USA > Virginia > Henrico County > Henrico County > Annals of Henrico parish > Part 5
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48
HISTORY HENRICO PARISH,
all likelihood through the resignation, on the 16th of the fol- lowing June, 1859, of Mr. Kepler, to become Evangelist of the Diocese. He and his people parted on excellent terms, with reciprocal regards and good wishes.
It may have been at this time, or at least at some time be- tween 1857 and 1860, that the east transept door was cut through, the two east windows closed, the door at the south- east corner of the old part of the church closed, and the former aisle to it filled with a pew or pews.
The Vestry still felt sufficiently strong to offer a salary of $1,200 per annum. October 2, 1859, the Rev. John T. Points accepted their call, his ministry to begin from Novem- ber 1st following. He had been a missionary to China. Then he had labored in New Kent, building in the northern part of the county what used to be St. James' Church. St. John's enjoyed during his brief pastorate a delightful revival of all its best interests. Everything was again fanned up to splendid zeal. Twenty were confirmed in 1859 and 1860. There was an additional net gain of ten; the total number of communicants was 110. The Sunday school numbered 18 teachers, 138 scholars. He died June 10, 1860, in his thir- tieth year, in King William county. A committee of the Ves- try went there to escort his remains home. The Vestry bore glad witness to his lofty Christian virtues and noble ministe- rial labors. The church, by their order, was draped in mourn- ing for sixty days. A monument "erected by the ladies of St. John's Church and his Masonic brethren, in grateful remem- brance of his labor of love amongst them," now marks his resting place in the church yard.
After the death of Mr. Points the Rev. Wm. C. Butler, of Halifax C. H., was called. He accepted the rectorship, with a salary of $1,500 and a parsonage, September 17, 1860. The number of communicants and the size of the Sunday school were a little increased. But the country was begin- ning to suffer the terrible throes of war. In consequence, the congregation was drained of men and money. Especially in view of this, the Vestry found that, in their zeal to get a rector, they had made offers they could not meet. And for the same reason the rector found he could not support him- self.
49
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
The vestry insisted upon services on Sunday night and nce on a week day. The rector resented this action as an ncroachment upon his prerogatives. Having also premo- itions of pulmonary trouble, he resigned November 27, 1861.
A committee was appointed to secure temporary services. 'he Vestry resolved itself into a committee of the whole to onsult the pew holders as to the choice of a successor. It ell upon the Rev. Wm. Norwood, D. D. For years, first at Monumental and then at St. Paul's, he had gone in and out mong the citizens of Richmond and won their unanimous steem and affection. He was called March 18, 1862, on 1,000 a year and the parsonage. He accepted April 5th, nd began his ministrations on Easter day, the third Sunday n April. It fell to his lot to share with his beloved people he brunt of the war. Spiritual interests not only held their wn, but increased somewhat. And there was a consequent material liveliness. A committee was appointed April 6, .863, to confer with the administrator of the estate of the lonor of the parsonage, Col. Richard Adams, with a view to elling it and investing the proceeds in bonds or otherwise till he Vestry could purchase another house or lot. If the pro- ect had been consummated, undoubtedly the proceeds would lave been swept away amid the reverses of the war.
This same year, 1863, the rector stepped out of his vestry oom one Sunday morning to perform divine service, when he calamitous result of a wind storm met his eye at the northern or front end of the church. The steeple was pros- rate. Two lower edges of the bell were somewhat scaled off; but otherwise it was uninjured. The spire was not re- stored until about November, in 1866. The plan was drawn ind contributed by Col. Alfred L. Rives, C. E. The cost, including necessary and incidental repairs, was $1,213, the funds for which were mostly raised from a fair held in the basement of Trinity M. E. Church. December 10, 1866, weekly collections were again resorted to to meet incidental expenses. The crippled state of the congregation at the close of the war can be judged from the report of the treas- urer, December 4, 1866. The arrearages in pew rents were $1,385, of which $365 were available. Though the treasurer had personally advanced $417.86, there was still due the
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50
HISTORY HENRICO PARISH,
rector, on the preceding six months, $348.37 out of the annua salary of $1,000.
August 17, 1868, Dr. Norwood handed in his resignation to take effect October 1st. He had accepted a call to Em manuel Church, Henrico county. This was his last charge He departed this life July 29, 1887, in the eighty-first yea of his age, venerated by all who knew him.
