles are paved with flag stones, and a gallery is built over the entrance. The tall pulpit is reached by a winding stair, and a huge sounding board is suspended above; this, together with the reading desk and a com- munion table, all stand within the Chancel rail. Back of the Chancel, four Corinthian pilasters support the Royal Arms of Great Britian, made of stucco, and brilliantly colored in red, blue, and yellow. It is said that this saved the Church from desecration by the British during the Revolution .. The Arms are those of the time of the Georges, showing the White Horse of the House of Hanover and therefore were placed there at a period later than the building of the Church.
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