USA > Virginia > Colonial churches; a series of sketches of churches in the original colony of Virginia, with pictures of each church > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
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One book from that library has come down to us, and it was the happiness of a rector of St. Paul's, Edenton, to secure it as a gift to the Diocese of East Carolina, the present owner of it. It is a copy of Gabriel Towerson's Application of the Church Catechism, London, 1685, bound in leather, handsomely stamped on the back, in gold: "Be- longing to ye Library of St. Thomas' Parish in Pamlico."
About the year 1720 Edward Moseley sent bill of exchange to London to purchase a library for St. Paul's, Edenton, but there is no record of its coming. It is thus mentioned: "Catalogue of Books humbly present- ed by Edward Mosely, Esq., to the Honb'le and Most August Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, towards a Pro- vincial Library to be kept in Edenton, the Metropolis of North Caroli- na." There are seventy-four volumes.
Before leaving this old church, taking a last look toward its altar, one may recall the inscription at the base of the chancel window, the only stained glass in the building, modestly hidden by the English oaken furniture:
"In honour of God, to the memory of Josiah Collins, by whose efforts mainly this church when in ruins was restored. Died May 19th, 1819."
HOLY TRINITY ("OLD SWEDES") WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.
BY THE REV. KENSEY J. HAMMOND, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.
"Hark! how the sacred calm that breathes around Bids every fierce, tumultuous passion cease:
In still, small accents whispering from the ground A grateful earnest of eternal peace."
T HESE are lines beneath the memorial window in memory of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Bayard, on the south wall of that venerable and historic church building, popularly known as "Old Swedes."
They well express its life mission for the many generations to whom it has been Our Father's House.
As the English colonists carefully brought their pastor (Rev. Robert Hunt) with them, when seeking a home in this new world, so did the Swedes think it the right and only thing to be done when, in 1638, Peter Minuit and his countrymen came here to form a new Sweden, they brought the Rev. Reorus Torkillus. Sailing up the Delaware Bay, they landed at a place called by the Indians "Hopokahacking," on the north of Minquas creek; established themselves, built a fort and called it Christiana, after their Swedish queen.
The pastor held services at first in the fort, and the cemetery was located on a hillside further inland. In 1667 they built a wooden church on the south side of the creek, at a place known then and now as Crane Hook, where services were held until 1697. Various pastors served after Mr. Torkillus: Campanius, Holgh, Charles, Peter, Loke- nius and Fabricius, until in 1693 the congregation found itself in the hands of Lay Reader Charles Christopher Springer, who, after a few years of faithful service, petitioned the Swedish authorities for two priests and some books. Three were sent over, reaching Philadelphia about July 2, 1697, one of them, the Rev. Erick Biorck, coming to Crane Hook. An active and capable minister, he took the English settlers also under his care, preaching at some services to them in their own language.
The congregation prospered. The population extended around Chris- tiana creek as Wilmington grew, and a church building was desired on the north side of that creek. After some discussion this was finally
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agreed upon, the residents there promising to furnish a canoe for free ferriage across the creek to church for their brethren.
A contract was made with a Philadelphia builder for an edifice 66 feet long, 36 wide and 20 high, of brick, at a cost of £86. The Church people were to "find ye said Joseph (Yard) and his Assistants during ye time of ye said work, with sufficient Meat, Drink, Washing and Lodging, with sufficient Labourers for him and his Assistance, and to find all necessary Material fitt for ye work, and the said Joseph not to be hindered for Materials or Labourers or Carpenter's work." The contract price for carpenter work was £130 of current silver money, to Philadelphia contractors also. The walls were finished in August, 1698. Gable ends were decided upon, and built later. Stones were broken by the congregation and hauled on sleds during the winter. The boards were sawn by hand on a saw-pit, and the nails forged by a blacksmith. Inscriptions in forged iron letters adorned the walls. These were re- placed in part during the repairs of 1899 :. Over the east window, "Lux L. I. Tenebr, Oriens ex alto." Across the south wall, "Immanuel." On the tower, "1698."