The Rev. Henry Wall, of Christ Church, West River, Md. was elected to fill his place. He accepted and began hi labors October 25th. The parsonage was enlarged and pu into repair. Chiefly by means of a fair held in the Sunda school room of Trinity M. E. Church, at the corner of Twen tieth and Broad streets, in May, 1869, $647.64 were raise for its furnishing. The rector's salary was made $1,250 He reported to the Bishop at the next Council a net increas of 14 communicants and a total number of 127. The Sun day school had fallen off from 120 scholars to 109. Th treasurer of the church was authorized by the Vestry to pa the expenses of the Sunday school. In 1869 and 1870 th congregation was consulted, and there was a thorough dis cussion of the pew system, the free church plan and th envelope method of raising a revenue. The result was that modified form of the pew rent system with the envelope fea ture was adopted. The rector's salary was increased to $1,40 from November 1, 1870.
In January of 1871 a joint committee of the Vestry and the Sunday school was appointed to devise a plan for raising means to build a new Sunday school house or enlarge the old one. On the 18th of the following March a committee wa; a appointed to secure from the City Council permission to widen and extend the Old School-House. It may be noted that this building was at this time spoken of as "the lecture' -or "school-room."
Meanwhile another misfortune had overtaken the congre gation. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, in tunnelling through Church Hill, had undermined the parsonage. The rector and his family were obliged to move out in the night. The railroad company behaved handsomely and enabled the trustees to secure what was at the time a fine property, at the southwest corner of Twentieth and Broad streets, valued at
51
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
$6,500. In the first half of 1874, the entrance door on either side of the tower was closed up, and the base of the tower was opened, as it appears at present. Thus a vestibule was se- cured at a cost of $159.88.
May 29, 1874, the Rev. Jas. W. Shields, son of the late venerable and esteemed Senior Warden, became the assistant of St. John's. By his using here the office of a deacon well, he purchased to himself a good degree. To this estimable and promising young clergyman, on August 3, 1890, the last sad rites of mortality were rendered in this church, in which his ministry had auspiciously begun.
Rev. Dr. Wall resigned July 15, 1875. He was a clergy- man of vigorous mind and ripe scholarship. His sermons will be remembered by all his hearers as full of grace and power. He was a native of Ireland and a graduate of Trin- ity College, Dublin. His theological education was received
at the Seminary of Virginia. The first year of his ministry was spent in South Carolina. His last charge was in Kent county, Md. The interval was chiefly devoted to the Diocese of Virginia. On account of ill health he retired from the active ministry about a year before he died. And August 19, 1889, in his 72d year, he passed away among the people to whom he had last ministered.
During the twenty years preceding 1875, there had been great advances in the parish at large. Grace Church, under the rectorship of the Rev. Mr. Baker, had been consecrated January 14, 1859. July 6, 1860, Emmanuel, Henrico, under the rectorship of the late Bishop Wilmer, of Ala- bama, was consecrated. In 1862 and 1863 St. Philip's had been erected under the rectorship of Rev. D. F. Sprigg. In 1866 St. Mark's was reported as organized and as being built under the rectorship of the Rev. T. G. Dashiell. The present St. Mark's was erected in 1872 and 1873, and conse- crated June 26, 1880. The former building of St. Mark's was bought for the colored people, and is now St. Philip's. In 1868 and 1869 a church was organized by Rev. J. E. Hammond in an "upper room" in Manchester. The present Meade Memorial Church was built in 1869 and 1870. Christ Church congregation had been reorganized by Mr. Dallas Tucker in 1870 and 1871. By July 12, 1871, a church had
52
HISTORY HENRICO PARISH,
been erected and consecrated. In 1875 Moore Memorial Chapel of St. James' was reported as built. In 1880 it had become an independent church with Rev. Dr. Sprigg as rec- tor. And finally, in 1876, St. Paul's reports the erection of St. Andrew's, with Rev. Pike Powers in charge. St. An- drew's was consecrated December 30th following.
