USA > Virginia > City of Williamsburg > City of Williamsburg > Historical sketch of Bruton Church, Williamsburg, Virginia > Part 3
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The Breadth of ye East & West Windows 6 F- - The Breadth of ye North & South Windows. 7 F- The Breadth of ye North & South Doors 5 F- The Thickness of ye Walls below ye Water Table 3 Bricks, & above ye same 2 Bricks length.
The Height of ye Walls & of ye Ceiling to be ye same with those of ye Body of ye Church.
The Rooff to rise in proportion to ye Breadth that it spans.
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MATERIALS
The Bricks are to be rated at Seventeen Shills pr: Thousand.
The Lime at Six pence pr: Bushel.
The Sand at Eighteen pence pr: Load.
The Scantlines at £4 10 p: Thousand.
The Shingles at 129 6ª pr: Thous.
The whole Scaffolding Stuff, Chords & Plank at 3 Pounds.
WORKMANSHIP
The Laying of ye Bricks, including ye Labourers work, shall be rated at 7: 6ª pr: Thousand.
The framing, raising and covering ye Roof at 18sb 6ª p: Square.
The framing and Raising ye Floor at 10sh pr : Square.
The Working and Setting ye Eves at 20sh pr : foot.
The Rubbing, Cutting, & Setting ye Window Arches at 5sh pr: Arch.
The Rubbing and Cutting ye Foot lesses at one penny pr : foot.
The Rubbing ye Returns at 2sh pr : hundred.
The framing & Setting ye Window & Door Cases at 10sh each.
On the 11th December, 1712, a sum of money, £10 ster- ling, in the bands of Mr. Richard Kendall, being a legacy from Mrs. Catharinc Besouth, is ordered to be paid over to the Revd. James Blair, for a "Suitable piece of plate of ye same value, for the use of Bruton Parish, with this inscrip- tion upon it-(Ve Gift of Mrs. Catharine Besouth.")
December 2d, 1715. Ht length the new Church is fin- ished, or nearly so.
Following this there are brief notes of interest. Nov. 16th, 1716. "Ordered that the Church Wardene dispose of all the materials belonging to the Old Church, except the bricks." The new Church is shingled in 1717.
1
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Historical Notes
December, 17, 1720. Mr. John holloway is "recom- mended to send for a Church Bible and two Common Prayer Books, for the use of the Church."
In 1724 Rev. James Blair, reported to the Bishop of London, that the Church was provided with "A great Bible, 2 common prayer books, the Homilies, canons, pul- pit Cloths, altar and altar piece, Font, Cushions, surplice, bell, etc.," and that "There were one hundred and ten families, and fifty communicants in the Parish." He also stated that at that time there were three hundred acres of Glebe land belonging to the Parish, and that the Parish was about ten miles square.'
On the 15th day of June, 1728, order is given for tear- ing down the ceiling of the Church and putting up a new one.
"Ht a Vestry held for Bruton Parish the 12 day of Nov- ember, 1729, John Randolph, Esq., (knighted shortly after,) having been elected a Vestryman, this day took and Sub- scribed the Oathe appointed by Law to his Majesty's person and Government, &c."2
Nov. 6, 1740, the Vestry ordered Church and Church- yard to be repaired. Nov. 14, 1742, "The Church Bible given to the Parish by Capt. Matthews, being in danger of spoiling by lying in the chest, Mr. Thomas Cobbs agrees to take it, and to send for another when the same shall be required."
On the 3d Day of Decem., 1742, "The Vestry Resolved on the following articles" in relation to the repairs of the Church:
"The brick Ornaments of the Gavel ends to be taken down, and finished with wood, answering the rest. The whole roof to be Covered. The whole to be new pewed, and the pulpit placed in the South East Corner. The Church Yard to be repaired for the present in the Cheapest Manner."
I Perry, page 300.