Services were held in Crane Hook church for the last time on the Fourth Sunday after Easter, when arrangements were made for sit- tings in the new structure. Of this Pastor Biorck writes in his diary: "Finally Hans P -- and his wife came forward, expecting to have seats with the rest. Then I took him aside and asked him if he would pay the £10 standing back on his subscription to the church, and be united to the congregation as a true and proper member. If so, he should have a pew. If otherwise, never; but that he should be at lib- erty to come and hear God's Word, and stand wherever he could find a place. All this he promised, and I immediately, in the hearing of the congregation, rehearsed it, and said he and his wife should be acknowl- edged as members as before. Then his written confession of his fool- ishness and wrong towards God and me and the congregation was read; but he has kept himself at home up to the present time."
On Holy Trinity Sunday, 1699, Pastor Biorck consecrated the new church, giving it that name, that it might be a "perpetual, humble of- fering to the great Triune God, and a hearty and sincere thanksgiving for the unspeakable grace which He through me so humble and in so wild a country in so short a time and above all my expectations and against many oppositions had been pleased to let such a work be car- ried forward to its conclusion, without damage or danger." The Rev. Messrs. Andrew Rurman and Joseph Aureen assisted in the service.
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The notable strangers present were then entertained at John Stalcop's house with food, wine and beer, after which the rest received refresh- ment.
Reckoning all labor and gifts at the regular price, the church cost £800. The pastor next secured from John Stalcop a 500-acre farm as a glebe for the minister's use, and more land for the churchyard, its site being the original cemetery hillside, Then in four years or less this indefatigable worker infused life into a disheartened people, brought them into their own edifice, with a support for their pastor, and by unselfish devotion to their welfare, stimulated them to work for the common good. His large-hearted charity also laid the foun- dation through his friendship with the English and their clergy for the changes which took place later and by which Swedish church prop- erty became by willing consent of its owners absorbed by our Com- munion.
In 1714 Charles XII., of Sweden, recalled Mr. Biorck, and he took charge of the church in Fahlun, in Dalecartin, whence in 1718 was sent a beautiful silver chalice and paten to Holy Trinity church from the mining company, owing to his loving remembrance of his congrega- tion in this wilderness. This service is still in use.
The Rev. Magister A. Hesselius succeeded as pastor until 1723. His successors were Samuel Hesselius until 1731; John Enneberg to 1742, and Peter Trauberg to November 8, 1748. His tomb is beneath the main aisle of the church, just before the chancel. It bears the follow- ing inscription :
"In memory of the Rev. Peter Trauberg, Missionary from Sweden, first fourteen years at Raccoon and Penns Neck churches, then seven years here. He departed this life November 8th, 1748, aged 52 years.
He left this world, this gloomy scene of pain,
Tho' to his friends a loss, yet lasting gain
To him; the patron of a virtuous life,
And good conductor from that monster strife.
Who can forget the pains this worthy spent, In painful journeys by his duty bent, The sick to comfort, and to warn the vain; So sweet his presence, urging rules, how plain! Whose tender care and universal love,
Proved his commission from the God above, Who gave him strength at first, and then did fill
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His soul, propensed to do His holy will; To hazard health, nay, life and pleasure, too, His Lord's command with ardour to pursue; For which he rests with God in bliss to be, Freed from this world to all eternity."
In the side aisle of the church is a tiny grave, its stone bearing the following inscription: "The son of Peter Trauberg, who departed this life, July 29, 1750, aged nine years, six months and two weeks."
Until 1736 Magister Israel Aurelius served here; then Magister Erick Unanander till 1759; and Magister Andrew Bovell till 1768. The last of the Swedish pastors was Magister Lawrence Girelius, serving till his return to Sweden in 1791.