In 1875 Dr. Wall was succeeded by the Rev. Alexander Watson Weddell. He was called from Harrisonburg, Va., on $1,400, and the use of the rectory, and accepted to begin work the second Sunday in September. In 1876, the follow- ing year, he reported to the Bishop at the Council 196 com- municants, 28 Sunday school teachers, and 169 scholars. In the fall of 1875 the sum of $200 was in hand for a new Sun- day school building. The question arose, as it had during Dr. Wall's ministry, whether to enlarge the old or build a new school-house. Now also it was debated whether, if a new school-house was built, it should be within the grounds or outside the churchyard. Finally it was decided to build a new school-house within the grounds. The present frame Sunday school building was the result, September 11, 1876.
February 12, 1877, action was begun looking to the altera- tion of the church. This was accomplished. The church was opened October 21, 1880, after being a month in the hands of the workmen. Then the gallery at the western end of the original church and the rooms below it had been re- moved. The chancel had been enlarged by a curved recess. A vestry room, ten by twelve, had been added in the rear of the chancel. The pulpit had been lowered some 12 or 18 inches, the steps and railing to it from the westerly side and the sounding board removed. New chancel furniture had been introduced. More specifically, a square holy table, with scroll work between its legs, was substituted for the oval fronted table, which, in turn, was placed in the frame school- house ; and oaken chairs took the place of the two of mahogany which had been given in the rectorship of Mr. Kepler. The gallery in the northern end of the nave, which had extended to the second window from the north, was reduced to its pres- ent dimensions. The organ was cleaned and repaired. The ceiling of the original church had remained flat all these years. Now the whole of the church was made to have one
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ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
concave ceiling, and a large gas reflector was suspended from it. Old girders in the roof, which were discovered to have be- come weakened by dry-rot, were removed, and new, strong timbers were substituted. The entire church was renovated and repainted. By the change 11 new pews were added, while there was no lessening the number in the present gal- lery. The total cost of the improvements was $1,003.65.
May 14, 1877, Dr. Weddell's salary was increased to $1,500 a year. In 1880 two new Sunday schools were started; the one now known as Calvary Mission, situated then and for years afterward at the southeast corner of Main and Nine- teenth streets, under the superintendence of Sergeant B. F. Howard; the other a colored school, (There had been for a brief period a colored Sunday school during the rectorship of Rev. H. S. Kepler, in 1855-'56, started by a devoted church worker, Mrs. James M. Estes, in her kitchen.) A Sunday school organ and library had been purchased at a total cost of $332.
It appears in the Council reports of 1881 that St. John's had 300 communicants and an aggregate Sunday school en- rollment of 423. This indicates the prime of Dr. Weddell's indefatigable labors and noble gifts. From that time the strong, brave man, so true and forceful in speech, so boldly aggressive and perseveringly energetic in action, began to fail in health. And the machinery of the church began to falter with the slackened pulsations of that heart which had been for years the tireless motive power in it all. Arrange- ments were made for an assistant in the fall of 1882. The Rev. Lyman B. Wharton, D. D., first occupied that position for some three months, from February 26, 1883. Then the Rev. Francis M. Burch followed, from June 15, 1883. Most tenderly and generously did the appreciative and affectionate congregation minister to their pastor's every possible need. They took advantage of every opportunity to save the life of their beloved and devoted rector. They sent him to the balmy, soothing regions of the South; to the bracing air and the healing waters of our own Virginia mountains. But he bore in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus. December 6, 1883, after one and a half years of sickness, he commended his spirit to the Father who gave it.
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HISTORY HENRICO PARISH,
He rests within the morning shadows of this dear old shrine, whose truest interests he loved better than life. A tablet to his memory rests upon the wall to the east of the chancel, where the loving eyes of his former people may rest upon it. His monument, erected by this congregation, at a cost of $456, records his life story in the graphic, telling words of one of his most intimate lay friends :
" Large hearted, Large minded : Devoted to God. A lover of the truth and of manhood : Bold, untiring, faithful, in the service of the Master : Tender, watchful and unceasing in the care of his flock ; His people loved and revered him."
The Rev. F. M. Burch resigned the assistantship, to take effect February 1, 1884. But at the request of the Vestry he continued his services as minister in charge until April 1, 1884. The vestry, in parting with him, commended him as a faithful, earnest and loving worker, who, under the most difficult circumstances of having to take charge of a congrega- tion without being its rector, labored in and out of season.
HISTORY
OF
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH,
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA,
From 1884 to 1904.
BY J. STAUNTON MOORE.
AUTHORIZED BY THE VESTRY.
he
st
-
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH 1903. WITH NEW TOWER.