2 In June, 1908, a beautiful marble tablet was unveiled in the Chapel of the College of William and Mary to replace a similar tablet which had been erected to the memory of Sir John Randolph, which was destroyed when the College was burned.
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Historical Notes
Death of Commissary Blair and Election of Revd. Thos. Dawson
"Ht a Vestry held" the 6th day of May, 1743, the sad news is officially announced, that the Rev. Mr. Commissary Blair is no more. And there was entered the following note: And "Whereas by the Decease of the Revd. Mr. Com- missary Blair," (who had served the Church of Bruton Parish for the space of thirty-two Years as its Minister; William and Mary College as its President for nearly fifty years, and as Commissary for fifty-three years,) late Minis- ter of this Parish, the Cure is now Vacant. Hnd Whereas the Rev. Mr. Thomas Dawson has for some time officiated for Mr. Commissary, in which he hath acquitted himself to the Universal good liking of this Parish, and also producing a letter from the honble. the Governor, strongly recommend- ing him to the Choice of the Vestry, they do therefore unani- mously elect the said Mr. Thomas Dawson Minister of this Parish."
On the 9th May, 1744, it is Ordered that a foundation of brickwork be laid round the Isle to receive the floor; and the Isle be new layd with the same stone, the Church to be New Whitewashed, and plaistering to be repaired where wanting. Ordered likewise, that the pews be painted three times in Oile, and the South Gallery to be extended as far as the Corner."
Church Enlarged and Organ Secured
"Ht a Vestry held for Bruton Parish, August 22, 1744, "Resolved, that a petition be drawn to be preferred to the next General Hosembly to request them to contribute to- wards the repairs of the two wings of the Church, which were formerly built at the expense of the public. And that they will be pleased to take into their Consideration, whether an organ, to be bought by the Public and Appropriated for
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Historical Notes
the use of the Church of the Parish where the Governor re- sides and the General Hosembly and the Courts are held, May not be Ornamental and useful in the Divine Service; and that Mr. Dawson, Mr. Wray, Mr. (John) Blair, Mr. Barmer and Mr. Waller prepare the same." After eight years delay, (according to Hening,) John Blair, Philip Ludwell, Armisted Burwell, James Power, and Benjamin Powell were appointed by the Assembly a committee to provide material for enlarging the Church and for purchasing and setting up an organ in the loft to cost £200.
On the 15th day of March, 1750-1, "The honble. John Blair, Coll: Lewis Burwell, and Mr. John holt, or any two of them, are impowered to treat with workmen for an addi- tion to the Church, and to lay their proposals before the Vestry in order for their agreement thereto."
Pursuant to these orders, and the action of the House of Burgesses, the Church doubtless assumed its present proportions of 100 feet long, 28 feet wide, the wings being reduced from 19 feet to 141/2 feet in length.1 If the Church was originally built according to the first draft of Alex. Spottswood, the length of the West body, or nave, was 39 feet, the width of the transepts was 22 feet, and the length of the chancel end was 14 feet, making the total length 75 feet. An addition of 25 feet to the East, or chancel end of the building, would have made it 39 feet, which is its present length, corresponding to the length of the nave, and making the entire length of the building 100 feet. This 25 feet was either added by the order of 1750 or by the altered draft of 1712. No addition has has been made to the West end of the Church. The men- tion of the galleries located there proves this.
On August 11, 1747, "Peyton Randolph, Esq., is chosen a Vestryman."
1 Tyler.
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Historical Notes
Church Dard Tall Built
December 14, 1749, the Vestry agree with Mr. Emery Dughes to build a brick wall around the Churchyard for £290. July 7th, 1752, "Emery hughes having failed to perform bis agreement" .... in building the brick wall around the Church, Samuel Spurr agrees to do the same for £320, and gives bond and security to finish the work by Octo- ber, 1754.
June 18, 1754, Mr. Robt. Carter Nicholas is chosen a Vestryman.