Five years earlier the Swedish churches in this country sent a joint letter to the Archbishop, saying their language was no longer used and expressing a wish to choose pastors from the English clergy here. The death of Archbishop Unander and other circumstances hindered his successor from laying their request before the king. But in 1791 he (Uns Von Troil) did so and it was granted and Girelius recalled. The congregation then petitioned the Delaware Legislature to amend their charter, allowing the election of either a Lutheran or Episcopal rector. The intimacy already strong between the Swed- ish and Episcopal Churches, allowed several of their pastors to re- ceive stipends and gifts from the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel," so it was natural for this congregation to turn to the Epis- copalians for a rector, and they elected the Rev. Joseph Clarkson, who served till 1799. His successors were the Rev. Messrs. Price to 1812; Wicks to 1817; Bull to 1819; Hall to 1821; Williston to 1827; Conneily to 1828, and Pardee to 1835. During his rectorship the new Trinity church was built on King street in 1830, and the old building being very dilapidated was not used. The next year, however, it was repaired.
In 1842 it was renovated and reopened for occasional services, Bishop Lee officiating, and the Rev. J. W. Mccullough preaching. In 1847 regular Sunday afternoon services were provided by the vestry; the old bell was recast, and ordered rung for services at both churches. The Rev. W. Franklin was chosen as assistant minister in 1852, and put in charge of the "Old Swedes." . His successors there as assistants in Trinity Parish were the Rev. Messrs. Spooner till 1856; Parker to 1859; Murphy to 1897; Lewis to 1883; Higgins to 1888; and Dunlap to -; and H. B. Olmstead now in charge.
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Another renovation was found necessary in 1898, and much and thorough work was done this time also as a restoration to its earliest appearance, inside as well as outside. A brief account of this is here given, condensed as was the other, in part from a very full history published at the time in the Every Evening, of Wilmington, Delaware. Part of the original brick floor was found when a later wooden one was removed. This was left, and, from ancient drawings of the in- terior, found in the city, was extended in aisles after the earliest pat- tern. High back pews with doors hung on hand-made antique hinges with hand-made nails were given by the Colonial Dames. The original pulpit was placed against the north wall with its canopy. A new white marble altar covers the earliest one, built of stone and mortar, hollow within, and reached by a door a foot square on the north side. It corresponded to the record, "with a little room in under." The tower was rebuilt an exact copy of the original. An outside stair was built in the porch seen from the south side, as at first, to reach the gallery, and new iron gates placed across this porch. The ivy cover- ing the south wall was from a slip from Stokepogis in England, brought and planted there sixty years ago by the mother of the Hon. T. A. Bayard.
The present members of the iron firm in Fahlun, Sweden, from which came the Communion silver service many years ago, hearing of the restoration of the old church at this time, sent an oil painting of the Rev. Erick Biorck, a copy, both picture and frame, of the portrait now hanging in the church he served in Sweden.
The church was reopened with a service of benediction by the Bishop of the Diocese, on Trinity Sunday, 1899, the bicentennial of the church itself, he celebrating the Holy Communion, and the Rev. Dr. Nelson, of Philadelphia, preaching from the text, Deut. 26:5. The congregation of the parish church (Trinity) met and worshipped with these, cementing the oneness of interest that always should be found between congregations related as mother and daughter. This. purpose marks the ministry also of the present rector and vicar. By interchange of pulpits, by united services in one of the other of the: church buildings during the year, by co-operation in good works, the, two congregations are drawn nearer each other to the benefit of both and welfare of the Church in Wilmington.
The Old Church.
What an image of peace and rest Is this little church among its graves! All is so quiet; the troubled breast, The wounded spirit, the heart oppressed, Here may find the repose it craves.
See how the ivy climbs and expands Over this humble hermitage, And seems to caress with its little hands The rough, gray stones as a child that stands Caressing the wrinkled cheeks of age.
Here would I stay and let the world With its distant thunder roar and roll; Storms do not rend the sail that is furled, Nor like a dead leaf, tossed and whirled In an eddy of wind, is the anchored soul. -H. W. Longfellow.
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