INTRODUCTION.
A history of Henrico Parish, and particularly of old St. John's Church, has been a long-felt want, embracing as it does statistical information, historic facts and Church data that are obtainable from no other source than its old records. Convinced of the importance of such an undertaking and im- pressed with this public need, the Vestry of St. John's Church, on the 4th day of February, 1902, on motion of Mr. G. G. Minor, adopted the following resolution unani- mously, That a committee be appointed, to be known as the Committee on St. John's History, whose duty it shall be to gather from time to time material looking to the pub- lication of a history of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church. Members are as follows : J. S. Moore, Chairman ; Cyrus Bossieux, Senior Warden; John F. Mayer, Junior Warden; P. R. Carrington, W. W. Davies. The commit- tee met and delegated the compilation of the work and the writing of the history to its Chairman, Mr. J. S. Moore.
Many of the records of St. John's have been lost or de- stroyed, and some of those in possession of the Church are fragmentary and imperfectly kept; hence this compendium is necessarily incomplete and contains errors and important omissions. The records since 1860 are fairly well kept, and are in good condition.
During the period of the administration of Rev. William H. Hart (the exact date does not appear), the congregation was composed chiefly of "Heads of Families," and the mem- bers of the same, very few of whom were communicants. A list is given showing "Heads of Families" 63, members 204, of whom only 42 were communicants.
In 1840 Mr. Hart gives the list of communicants as only 41 in number. At another period he gives the list of com- municants as only 21, including the minister and his wife,
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HISTORY HENRICO PARISH,
and six of these belonged to the Adams family. The Church at this time was at a very low ebb.
During the Rev. J. H. Morrison's incumbency, it appears that the congregation was composed of "pew holders." A list given by him in 1845 shows 45 by name, but it does not state how many of these were communicants.
Rt. Rev. Lewis William Burton, when rector of St. John's, commenced the annals of the Parish and Church, and at the earnest solicitation of the Vestry, he kindly completed his labor of love after he became Bishop of the Diocese of Lex- ington, Ky. His annals of Henrico Parish are embraced in this volume. It was also deemed proper to include in this volume the portraits of all the Bishops of Virginia, the min- isters and assistant ministers of St. John's Church, the por- traits of Col. Wm. Byrd, Jr., who donated the grounds upon which the old Church stands; the site was then known as "Indian Town Hill"; of the Rev. Alexander Whitaker (the "apostle"), the first Episcopal minister of Virginia; of Patrick Henry, whose eloquence served to render the old Church famous; of the Church itself, with its furniture, etc. A copy of the Old Vestry Book of Henrico Parish, with notes by Dr. R. A. Brock, from 1730 to 1773, with its quaint entries, is also embraced in this volume.
As the compiler of this work and as chairman of the Com- mittee on the History of St. John's, I desire to testify to the faithfulness of the individuals of the committee, and to ten- der publicly my thanks for their helpful aid and cordial co-operation. Each has rendered efficient assistance, and without their help in getting together the portraits and other work my task would have been prolonged and difficult. I am under special obligation to Mr. W. W. Davies and Mr. P. R. Carrington for pictures of the Bishops and ministers that were unobtainable through any other source; and to Mr. Carrington for data, the result of tireless energy and deep research. Captain John F. Mayer has, during the progress of the work, shown that courtesy of manner and obliging disposition that have always characterized his individuality. Captain Cyrus Bossieux has by his prompt attendance at the meetings of the committee lent the encouragement of his presence and counsel. In fact, no chairman could have had
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ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
more enthusiastic and interested associates than I have been blessed with. It was our sad misfortune to lose by death one of our companions, who was always the first to be present whenever a meeting of the committee was called, and who was deeply interested in the department he was so well quali- fid to fill-the collection of portraits.