The name of George Wythe, the distinguished jurist and statesman, (the early patron of henry Clay,) appears for the first time on the record as Vestryman and Churchwarden, 20th November, 1760; and on the 9th day of february, 1761, "The Reverend Um. Yates is Unanimously Chosen Minister of this Darish in the Room of the Revd. Commissary Thomas Dawson, Dec'd."
On the 29th day of November, 1763, Rev. Mr. Yates at- tended the last Vestry meeting, and on the 5th day of Oc- tober, 1764, bis decease is recorded In the accounts of the Darish, where there stands an amount to his credit of to- bacco, 17,280 lbs. Nov. 7th, 1764, Rev. Mr. James horrocks, Commissary, is chosen as the Minister of the Parish.
Belfry Built
On October 6, 1768, "The Revd. Mr. James horrocks, Peyton Randolph, Esq., Thomas Everard, Esq., Robert Carter Nicholas, Esq., and the Church Wardens, Mr. John Dierce and Mr. Wm. Eaton, or any four of them, are ap- pointed a Committee to receive proposals for building a belfry to the Church."
On the 14th September, 1769, the Vestry, consisting of the names of men whose memory the Church in Virginia, and the State at large will not forget,-such as John Blair, Ben-
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historical Notes
jamin Waller, Lewis Burwell, Wm. Graves, Robert Carter Nicholas, Thomas Everard, George Wythe, fred. Bryan, and Coll. John Prentis, "agreed with Benjamin Dowell to build a Steeple and repair the Church for £410 .- £150 to be paid this present Year, £130 the Next Year, and £130 in the Year 1771. he is to have the Old Bell, and the Materials of the old Steeple.
This order relating to the building of a new Steeple does not fix the date of the Old Tower upon which the old Steeple referred to stood. The Church Tower is not structually the same as the Church, and has the appear- ance of being older.
THE CHURCH AS SEEN FROM THE CHURCH YARD,
Some Old Destry Orders
S
CATTERED through the old Vestry Book were a number of orders of special purport which were given under different dates, and with reference to the subject indicated by the headings under which they have been ar- ranged here for convenient reference.
Minister's Salary
Ninth of June, 1682, "Ordered that Mr. Rowland Jones, Minister, for the future shall be paid annually ye Sum of Sixteen thousand six hundred and sixty-six pounds of Tobacco and Caske. Any former order of Vestry to the contrary not- withstanding." Here follow the names and the sentence, Tester, Alex. Bonnyman. "Veritas non est dubitanda."
Church Attendance
June 9th, 1682. "The Vestry of this Parish takeing into consideration that many and divers of the inhabitants have been negligent in comeing to Church, tending to ye dis- honor of God and the contempt of Government, Therefore the said Vestry have now ordered, That such person or per- sons inhabiting in this Darish, as shall be negligent herein, shall be presented by ye Church Wardens to ye Court, and then be proceeded with according to Law, and that publica- tion hereof be made pr ye Clerke at both Churches." These Churches were, no doubt, one in the upper, and one in the lower portions of the Parish.
Private Dews
June 9th, 1682, "thought fit and likewise ordered, that Coll: Jno. Dage may (might) have the privilege to sett a pew for himself and his ffamily in the Chancell of the new Church at Middle Plantation"-although the Church was not yet
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built. The privilege of setting up a pew in the Chancel, was subsequently accorded to the hon. Philip Ludwell.
Ht a Vestry on Nov. 2, 1704,
"An order of Council is given by Mr. William Robertson, Clerk of ye Council, wherein is proposed that ye South side of ye Chancel of ye Church, (including ye pew where his Ex- cellency now site,) be fitted up as a pew for ye Governour & Council for ye time being, to be done by ye direction of Mr. Huditor Byrd, which is agreed to by this Vestry."
Church Dard Land
On November 14th, 1678, the land on which the Church was built, together with "sixty feet of the same, every way for a Church-yard," was the gift, forever, of the "honourable Coll: John Dage." Every receipt given by francis Dage, for moneys received for the new Church, is thus signed: "I say, Received pr Me ffra: Page."