In the midst of our labors, in December, 1903, our asso- ciate, Mr. William Williams Davies, was called to his eternal rest. The deaths in this family within a period of two months have been peculiarly touching and distressing. About the middle of November last his eldest daughter was stricken and died ; she was the light of his life, the apple of his eye, the pride of his soul. Mr. Davies, though a man of strong will power, was physically weak and never recovered from this blow. He was completely crushed. Soon after her death he gave up, and had a premonition of his own approaching end; but he never lost interest in the work of the committee as long as he drew breath, and his love for the Church never waned. One of the last acts of his life was to donate by will a "Davies Memorial," to cost $1,500. To this munificent be- quest Mrs. Davies has added the further sum of $500, making the total "Davies Memorial" $2,000. Mrs. Davies has also presented St. John's Sunday school with a splendid organ. Two days before his death the writer sat at his bedside and held in his grasp his feeble hand as he talked about the work upon which we were engaged, evincing to the last the keenest interest. A few days after Mr. Davies' death his other daughter and the last of his children succumbed also to the grim tyrant, leaving his widow entirely alone.
Mr. Davies was entirely conscious of his condition. No fear of the future seemed to disturb his mind ; having lived a godly life, he died the death of the righteous. He exhibited in his last moments that courtesy and consideration for others that characterized him in his daily life, and a chivalric feeling, a sympathetic thought, worthy of a Chevalier Bay- ard or a Sir Philip Sidney. A few moments before he drew his last breath he turned to his wife at his bedside and said, quietly and calmly, at the same time lovingly patting her hand: "Little Marie, go out for a little while, I don't wish you to see the last struggle"; but his wife, with true devotion
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HISTORY HENRICO PARISH,
and nobility of womanhood, replied: "Willie, for seventeen years I have been to you a faithful wife, and I will not de- sert you now !" Thus passed away one of the most kindly and courteous of gentlemen. Let us trust
" His day is come, not gone ; His sun is risen, not set ; His life is now beyond The reach of death or change- Not ended, but begun."
I think it but proper I should pay this tribute to one asso- ciated with us in this work, and who was so deeply interested in its success.
The committee is greatly indebted to Dr. R. A. Brock, the distinguished historian and antiquarian, for placing at its disposal inscriptions from tombstones and monuments of St. John's Church-yard, taken soon after the late civil war. Many of these tombstones have since been destroyed by the elements and the disintegration of time; and but for Dr. Brock it would have been impossible to have secured them. Dr. Brock not only placed his copies of these inscriptions at our disposal, but has kindly added brief annotations to many of them that make them interesting and instructive.
Our beloved Bishop, R. A. Gibson, has also added to the in- terest of this volume by his entertaining sketches ; as has our beloved rector, R. A. Goodwin, in contributing sketches of some of the Bishops of Virginia. We are also under many obligations to Mr. W. G. Stanard, of the Virginia Historical Society, for brief biographical sketches of the same character. We are also greatly indebted to Mr. D. C. Richardson for per- mitting us to take from his notes of Henrico County Court Records, the list of marriages of Henrico Parish from 1682 to 1765. This list of marriages was copied by Mr. P. R. Carrington. I should also be remiss in my duty if I did not acknowledge the helpful services of my wife and my daughter, Mrs. Alice Moore Franklin, who have rendered material aid in the verification of this work-the only aid in this line that I have had during the tedious task. We are also indebted to Miss Stella Williams, Miss F. P. Gretter and Miss Pearl Bodeker, for pictures and portraits.
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ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
Every effort has been made, but without success, to obtain the picture of Rev. David Griffith, the first Bishop-elect of Virginia. We have also been unable to obtain a picture of the Rev. Wm. Stith, the distinguished Virginia historian and the first rector of St. John's Church. The only thing we have been enabled to secure is the coat of arms and the auto- graph of Mr. Stith.
This volume contains the names of two thousand communi- cants, all of whom were connected with St. John's since 1860. This does not include the special lists of "pew holders," "heads of families," etc., prior to 1860. Of these two thou- sand souls, 559 are males and 1,441 females, showing that the women still maintain their reputation for zeal, piety and de- votion ; they were in the days of old first at the sepulchre and the last at Calvary, and to their fidelity and faithfulness are due, in a great measure, the growth and usefulness of old St. John's.
The number of marriages given is 779, of which 340 are since 1860. In this number are not included the marriages from the records of Henrico county.
The number of baptisms, 1,922, of which 1,308 are since 1860.
The number of burials, 1,335, of which 1,103 are since 1860.
The number of confirmations during the administrations of Dr. Weddell, Rev. L. W. Burton, and Rev. R. A. Goodwin is 925 ; the records previous to this date are fragmentary and incomplete.
This entire work has been a labor of love without any re- muneration or reward-other than the pleasure derived from duty performed by all engaged and enlisted in the enterprise.
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