"An act providing for laying out Williamsburg pro- vided also for condemning land for the church, and the map of the town in the college library shows that the churchyard was so enlarged as to take in two acres on Duke of Gloucester street. Around three-fourths of this the brick wall was built, and its front is, on measurement, 330 feet. The other portion unenclosed was sold not many years ago to private land owners."I
Order Regulating Burial in the Church and Chancel
At a Vestry held the 31st October, 1684, present: "Che Minister, Mr. Rowland Jones, the hon. Philip Ludwell, Esq., the Bon. Jno. Dage, Esq., the hon. James Bray, Esq., ye hon. Chos. Ball and Capt. ffrancis Dage," &c., it was re- solved that "ffor the privilege of Burials either in ye Chan- cell, or in ye new Church, it is ordered by this Vestry, that for breaking up ye ground in ye Chancell, ye ffees payable to
I Tyler.
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Historical Notes
ye Minister shall be one thousand pounds of Tobacco, or five pounds sterling; and in ye Church ye ffee payable to the Parish shall be five hundred pounds of Tobacco, or fifty shillings in money; and that ye Minister be at ye charge to relay ye Chancell, and ye Parish for the same."
Order as to where Certain People should Sit in Church
January 9, 1716, it is "Ordered that the Men sitt on the North side of the Church, and the Women on the left.
"Ordered that Mr. Commissary Blair sitt in the head pew in the Church, and that he may Carry any Minister into the same.
"Ordered that the Parishioners be seated in the Church, and none others.
"Ordered that the Vacant room in the west end of the Church be made into three convenient pews, and that the Church Wardens agree with some workman to do the same.
"Ordered that Mr. John Custis be removed into the Dew appropriated to the Surveyor General."
Wid Orders as to Location and Use of the Galleries
Provision Made for College Students.
On the 10th July, 1718, "whereas complaint had been made to this Vestry, that there was not room in the gallery for the Youth that came from the Colledge, and that they were crowded by others, also that several of the Parishion- ers were crowded, for remedy of which, it is
"Ordered, that liberty shall be given the Colledge to take that part of ye Gallery for the use of the Colledge Youth, as far from the pillar on the south side of the Isle of the Church, to the north side of the Church,(1) also that farther leave be given them to put a door, with a lock and key to it, to the stairs of the said Gallery, and the Sexton to keep the
I This west gallery subsequently became known as Lord Dunmore's gallery.
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Historical Notes
key." In this west end gallery sat Peyton Randolph, (1730,) and George Wythe, (1740,) while students at the College of William and Mary.
December, 17, 1720. Mr. John holloway, having ob- tained leave of the Governor, is permitted to erect a gallery in the end of the south wing of the Church, at his own charges.
On the 6th July, 1721, "Ordered that a Gallery be built in the south side of the body of the Church, from the Gallery already erected in the west end, unto the edge of the third window, to project six feet, and to be adorned with banisters. And, that the same be appropriated for the boys of this Parish."
On the 9th May, 1744, it is ordered that "the South Gallery to be extended as far as the Corner."
On Sept. 11, 1753, it is "Ordered that half of the South Gallery, near the Pulpit, in the Church in Williamsburg, be appropriated to the use of the College of William and Mary." Here sat Thomas Jefferson, (student 1760-62,) President James Monroe, (student 1775,) Chief Justice John Marshal, (student 1780,) Edmund Randolph, (student 1776,) Pres- ident John Tyler, (student 1802-07,) and Winfield Scott, (student 1804.)
Novem. 18, 1755, "Ordered that the Revd. and honor- able Commissary Thomas Dawson, the honorable Jno. Blair, Ceqr., Peyton Randolph, Esqr., Benjamin Waller, Esqr., or any three of them, do agree with a person to build a Loft for an Organ in the Church in the City of Williams- burg, and to set up the same. Mr. Deter Delham is unani- mously appointed and Chosen Organist of the Church in the City of Williamsburg."
On the 7th October, 1762, Mr. Benjamin Waller, on be- half of himself and others, was permitted to build a gallery on the north side of the Church.
The gallery in the north wing was used for the ser- vants of the Parish, and was entered by a stairway from the outside.
The Passing of the Old IRegime
T HE Old Vestry Book closes with the Order of 1769, which has been quoted, relating to the removal of the Old Steeple and the Old Bell. The closing of the book was doubtless due to the agitation springing from the dirturbances which marked the closing years of Virginia's Colonial history. The passing of the Old Bell seemed to toll the death knell of the old Regime. No other Church in Virginia had been so inti- mately connected with her Colonial history as this. Bruton Church-yard adjoined .the Palace Green. Here ministers were the Court preachers of their day. The record, so far as it gives us glimpses into their life and ministry, indicates that they were worthy men and de- voted ministers of the Gospel of Christ. They held their commissions from the Lord Bishop of London, and served as ministers of the established Church of England. The time had come when this fact seriously hindered their in- fluence with many among whom they lived. The passions and prejudices of men are generally undiscriminating. They proved so, to a marked degree, in their relation to the Church. Because her ministry and service were con- sidered as of English appointment, rather than as of Di- vine authority, they came to be despised by those who had come to hate the authority of the English government. Bruton Church was in the very center of this political and social agitation which culminated in the War of Revolu- tion. Supported warmly by many Loyalists, and by some who were not, she became the object of scorn to many who indulged in wholesale denunciation of all things English.
The Church Service in Colonial Days
Before passing from this long ago period of the history of the Church, let usendeavor to bring back an accustomed scene in Bruton Church in Colonial days:
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The old bell breaks the stillness of the Sabbath morn. It calls the whole community to the house of prayer. No other bell is heard. There is no other place for worship- pers to go, unless they choose to attend some gathering in an humble meeting house where some who do not like the Prayer-book, vestments, or organ music, are wont to meet to worship according to the dictates of their con- science. The community, as a whole, adheres to the es- tablished Church. Old fashioned coaches drive up to the gate and, as the door is opened by a liveried footman, the occupants come forth clothed after the last year's fashion of the Court of George the Third. Around the door the colonial Gentry are assembled, clothed in colonial garb. In voices somewhat animated, and with language not always according to the catechism, they are discussing the stamp act, and other usurpations and injustices of the Government. It is a genuine debate, for here forces are very largely divided, and in the crowd are many stout Tories, who are warm in support of the king, and of his representative, his Excellency the Governor. From Ra- leigh Tavern there comes a group of men who are repre- sentatives of the people in the House of Burgesses. Some of them give indication of having been up late the night before. Their faces show very red beneath their flowing wigs of white. They are talking with loud voice and animated gesture. The king finds few advocates among them, and is being roundly abused in a most disloyal way. They calm down as they approach the Church. The Gov- ernor's carriage sweeps down the Palace Green and draws up before the door. The service will soon begin. We pass into the Church. In spite of all the care we take, our footsteps resound through the building as we walk down the flag-stone aisle. Passing into a large square pew we close the door and wait. It is difficult to see those in front of us. The pews, we note, were built to encourage rever- ence rather than observation. There are some things, however, which we can see in spite of the high back pews.
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We notice that the men sit on the north side of the Church, and the women on the south, and are informed that it is because the Vestry has so ordered it. Mr. Peter Pelham enters and, ascending the "organ loft," begins to play the new organ recently purchased in England for the Church by order of the House of Burgesses. The students from the College of William and Mary enter, attended by one of the Masters, and file into the gallery assigned to them in the south wing of the Church. Among them are a number of young Indians who are being educated and christian- ized at the college. When the students have all entered, the gallery door is locked, and the key given to the sexton. There is no chance now for them to escape, no matter how long the parson may preach.
By an outside stairway, leading up to the gallery in the north wing, we see the servants of the parishioners enter, and reverently await the commencement of the ser- vice. We are told that many of them are consistent com- municants, and that all have been baptized.
The door at the west, leading from the tower, opens, and the minister, who has vested there, enters and, passing down the aisle, enters the chancel at the east end of the Church. The clerk takes his place at the desk below the pulpit, which stands down in the body of the building at the south-east corner of the Church.
And now, even over the high back pews, we can see that something is attracting general attention. The tower door opens, and the Court procession enters, His Excellency, the Governor, passes down the aisle to his pew. It is in the chancel end of the Church, on the north side of the aisle; it is elevated from the floor. A silk canopy hangs over it, and around it in large letters of gold is the Gover- nor's name. The Council of State, and the members of the House of Burgesses, and the Surveyor-General take pews officially assigned. The service begins. The minister reads, and the clerk, and the people who have Prayer Books, respond. The Beadle keeps his eye upon the Col-
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legeyouth in particular, and upon the whole congregation in general. There is no disturbance. We hear what sounds like an imprecation from a near-by pew when the prayer is said for George the Third and the Royal Family, but it is discreetly suppressed, and no note is taken of it.
The service ended, the minister leaves the chancel and, passing down the aisle with the Governor's pew on his right, ascends the high 'steps leading up into the south-east corner pulpit, takes his text, and begins his sermon. Those who have brought braziers with which to warm their pews, listen with comfort, if not always with patience. Others grow cold and restless, and determine that they would not come to Church if the law'had not made it an offence for fine and imprisonment to stay away.
The benediction said, groups gather in the Church (in a very unchurchly way) and exchange greetings, collect the news, discuss the sermon, and exchange opinions, and go to their homes,-homes noted for hospitality and good- cheer, but pervaded nevertheless by a respect for religion and, in many instances, by a beautiful spirit of earnest Christian devotion:'
We can find no statement as to the status of the Church during the Revolution. . The Revd. John Bracken's rector- ship covered this period, asit extended from 1773 to 1818. The house occupied by General Washington while his head- quarters were in Williamsburg during the war, was the residence of Chancellor Wythe, which immediately adjoins the Church yard. During this time, he and his staff officers doubtless regularly attended the services of the Church.
The war of the Revolution, which so completely changed political, social, and ecclesiastical conditions, left the old Church unharmed.
"One generation passeth away, another generation cometh," but time, and the vicissitudes of war, have spared the old Church to stand,
"A link among the days, to knit The generations each to each."
٦٦
لاين
The Church after the Revolution
RUTON Church suffered, temporarily, as did B the whole Episcopal Church in this country, by the disestablishment. Some of the clergy had espoused the cause of the mother country to which they felt bound by their oath of allegiance. Mr. R. S. Thomas, of Smithfield, Va., formerly historiographer of the Diocese of Southern Virginia, has, how- ever, established the fact, from the old records, that the large majority of the Vir- ginia clergy espoused the cause of the colo- nies in the struggle for independence. Revd. Dr. Madison, President of William and Mary College, and Revd. Mr. Bracken, then rector of Bruton Church, "were avowed and decided partisans of the Colo- nies."I "The Mercers, Harrisons, and Randolphs, and a number of other prominent families,"I connected with Bruton Church, had also espoused the cause of indepen- dence. But the majority of the people were antagonistic to the Church. The Church was now separated from teq state upon which it had leaned for support. It had to ad- just itself to new conditions under peculiar difficulties. War had impoverished those who were disposed to sup- port it. On every side the Church was opposed. Her in- dependence of State aid and State control, and her des- perate struggle for life in the face of violent opposition, ultimately proved a great blessing to her life. But for a while her faith was tested, and her strength sorely tried. A brief outline of the history of the attack made upon the Episcopal Church is given here as it explains the loss of the glebe lands of Bruton Church.
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